For decades, schoolchildren have learned the little rhyme “back in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue”. But how much of the story of Columbus’s journey to the new world is shared with school children? Are our children learning rewritten history? A teacher in a Detroit elementary school aimed to start a conversation by wearing a controversial sweatshirt. Some parents were outraged by the teacher’s blunt protest and a wearable, tangible proof of the teacher’s views on the United States’ celebration of Columbus Day. Still, she was able to get the conversation going, even if some were upset about it.

Columbus Day comes around every October. Even more so in recent years, it has been getting negative attention because the Christopher Columbus story has left out problematic and offensive content involving the cruel mistreatment of indigenous people that some passionately disagree with and oppose. When Emma Howland-Bolton, a fifth-grade teacher at Clippert Multicultural Magnet Honors Academy, wore a sweatshirt that stated in bold, white lettering, “Columbus was a murderer,” it got everyone’s attention. Some parents were outraged that the administration at the school asked Howland-Bolton to remove the shirt. The Detroit Public School Community District claims that the statement “Columbus was a murderer,” while controversial and upsetting to some individuals, was not the reason for the removal but because it did not comply with the school’s dress code. Teachers are not permitted to wear sweatshirts to school. The school board stated that if Emma Howland-Bolton had included the sweatshirt in her lesson plans, she might have been allowed to wear it. She removed the shirt with no issues and has succeeded in her mission to get everyone talking.

The teacher stands by her choice to wear the shirt because it is not just an opinion, but a fact. She intended to shed light on the misplaced greatness placed on Christmas Columbus and his voyages and encourage her children to learn about real history. Christopher Columbus is celebrated and famous because he is the explorer who discovered America when millions of people lived in the Americas when Columbus and other Europeans arrived. Over two decades, Columbus led more expeditions that led to the enslavement, mistreatment, torture, and death of countless indigenous people. A large constituency of people would like Columbus Day changed to Indigenous People’s Day to honor the first people to live on the land and take the celebration away from the dishonorable crimes committed by Columbus and his followers. Teachers and other passionate proponents of changing the holiday may get their wish if children continue to learn and people are willing to change their point of view if faced with facts. Someday, we may be celebrating Indigenous People’s Day in October.