/ North Carolina education officials met this week to put finishing touches on a new social studies and history curriculum for public schools. Instead they clashed over deep divides on race, gender identity and politics. State education officials have been working on the new standards for almost two years. They’ve enlisted dozens of educators and fielded comments from thousands of people. The new curriculum strives to include voices that have traditionally been left out and to help students explore struggles against oppression and injustice. Catherine Truitt, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction This week’s special meeting of the state Board of Education was called to review the fifth draft of the standards, in hopes that it can be approved next week. Earlier this month, newly elected state Superintendent Catherine Truitt asked that references to systemic racism, gender identity and systemic discrimination be revised.