Former U.S. Attorney General and ex-Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions suggested America’s founding fathers did not make a mistake by not abolishing slavery under the Constitution.

Sessions made the remark while speaking Tuesday to the Governor’s Commission on Teaching and Learning, where he argued educators teaching Alabama students about America’s founding are condemning the country “on almost every category,” the Alabama Daily News reported.

“Did [the founders] make a mistake in not ending slavery in the Constitution…well, it was a failure, but was it really a mistake?” Sessions said, according to the outlet. “Didn’t it allow for the progress to occur? And it’s not perfect now, I know that, but most of the legal barriers have been knocked down. So I think we should celebrate America, we have every right to; it was the greatest advancement for human liberty, freedom, equality, and the respect for individuals at the time.”

Sessions claimed Alabama students are being taught that America is “fundamentally flawed.”

“We don’t need to be implying to our students that the foundation is not honorable, and that the country isn’t worthy of being respected and loved,” Sessions told the commission.

He argued Alabama students should be taught to take pride in the country.

“I want you to not denigrate history in civics,” Sessions told the commission. “I really think you can’t have a great nation if you don’t love it. I do think teaching history is important, and I do think the message should be that we’re going to help teachers, not dictate to them.”

Gov. Kay Ivey created the commission through an executive order earlier this year. She said the group will have boots on the ground and help advise us on big changes we can make to recruit, retain, and prepare the teacher of tomorrow.”