CRT and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

[TLK Valentine]

Because "woke" teachers want to make sure as many students as possible are indoctrinated into those "identities" as early as possible. And to what purpose? So that children who are identified with certain qualities can be labeled as evil oppressors, inherently racist, "too white" and others can be labeled as the oppressed, inferior, helpless, victim.

Never seen that happen before...

Some are even being taught to hate their country, replacing American flags with rainbow flags, and even basic biological reality is denied at the altar of identity. And once these identities are inflicted on children, even if false, they carry them for years because an adult with power encouraged them.

Inflicted, you say? Better for children to have no identity at all? Blank slates to be filled by... whom, exactly?

Of course, the usual people will deny everything, but one only needs to go to places like Tik Tok, Instagram, YouTube, etc. to see videos that teachers are posting about what they teach in their classrooms. Of course in their minds, it's wonderful, but to the rest of us, including many parents once they find out, it's horrifying.

What a pity that none of it matters. "CRT" is whatever the censors say it is today.

And make no mistake -- no matter how much you side with the censors, they will never accept you as one of them.

 

[rambot]

Why would you think you are justified or capable of defining the important part of children's identities?

Smart guy.
Just like the assignment listend above we ask the kids to do it for themselves. The kids define their identities based on where they are at, what they value and what "groups" they are a part of. This includes innocuous safe groups (hockey teams, church groups, homework clubs) and others (nationality, religion, etc....). It's up to the KIDS to say their identities.

To head off the further question (which I would see coming) I don't assess them based on how close "I think they come to what I see as their identities". I assess them based on the effort and thought they put into the number of groups they identify with and the order the prioritize their group identities.

To get an EXCELLENT grade in this subject by the end of the year, they would recognize how their identity affects their opinions and worldviews.


This isn't CRT. This is just "junior high level reflective, personal investigative thought".


And anyone who wants to discuss this lesson further, I'm totally game. But I will likely have some questions too.

 

[eucatastrophe]

Inflicted, you say? Better for children to have no identity at all? Blank slates to be filled by... whom, exactly?

I dont know...let's make a wild guess. Their own personalities and experiences. Their parents and relatives. Their friends. Sounds like a good start for a child to understand who he is.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

Who's denying any role of racism and oppression in American history? Last I knew history classes included lessons on slavery and black oppression during Jim Crow era and about the Civil War, Civil Rights.

Did you learn about the Tulsa race massacre of 1921 in school and how an entire thriving black community was displaced, never to return? Do they teach about how redlining deprived blacks of the government sponsored FHA suburban housing developments, and the lasting effect of those policies? Did you learn about how restrictive covenants erected more barriers to blacks acquiring wealth through real estate like the whites? You may have heard about these things as an adult, but many have not because they did not learn it in school.

Just how many Americans don't know anything about that?

Since it is not taught uniformly in schools, I'm guessing lots of them have never heard about Tulsa and "Black Wall Street" which was destroyed and taken over by whites.

You guys act like it's all been erased from history. What utter nonsense.

Perhaps the only teaching about the history of race relations that would be acceptable to the crowd outraged over CRT is that "America had some really bad race problems, but we eventually fixed it all up and we're all good now."

 

[rambot]

Perhaps the only teaching about the history of race relations that would be acceptable to the crowd outraged over CRT is that "America had some really bad race problems, but we eventually fixed it all up and we're all good now."

That and "Your parents will tell you what to think about everything".

 

[LeafByNiggle]

Could you be less vague?

Earlier I posted an article that included screenshots from state education boards.

It said they embrace CRT and consider it "best practices".

It seems like a state education board is pretty authoritative.

But the article was not from the state board of education, was it? If the state board of education is the primary source, then link to the state board of education. Otherwise we are seeing only a carefully curated selection with no context. Without that context we cannot independently verify the information used to support your claim that CRT is being taught in the schools. "Independent" without any reference to unauthorized sources. This is journalism 101.

 

[Ana the Ist]

And which of these is your own specialty?

I've been reading extensively on the topic for about 4+ years now.

I wouldn't waste my time or money on a degree in it if that's what you're asking.

I've heard it often enough myself -- but "common" doesn't mean "true."

Right, but given the fact that many are saying the same thing....it's worthy of consideration.

After all, that's the very foundation of your belief in systemic racism. It's a bunch of people saying similar things. I'm not saying it's automatically true (like you do with systemic racism) I'm saying it merits consideration.

We can look into educational programs and see if CRT ideas are being implemented, right? No harm in that, is there?

 

[Ana the Ist]

But the article was not from the state board of education, was it? If the state board of education is the primary source, then link to the state board of education. Otherwise we are seeing only a carefully curated selection with no context. Without that context we cannot independently verify the information used to support your claim that CRT is being taught in the schools. "Independent" without any reference to unauthorized sources. This is journalism 101.

I just posted screenshots from the Virginia Department of Education. It highlights the relevant parts.

Now, we can debate whether or not the people claiming CRT isn't in schools are lying or just ignorant...but I'd rather not.

Let's just talk about whether or not it should be taught.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Smart guy.
Just like the assignment listend above we ask the kids to do it for themselves. The kids define their identities based on where they are at, what they value and what "groups" they are a part of. This includes innocuous safe groups (hockey teams, church groups, homework clubs) and others (nationality, religion, etc....). It's up to the KIDS to say their identities.

To head off the further question (which I would see coming) I don't assess them based on how close "I think they come to what I see as their identities". I assess them based on the effort and thought they put into the number of groups they identify with and the order the prioritize their group identities.

To get an EXCELLENT grade in this subject by the end of the year, they would recognize how their identity affects their opinions and worldviews.


This isn't CRT. This is just "junior high level reflective, personal investigative thought".


And anyone who wants to discuss this lesson further, I'm totally game. But I will likely have some questions too.

And what if the child says he doesn't really identify with any groups and sees themselves as a unique individual ?

 

[rambot]

I just posted screenshots from the Virginia Department of Education. It highlights the relevant parts.

Now, we can debate whether or not the people claiming CRT isn't in schools are lying or just ignorant...but I'd rather not.

Let's just talk about whether or not it should be taught.

The first one looks like a definition of terms. That's hardly damnable.
And then, that they used a CRT book to inform some of their definitions.

I only saw the most recent post. Is there another screenshot where they ACTUALLY talk about it being deep in the school system?

I mean, is using definition from a book about CRT in Education THAT TERRIFYING for you?

 

[Ana the Ist]

That and "Your parents will tell you what to think about everything".

Teaching a child is part of being a parent.

 

[Ana the Ist]

The first one looks like a definition of terms. That's hardly damnable.
And then, that they used a CRT book to inform some of their definitions.

The top of the page describes those books as informing "best practices" and it includes "Ibrahim X Kendi's How to be Anti-racist" as well as other CRT authors.

I only saw the most recent post. Is there another screenshot where they ACTUALLY talk about it being deep in the school system?

The better question is why would we use CRT's definition of white supremacy at all?

I mean, is using definition from a book about CRT in Education THAT TERRIFYING for you?

If it defines me and my culture as inherently immoral because of my skin color and therefore must be torn down....

Yes we have a problem. A big problem.

 

[bekkilyn]

Very few people would have issues with schools teaching about events that actually happened. It's a good thing to know history and parts of history that may have been left out HOWEVER when it's couched in "CRT" catch-phrases such as "whiteness" and "fragility" and "collective guilt" as some examples, and even applied to students, then it becomes problematic because it's no longer just teaching history.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Very few people would have issues with schools teaching about events that actually happened. It's a good thing to know history and parts of history that may have been left out HOWEVER when it's couched in "CRT" catch-phrases such as "whiteness" and "fragility" and "collective guilt" as some examples, and even applied to students, then it becomes problematic because it's no longer just teaching history.

Indeed...it goes from teaching history to mythologizing it. It goes from education to political indoctrination.

I know a great many teachers aren't happy about this, but cannot risk their jobs. The ones defending it though are a disgrace to their profession. They have abandoned their ethical obligations.

 

[bekkilyn]

And what if the child says he doesn't really identify with any groups and sees themselves as a unique individual ?

What happens when a child self-identifies as a dog or Batman or believes he originated from Jupiter, as many children do? Are they going to forbid those identities while imposing more fantastical woke identities such as "cis" or "gender fluid" onto them? if he came from Mars rather than Venus, will be be told he needs to "check his privilege?"

And what if his family just moved here from Germany? Is he going to be considered a Nazi simply because he is white and not Jewish? And maybe he needs to feel guilty about slavery too, just in case.

 

[MehGuy]

so potentially CRT is correct and the cause is systemic and institutionalized racism

What do you mean by "potentially CRT is correct". Are you admitted CRT only looks at racial disparities through a systematic/institutionalized racist lens? As far as racial disparities only or mainly being due to systematic and institutionalized racism.. yes.. yes it is.

I am not scared or turned off by the idea. On the contrary, it would feel good to be able to jump back on the bandwagon and blame all or even most racial disparities on such things.

how do you know what its viewpoints are?

which is why i keep asking if you are "ignorant about CRT" how do you know your views on it are correct?

I do not want to go around in circles anymore. Either you genuinely do not understand me or you're just being obtuse. I don't care anymore..

and we have decades of those studies to call upon How many do you think found that the racial discrepancies were the result of systemic and institutionalized racism? ((While not all studies looked at racism those that did pretty much found it to be a if not the sole cause of racial discrepancies))

That's cool. Although I am not sure what you are trying to convey with this information? Are you saying these studies have proven that racial disparities are only or mostly due to systematic/institutionalized racism? Because I find that hard to believe. I find it easier to believe that academia has been searching for evidence of institutionalized racism for decades and as a consequence has developed a hefty collection of studies.

I believe racism exists, and you can certainly come up with studies pinpointing it.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

I just posted screenshots from the Virginia Department of Education. It highlights the relevant parts.

If you grabbed the screenshot from your computer, that means you must know the web address where you got it. So just provide that web address and skip the screenshot part. On the other hand, if you just copied that screenshot from some other website of unknown reliability, how do you know they did not just photoshop the image? You see the need for independent verification? This is basic journalism.

Now, we can debate whether or not the people claiming CRT isn't in schools are lying or just ignorant...but I'd rather not.

OK, then let's just stipulate the CRT isn't being taught widely in schools and move on.

Let's just talk about whether or not it should be taught.

In that case there is no argument. I think we both agree that the graduate-level concept known as CRT should not be taught as a general matter in elementary, middle, or high school.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Did you learn about the Tulsa race massacre of 1921 in school and how an entire thriving black community was displaced, never to return? Do they teach about how redlining deprived blacks of the government sponsored FHA suburban housing developments, and the lasting effect of those policies?

I have no problem with those things being taught in school.

In fact, I also think that we should teach that the Civil Rights movement was successful because ultimately race doesn't matter. We cannot rationally assume anything about someone because of their race...nor should we treat anyone differently because of their race.

This is known as racial discrimination and it's always wrong.

Would you agree that we should teach that?

 

[rambot]

And what if the child says he doesn't really identify with any groups and sees themselves as a unique individual ?

Then simply, they are not willing to be challenged.

In my limited time teaching I've never had a kid say they don't belong to any groups. Because EVERYONE belongs to groups; even simply economic classes.

It's the "self made man" fallacy. Folks think they are their own person but they're not. They're just unwilling to example possible sources of bias.

And the whole point of the exercise is to make people aware of potential biases they may/will have and be able to recognize it in themselves.

All this said, I teach in a Behaviour and Learning Assistance class so we REALLY can't manage this complex thinking patterns in my classroom. But it's what htey do in mainstream and what I do (as best as I can) with my group.

Teaching a child is part of being a parent.

I agree 100%. But limiting what your child is learning ONLY to what you want is really when you move into indoctrination.

 

[rambot]

I have no problem with those things being taught in school.

In fact, I also think that we should teach that the Civil Rights movement was successful because ultimately race doesn't matter.

[my emphasis] lol whut?

Race doesn't matter?