Critical Race Theory

[Spongebob]

Are you a parent?  I'm curious what experience you bring to the topic.

I have three grown kids.  I never censored their reading and didn't take too kindly to anyone who tried to.  From my set of classics that I had as a child, I read the un-PC versions of books to my kids though explained why some words weren't acceptable any more.

I had one teacher tell me that my son was one of the few kids in her second grade class who knew the difference between fantasy and reality.  The worst was to teach kids is to hide things from them...teach them the good, the bad, and the ugly and explain is each is so.

If you have trouble getting kids to read, maybe it's because you should have been reading to them from birth on.

Yes, I have two grown girls in their twenties.

We also never censored anything and even encouraged them to read controversial material.  We had no trouble getting our girls to read, both were/are advanced readers.  Maybe because we read to them from a very young age, maybe not.  My wife is a teacher and sees many children who aren't interested in reading.  The school library tries an array of different things to encourage reading, but some kids just aren't interested.  There are some who are voracious readers and can't get enough.

One thing my wife and I both notice is how much more "involved" parents are today than when we were in school.  And I don't mean involved in a good way, either.  I mean, lots and lots of parents are absolute monsters, know-it-alls, nit-picky people who's children are all "special".  The parents are way more of a problem than their children.  One couple sent an email to the school superintendent telling him that his kids were not going to get vaccinated or wear a mask and there was nothing they could do about it.  (Turns out that wasn't true)  Many parents have crowded the city council meetings to complain about school mask mandates.  Most of these parents are of my own generation; the generation of heli-parents.  Something bad happened when we were young that convinced a lot of people that they had to hover over their children 24 hours a day to protect them from all of the horrible things that teachers, coaches, fellow students, friends, neighbors and the entire world was going to do to them.  My parents are scratching their head.  I left for school a 6 AM on the bus and didn't see them again until 6 PM when supper was served.  On Saturday I ran out of the house and didn't see them all day.  Somebody put some bad chemicals in the water, I think and ruined my generation.

Sorry I'm so bitter.  BTW, I think you did it right, so kudos!

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Something worth pointing out: In reality, CRT is something taught at college level. Undergrad level minimum, although it's probably more likely to be found at grad school level. Critical Theory is a complicated subject (and one that can get pretty batshit) and will almost certainly go over the heads of grade schoolers.

When people on the right talk about CRT, they're not talking about any actual critical theory; it's basically a label for anything that threatens to put a dent in their fragile white self-images, up to and including teaching that America gave black people a raw deal in the days when we enslaved them, let alone now.

Yes, you are right to point all of this out.  This has been discussed a lot on many platforms so I wasn't sure if it was common knowledge here.  There are no school systems teaching CRT, but because of the Ridiculous Right Media, all of the Republican voters now believe the opposite.  The governor of our state has publicly stated that our state does not teach CRT.  This wasn't to ease concerns, it was to brag that we aren't one of those nutjob Leftist Commie sanctuaries.  

So, to point out something else that might be obvious.  The RR is fearful that materials such as this book will cause harm to white children by making them feel bad about being white.  They feel that the intention is to teach white children that they are inherently bad, that all white people are racists and that they should voluntarily give up their white privilege so that people of other colors may prosper.  Or something equally ridiculous.  I've now read several articles and listened to actual parents discuss this on interviews.  I've yet to have a conversation with a live human who believes these things but I'm interested to see how that will go.

[arewethereyet]

Oh, I have experienced all the different kinds of parents.

Mine didn't ever think a teacher could be wrong and no matter what, I was at fault if there was an issue.

I knew my kids were far from perfect and was willing to listen to and support the teachers when that was appropriate and was also going to stand up for my kids when that was appropriate.

I was never so angry as the year my son's grades fell off and no one reached out to me. When I went to speak to the teachers they told me they didn't bother to call me because most parents don't care...ummm....give me a chance to care or not. The judging goes both ways.

[Spongebob]

Oh, I have experienced all the different kinds of parents.  

Mine didn't ever think a teacher could be wrong and no matter what, I was at fault if there was an issue.

I knew my kids were far from perfect and was willing to listen to and support the teachers when that was appropriate and was also going to stand up for my kids when that was appropriate.

I was never so angry as the year my son's grades fell off and no one reached out to me.  When I went to speak to the teachers they told me they didn't bother to call me because most parents don't care...ummm....give me a chance to care or not.  The judging goes both ways.

That is an interesting situation.  I can only guess they experienced a lot of parents who didn't care, but still it makes sense to try.  Well, I suppose there are some in both ends of the spectrum and from what I've seen, there really is such a thing as caring too much.

I have some young (20's and 30's) colleagues who all have young kids.  Every time they complain about something I just say the problems only grow bigger as the kid grows, my friend.

[brewer]

Most local school boards will decide what material they want in schools no matter how much the dog whistle is blown, from either side.

[arewethereyet]

Oh, I have experienced all the different kinds of parents.  

Mine didn't ever think a teacher could be wrong and no matter what, I was at fault if there was an issue.

I knew my kids were far from perfect and was willing to listen to and support the teachers when that was appropriate and was also going to stand up for my kids when that was appropriate.

I was never so angry as the year my son's grades fell off and no one reached out to me.  When I went to speak to the teachers they told me they didn't bother to call me because most parents don't care...ummm....give me a chance to care or not.  The judging goes both ways.

That is an interesting situation.  I can only guess they experienced a lot of parents who didn't care, but still it makes sense to try.  Well, I suppose there are some in both ends of the spectrum and from what I've seen, there really is such a thing as caring too much.

I have some young (20's and 30's) colleagues who all have young kids.  Every time they complain about something I just say the problems only grow bigger as the kid grows, my friend.

My kids were better off not having to answer to me if they screwed up with regard to school. I was tougher on them than any teacher could have been.

My oldest will attest to that. LOL.

Yes, I have encountered the parents who are always against the teachers and the school because their little darling(s) would never do anything wrong.

[Spongebob]

Most local school boards will decide what material they want in schools no matter how much the dog whistle is blown, from either side.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill last year banning the teaching of CRT.  In his defense, the law does mandate the teaching of some significant racial topics, such as the KKK and slavery, but it does appear to be a way to limit open discussion of current events as they relate to race.  Like many state and federal laws, it's basically a hammer where a scalpel would make more sense.  And its reactionary.

Deats:  https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/15/...heory-law/

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My kids were better off not having to answer to me if they screwed up with regard to school.  I was tougher on them than any teacher could have been.  

That was definitely my experience as well.  Punishment at school basically guaranteed more punishment when I got home.

Yes, I have encountered the parents who are always against the teachers and the school because their little darling(s) would never do anything wrong.

I know, right?

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After the Civil War was over, the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) went about rewriting the history of the South, slavery and the cause of the war.  This included having a significant impact on school history books and the erecting of pro-Confederacy monuments around the country and naming of significant places after Confederate leaders.  Now that was a coordinated effort to white wash history.

[brewer]

Most local school boards will decide what material they want in schools no matter how much the dog whistle is blown, from either side.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill last year banning the teaching of CRT.  In his defense, the law does mandate the teaching of some significant racial topics, such as the KKK and slavery, but it does appear to be a way to limit open discussion of current events as they relate to race.  Like many state and federal laws, it's basically a hammer where a scalpel would make more sense.  And its reactionary.

Deats:  https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/15/...heory-law/

Did you read the article?

This law, which goes into effect Sept. 1, includes a list of founding documents that Texas students must be taught. It also includes a list of additional historical documents written by people of color and women that House Democrats had added. It also mandates that students be taught “the history of white supremacy, including but not limited to the institution of slavery, the eugenics movement, and the Ku Klux Klan, and the ways in which it is morally wrong.”

Still, many educators and education advocacy groups had opposed the bill, which states that teachers cannot be compelled to discuss current events and if they do, they must “give deference to both sides.” Opponents say it limits honest conversations about race and racism in American society and will force teachers to equivocate on controversial or sensitive topics that will result in less educated students.

Sounds appropriate for K-12, especially in Texas. My guess is that some of those issues might never have been taught/addressed at all without this bill.

[Rev. Rye]

Just for the record, the stuff about teaching the history of white supremacy, slavery, eugenics, and the Klan (and how they're bad) is an addition to the bill made by Democrats in the House; earlier drafts mention nothing less typical than de Tocqueville. You can actually look at the process here; the vast majority of the subjects mentioned in the later version were added by Democratic members of the House, with the exception of Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists (added by Bryan Slaton).

That said, while that particular clause about the teaching of the history of white supremacy (Amendment 7) was listed as being authored by Democratic State Representative James Talarico, it is also listed as having a co-author Republican Representative Steve Toth, which may be a concession to basic decency after this particular exchange five amendments prior:




This is all the supplemental record on that day states about that amendment:

[Amendment No. 7 by Talarico and Toth was laid before the house.]

TALARICO: Thank you to Representative Toth for working with me on this amendment. It'll just add that the knowledge and skills that are developed on the first page of this bill will also include the history of white supremacy and the way in which it is morally wrong. I believe it is acceptable to the author.

[Amendment No. 7 was adopted.]

What's more troubling (and likely killed its chances of a single Democratic vote in the Senate), besides the way they worded their list of things that should not be required (which reads like it could be referring either to explicit white supremacism or their strawman version of anti-racism), is the section where they say:

(1) a teacher may not be compelled to discuss a particular current event or widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs
(2) a teacher who chooses to discuss a topic described by Subdivision (1) shall, to the best of the teacher's ability, strive to explore the topic from diverse and contending perspectives without giving deference to any one perspective;

This, I admit, might not seem too bad on first glance, but then, you remember that one of America's two political parties has a policy of saying "I reject your reality, and substitute my own" to anything the other says that they don't like, even if what they say is objectively true, or even if to do so is going against basic human decency. Hell, you only need to look at the fact that an amendment for that very bill that included "the history of January 6, 2021 insurrection and how it was a stain on American history" among things that should be on the Texas school curriculum, ended up failing after a vote that fell squarely on party lines. Or, Hell, remember that the Alt-Right movement, (which is openly racist and functionally Neo-Nazi) movement is still an alarmingly prominent movement in American politics.

[Jehanne]

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After the Civil War was over, the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) went about rewriting the history of the South, slavery and the cause of the war.  This included having a significant impact on school history books and the erecting of pro-Confederacy monuments around the country and naming of significant places after Confederate leaders.  Now that was a coordinated effort to white wash history.

Yeah, this was the "Lost Cause" movement after the Civil War that tried to portray the Civil War as being fought principally over the issue of "state rights" as opposed to the institution of slavery, and, especially, the expansion of slavery. Fortunately, scholars know better.

[brewer]

In fall of 1968 our grade school class got an 8 day version of sociology/math of the world series (video during day games, probably not in compliance with law at that time). Teachers gonna teach what they want to teach. Then I went home and every night, for an hour, I got blood and gore news from Vietnam. I'm not sure which was better/worse.