Critical Race Theory

[Spongebob]

It is possible that I'm over reacting to this sort of thing, which is something I tend to do. On the one hand, I believe teachers should be free to discuss all aspects of current events and students are likely to be more interested in that than, say, events that happened 150 years ago. This reminds me of the Socratic method of teaching and I feel there's value in that.

On the other hand, I'm also a big proponent of curriculums. This is one tool science had leaned on heavily to ensure that science teachers don't veer into creationism and "explore" the differences between religion and science, giving both equal time in a science classroom. In grade school, there is no such thing as academic freedom (as opposed to college). Teachers are meant to teach what the school board has approved. So I guess I'm not being very consistent here.

And with social media today, does it really matter? Kids get exposed to so much more news and events than I did that its incredible. I remember seeing stories about Watergate on the evening news and asking my parents what that meant. We never heard about this in school or anywhere else. Had I not seen it on the news I might have not known it existed and its a wonder I was watching the news anyway; it was mostly boring. I was just waiting for Start Trek to come on.

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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 It also includes a list of additional historical documents written by people of color and women that House Democrats had added.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.

Of course I read the article.  I wouldn't have commented otherwise.  Your guess could be wrong.  The intention is to prevent teachers from discussing anything they deem "uncomfortable" for white children that regard race relations.  As I said in the OP, this now extends to the books that populate the library and of course the determination of what books pass muster is left up to a white person's judgement.  The book I mentioned in the OP doesn't sound remotely like something that should be banned.  But this is the sort of thing that happens when society does this kind of thing (speaking generally).  I believe this is little more than a modern version of Jim Crow.

[The Grand Nudger]

The curriculum is a measuring device. Not so much that it's all kids need to know or all that can be taught, but a common core, if you will, by which teachers and students can all be assessed for development and competency. You have to follow it when you homeschool too, technically, but there's no enforcement. There are also a ton of books on curriculums all over the country that the reich wing is losing it's shit about in their current satanic panic.

If you get the parents to read these books, you'd probably find that even they don't quite understand what's supposed to be bad about the book. It's not the content, it's not the specific books, or the freedom of educators or the duty of parents. I'll let chris rufo explain it, it's his baby anyway.

"We will eventually turn critical race theory toxic, as we put all of the various cultural insanities under that brand category. The goal is to have the public read something crazy in the newspaper and immediately think 'critical race theory'."

Well done.

[Spongebob]

The curriculum is a measuring device.  Not so much that it's all kids need to know or all that can be taught, but a common core, if you will, by which teachers and students can all be assessed for development and competency.  You have to follow it when you homeschool too, technically, but there's no enforcement.  There are also a ton of books on curriculums all over the country that the reich wing is losing it's shit about in their current satanic panic.  

Oh, you said another dirty word, "common core".  (extreme sarcasm)  The RR has simply lost their shit about schools using a basic measuring bar for successful learning.  You know its Obama's Communist indoctrination, right?

If you get the parents to read these books, you'd probably find that even they don't quite understand what's supposed to be bad about the book.  It's not the content, it's not the specific books, or the freedom of educators or the duty of parents.  I'll let chris rufo explain it, it's his baby anyway.

From what I've read so far, this is part of the problem.  They don't seem to be even looking at the material; when the Fox News hunters say attack, they go wherever the finger is pointed and start clawing.  If they read this book, I don't see why anyone would object to it.  My wife described it as Diary of a Wimpy kid from a black kid's POV.

"We will eventually turn critical race theory toxic, as we put all of the various cultural insanities under that brand category. The goal is to have the public read something crazy in the newspaper and immediately think 'critical race theory'."

Well done.

I believe this is where we are now.

[brewer]

Of course I read the article.  I wouldn't have commented otherwise.  Your guess could be wrong.  The intention is to prevent teachers from discussing anything they deem "uncomfortable" for white children that regard race relations.  As I said in the OP, this now extends to the books that populate the library and of course the determination of what books pass muster is left up to a white person's judgement.  The book I mentioned in the OP doesn't sound remotely like something that should be banned.  But this is the sort of thing that happens when society does this kind of thing (speaking generally).  I believe this is little more than a modern version of Jim Crow.

Don't you mean communities judgement? Not all white people select white only. And wiki tells me that in 2019 only 41% of the non hispanic population was white.

[Spongebob]

Of course I read the article.  I wouldn't have commented otherwise.  Your guess could be wrong.  The intention is to prevent teachers from discussing anything they deem "uncomfortable" for white children that regard race relations.  As I said in the OP, this now extends to the books that populate the library and of course the determination of what books pass muster is left up to a white person's judgement.  The book I mentioned in the OP doesn't sound remotely like something that should be banned.  But this is the sort of thing that happens when society does this kind of thing (speaking generally).  I believe this is little more than a modern version of Jim Crow.

Don't you mean communities judgement? Not all white people select white only.

Do you want an award or something for not being one of "those"?

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An excerpt of the book can be read HERE.

On page 2/3 you can see that the family is about to enroll Jordan into a private school, but the father is concerned that there isn't much diversity there.

On page 19, Jordan arrives at the school and sees a lot of white kids.  He sees a black man drive up and there's an emoticon suggesting he likes that, but then he sees that the black man is just the driver who opens the door for a little white girl.  Later, on page 27 there's an encounter with other black kids and one is accused of being an oreo.  

This is the sort of thing that these people are critical of.  They interpret this as a sort of white shaming which is intended to make white people feel bad about themselves.  They consider this hurtful and even dangerous for white children.  To me this just appears to be a story about a black kid who is navigating a mostly white society, something most black people do at some point in their life.  Most of the stories also happen to be autobiographical, so they aren't just made up from popular culture.  The author is sharing his own experiences.

[Ahriman]

I am definitely against the teaching of CRT 

[Spongebob]

I am definitely against the teaching of CRT 

Of course you are, but then you likely have no idea what it is either.  And you also don't understand that what I've been talking about is not Critical Race Theory at all!

[brewer]

Don't you mean communities judgement? Not all white people select white only.

Do you want an award or something for not being one of "those"?

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An excerpt of the book can be read HERE.

On page 2/3 you can see that the family is about to enroll Jordan into a private school, but the father is concerned that there isn't much diversity there.

On page 19, Jordan arrives at the school and sees a lot of white kids.  He sees a black man drive up and there's an emoticon suggesting he likes that, but then he sees that the black man is just the driver who opens the door for a little white girl.  Later, on page 27 there's an encounter with other black kids and one is accused of being an oreo.  

This is the sort of thing that these people are critical of.  They interpret this as a sort of white shaming which is intended to make white people feel bad about themselves.  They consider this hurtful and even dangerous for white children.  To me this just appears to be a story about a black kid who is navigating a mostly white society, something most black people do at some point in their life.  Most of the stories also happen to be autobiographical, so they aren't just made up from popular culture.  The author is sharing his own experiences.

I see.

[Ahriman]

I am definitely against the teaching of CRT 

Of course you are, but then you likely have no idea what it is either.  And you also don't understand that what I've been talking about is not Critical Race Theory at all!

I know what CRT boils down to, it's just black people wanting more power, same old shit. But not even ALL black people, I mean, it's just a dedicated group of malcontents who drafted the basis for CRT, anyway. I don't even think your average black person would benefit from teaching this crap.

[Spongebob]

Of course you are, but then you likely have no idea what it is either.  And you also don't understand that what I've been talking about is not Critical Race Theory at all!

I know what CRT boils down to, it's just black people wanting more power, same old shit. But not even ALL black people, I mean, it's just a dedicated group of malcontents who drafted the basis for CRT, anyway. I don't even think your average black person would benefit from teaching this crap.

And thank you for proving my point.  Are you really this daft or do you just like poking people?

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I see.

Of course you do.

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There's also an audio version of this book online: https://jerrycraft.com/books/new-kid/#audiobook