The assertion of 'parental choice' in schools is headed in disturbing directions

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/11/18/parental-choice-critical-race-theory-schools-gop-control/

No paywall
https://archive.ph/WWOhN

The destructive right-wing march through our institutions continues apace.

There is considerable debate on the causes of the GOP victory in Virginia’s gubernatorial election: President Biden’s dismal approval ratings? Glenn Youngkin’s talent as an ideological shape-shifter? But Republican activists believe their assault on critical race theory in public schools struck a chord — and it now has national momentum.

The evidence that CRT is actually influencing history instruction in classrooms remains sparse. Anti-CRT activists have mainly revealed a growing industry of expensive, hyper-woke diversity instructors hired by school districts to coach administrators and teachers. This issue is worth putting on the agenda of a civil, orderly school board meeting.

But this is decidedly not the point, which becomes ever clearer as emboldened Republican state legislators unvarnish their intentions. North Dakota’s new law banning CRT in K-12 education provides this definition: “For purposes of this section, ‘critical race theory’ means the theory that racism is not merely the product of learned individual bias or prejudice, but that racism is systemically embedded in American society and the American legal system to facilitate racial inequality.”

Imagine being a history teacher trying to tell the American story under such constraints. The inequities in wealth accumulation due to centuries of stolen labor? The zoning and lending practices that have maintained White neighborhoods? The systems of policing and incarceration that regularly produce indignities and injustice for Black people? Tearing these topics out of high school curriculums would, at least, leave plenty of time for field trips. North Dakota’s definition of racism is so narrow that it is, in effect, racist.

*snip*

[milestogo]

1. Home school your right wing kids.

[Mopar151]

3. Handicap them from further education.

Leave them out in left field on job skills.

Make them as dumb as their parents? Yeah, that's the ticket!

[onecaliberal]

2. Parental choice home school.

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

4. If I was a history teacher I would just stop teaching human history.

I think history of animal heroes and the history of animals becoming part of our society is a good history. History of people overcoming natural disasters. I would not say anything about people. Only names. I would not even use he or she just the names. If the parents want to tell the kids if they are of color or male or female that is their choice. If they try to tell me I am not giving them all of history I would tell them that was their decision.

I guess I wouldn't be a history teacher for long.