Critical Race Theory
Time for a discussion.
I had decided to research CRT (in this case, Critical Race Theory, but there is also Culturally Relevant Teaching) because of the tsunami of arguing, bill writing, etc. in the news.
I am hoping to do this as a series of posts because there is a lot to cover. This first post - for those who would like to learn more - is made up of links to provide information, both pro and con. I do want to note that back in 2013-2014, SPS had an issue with a teacher at The Center School, Jon Greenberg, who had been teaching about race and equity for a long time before one family objected. The SEA stood with Greenberg.
What it seems to have come down to then, as in now, is teaching versus preaching.
One of the best - and calmest - discussion is the wonderful historian, Heather Cox Richardson, and her podcast partner, Joanne Freeman, with their podcast, Now and Then. I think it worthy to give this a listen because both women come at the topic from a historian’s POV.
Here are two good articles on what critical race theory is:
- From Education Week
- From the American Bar Association, one of the best overviews. It’s important reading because CRT actually came from CLS, Critical Legal Study.
CRT grew from Critical Legal Studies (CLS), which argued that the law was not objective or apolitical. CLS was a significant departure from earlier conceptions of the law (and other fields of scholarship) as objective, neutral, principled, and dissociated from social or political considerations.
Their definition of CRT is a good one:
CRT is not a diversity and inclusion “training” but a practice of interrogating the role of race and racism in society that emerged in the legal academy and spread to other fields of scholarship. Crenshaw—who coined the term “CRT”—notes that CRT is not a noun, but a verb. It cannot be confined to a static and narrow definition but is considered to be an evolving and malleable practice.
It critiques how the social construction of race and institutionalized racism perpetuate a racial caste system that relegates people of color to the bottom tiers. CRT also recognizes that race intersects with other identities, including sexuality, gender identity, and others. CRT recognizes that racism is not a bygone relic of the past. Instead, it acknowledges that the legacy of slavery, segregation, and the imposition of second-class citizenship on Black Americans and other people of color continue to permeate the social fabric of this nation.
In the interest of fairness, here’s some links against CRT. I note that many states are rushing to pass bills to forbid its use (but it’s not a curriculum) and, in Missouri, one legislator said you can’t really define it because it means different things to different people. But he was fine with passing a law over a term he cannot define.
- Prager U. Their main guy, James Lindsay, is actually a calm person which is refreshing from the red-in-the-face, “you can’t make my child learn this” types. He does call woke culture a “cult.”
- The Federalist. A lot of hyperventilating here. As well, the use of key conservative terms like “indoctrination” as well as this idea that school should not teach kids what to think but how to think. Well, if you serve them pablum as history, I’m thinking they don’t need to even think that much.
- An advocacy group, No Left Turn in Education.
Unfortunately, all too often words such as diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, anti-racism, systemic racism, human rights education and health education concealed an aggressive, radical totalitarian ideology.
Most teachers have a hard enough time getting through all they must teach in a day to have time to plan the overthrow of the nation. I could be wrong.
Among their goals:
- Restore parental function in public education and elevate the family as a core teaching unit of society.
I’d love to know what they mean by “parental function.”
- Promote fact-based teaching.
- Demand federal funds be withheld from educational institutions that engage in politicizing public schools and radical indoctrination.
I would say good luck with that.
- Restore American patriotism in the classroom, including presenting our nations as consistently forward-thinking in its elevation of individual liberty and democratizing traditional Liberalism.
- Promote classical education in the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue.
Comments
https://thefrontporch.org/2020/06/the-christian-and-critical-race-theory-part-1-a-survey-of-the-traditional-civil-rights-discourse/
I found this series quite educational on the context: how CRT connects historically to the 1960s and how it developed from there.
Also, both racism and anti-racism in the U.S. have had strong Christian ties, so that perspective is illuminating to this me as a non-believer.
The fractions within the Liberals is particularly interesting. Younger liberals are much more progressive than older liberals. The Clinton-Obama-Biden wing has its hands on the levers of power, but for how much longer?
The Boomers, I suspect, are not going to enjoy the far push to the left by the millennial/gen z progressives.
CRT is a battleground where the factions will fight. There will be no “winner.”
We are entering very interesting times. Will there be leaders that come forward and identify common threads through our fractious groups? That will be able to define America and Americans?
In many places it is not acceptable to hold CRT up to scrutiny. Nor do other groups allow criticism or critique of the American dream or the primacy of the right of individuals to pursue happiness.
I hope your blog can continue to be a place where light can shine.
I look forward to more discussion of CRT.
'
Critical Race Theory is very rigid. Individuals are cast into groups dependent upon their skin color. Individuals are considered either Oppressors or Oppressed; the concept of neutrality is challenged. There seems to be little to no regard for goodwill, individuals that have worked to promote racial justice, scholarship opporunities etc. One might consider the words proletariat and bourgeoise that were extensively used for a period of time.
Critical Race Theory claims systemic racism is entrenched in every system. Consideration of societal issues do not appear to fit into the equation.
Critical Theory should be studied in high school and done in a critical way. No one should blindly accept any theory as absolute truth.
Agree, it’s a theory, a lens to apply. It is helpful for understanding power and historical wrongs, although there is often not an actionable item to move forward. It is sometimes self defeating, given the constraints of the system we are in. Example: Director Hampson thinks online school “fixed racism,” bc she can see migroaggressions happening on camera. Yeah, closing schools and putting everyone on cameras is obviously not the best outcome for anyone.
But banning ideas we deem dangerous is perhaps the greater evil here, how can we be champions of learning and critical thinking if there are no-fly zones? Not a fan of anti-CRT laws, although I do wonder if progressives will remember this ideal the next time a sexy conservative idea comes along that we want to outlaw.
Both Ways
These are not just hypothetical definitions. To a district staff member that believes in Critical Race Theory, a district staff member that simply wants to be “non-racist” now becomes “racist”, because non-racist is not an option. The record shows that at least one senior staff member bullied or otherwise harassed other district staff for not being anti-racist.
Anybody that wants to understand where this can potentially lead should search for “Evergreen State College Protests” where a “liberal” white professor objected to being “asked” to leave campus for a day as part of “anti-racism” protest. By refusing to take this anti-racism action, he was labeled as “racist” and eventually forced to resign. Ironically, four years since the protests, Evergreen’s attendance has dropped by half, even thought 97% of all applicants are admitted. So now there is an “anti-racist” college that virtually anyone can attend, but few want to attend.
How about we define something called “Critical Homelessness Theory” where a person or institution is either against homelessness and takes action such as hosting the homeless on their property (or institution’s property), or they by definition are for homelessness because they haven’t taken specific action. Or “Critical Environmentalist Theory”, where a person either rides a bike everywhere or is deemed an environment hater.
I believe racism is a serious issue that must be addressed, but my number one agenda item is raising my kids in the context of a world with many pressing agendas. I am in no way against the district taking action against racism, but I am very much against Critical Race Theory. Perhaps some SPS district staff also simply want to focus on teaching students in a non-racist way, not an anti-racist way, and perhaps I'm not the only parent that appreciates teachers that focus on teaching math, science, history, English, and the arts.
Similarily, I have not seen pediatricians or child psychologists peer review CRT and the manner in which tenants should be taught to elementary school students.
JK
JK