My kids are in a private school in Oakland, CA. Only since lockdown did I have any clue how extreme the ideology is that they've been learning. I consider myself a bleeding heart liberal, and DEI sounds much needed, in theory. But when I heard my elementary school child being taught that she is "cis-gendered, and profits from white privilege", I became alarmed. The teacher knows nothing about our family background, and I believe gender is a harmful social construct based on sexual stereotypes. My youngest believes she can choose to be a boy or girl- literally. The ever increasing focus on race has resulted in ever increasing tensions in the middle and upper schools. I would have taken my kids out for sure, but the public schools in our area never reopened after closing in March, and online learning is not an option for us.
You could simply teach them yourself. Homeschool. If you can afford to put your kids in a private school then you can afford to stay home and homeschool them yourself. You comment sounds like nothing but excuses. You would rather put them in a school that is brainwashing them to the point where they will turn against you to say that they are in private school? Sounds ridiculous to me.
So you don't find it disturbing and problematic that Louise's elementary school age child is being taught she is "cis gendered and profits from white privilege"? I think it's child abuse. Your only comment is, "If you don't like it, leave." Sick.
We already send our child to a private school. They are instituting CRT. We don't want to pull her out of the school, as it's the best in our area. How do we fight back against CRT? Are there any form letters we can use?
I know that parents at The Dalton School in NYC have begun to fight back -- I saw a letter that was posted today. Maybe google "Dalton School parents fight back" and see what you find...
You may want to google Christopher F. Rufo....I understand that he is putting together a group to challenge this. I don't know whether your politics would mesh, but you may want to look him up.
Thank you. I have been following his work for a while. I'm more of a centrist heterodox type than he is but I think his work on this stuff is going to prove invaluable and ultimately be a game changer. While this stuff may be opt in, much of what is happening in K12 is compelled speech and coerced participation in activities that appear to violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Other friends have noted to me the sudden disappearance of Jewish holidays or Jewishness from schooling - as if folding in a long-suffering, recent-suffering and, yet, successful minority is too much for the system to bear: let's simply make them 'white'.
It is from schools such as these - private, insulated and self-important - where the elite intelligentsia (if you can call it that) graduate onwards and upwards into policymaking, media, and the like...
I feel you Erika. My breaking point was there, too. I pulled my child out of a $30,000 a year third grade in Oregon. She's gotten a better education in the public school system, with a pod teacher this year, tbh.
$45,000? As a tuition-based independent school, don't they discriminate on economic status? There isn't tuition assistance for everyone, or they would be a charter school. From the website: "Brentwood School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or national or ethnic origin or ancestry in the administration of its education or admissions policies or its financial support, athletics, or other programs."
How so? The piece does not say any of this is mandatory. And I provide the link to all the sessions on the school's web page. I would also caution you about claiming "they've been asking for these conversations." Some have, yes. But many are incredibly troubled by this. I don't see how anything is taken out of context.
Again, nowhere in the piece does it say anything about these sessions being mandatory. And the link shared is to your school's website. If there is an actual inaccuracy in what I wrote, I'm happy to correct. Wait a second ---- are you the Dana Gonzalez I know in real life???
LMAO. Dana is steeped in postmodernism, even using the "it's your subjective experience / your lived experience" critical theory mantra...
There is a thing called objective facts, no matter how you try to linguistically contort and deny them.
The FACT is... you are wholly unable to refute what Erika writes so you don't even try. Instead, you try to redirect the conversation into the parameters where you have the upper hand, namely the "there is no such thing as objectivity, everything is relative, blah blah blah".
For example you write, "It's not that what you write is inaccurate, it's that it feels like a single and incomplete narrative"... So in other words, you're unable to refute what she writes, you instead make it an emotional statement about how it makes you "feel", and then you use your critical theory background to lump what she wrote in as one of many subjective "narratives".
Academia makes the brain mush. This woman is vice principal? Speaks volume to our education system.
This is so bananas! I had no idea you worked at this school. We have a *vehement* disagreement on this topic for sure but we've certainly survived many a disagreement over the years. Happy to talk about it some time somewhere other than the comments section. xoxo
Do you know how many parents and faculty are truly against this curriculum and ideology within your school? Have you had any others speak out against it and if so, how do you handle it? How are you able to get around the Civil Rights Act in regards to self segregating parent groups?
Are you monitoring and keeping track of the changes this is having on the children’s attitudes and relationships? Are you monitoring and keeping track of the changes this is having on children’s mental health? Are you monitoring and keeping track of how the parents are handling these issues with their children that come from this curriculum at their school?
Are you providing faculty any alternative diverse black voices that have spoken out against this type of education? Are you providing parents a full understanding of all sides of the CRT argument so they can make the best decisions of how to handle this issue?
Have you considered what this will mean for the kids as adults who are going to want to segregate into neighborhood and how that will affect future families and race relationships? At what point do you think society will be equitable enough for this type of teaching to cease? What is the end goal and when will you know that will be achieved?
How does this not qualify as racism and discrimination?
"Are you providing faculty any alternative diverse black voices that have spoken out against this type of education?" THIS.
Of course they don't, because that would destroy DEI where it stands.
But if they were serious about intellectual diversity, some great people to talk to would be Carol Swain, John McWhorter, Wilfred Reilly, and Glenn Loury.
Some of your followers are really mean and went straight to insulting me and my qualifications, which made me reactive and I apologize to you for that. I imagine that you don't appreciate it... I know you like to have real convos and a diversified audience. I fear some of your followers might create a vacuum or echo chamber for your publication. Knowing you, i know that's not what you want.
Anyway, always happy to give you the context and all the extra stuff around this. It extends as far as 10 years back or so. Make a date?
My kids are in a private school in Oakland, CA. Only since lockdown did I have any clue how extreme the ideology is that they've been learning. I consider myself a bleeding heart liberal, and DEI sounds much needed, in theory. But when I heard my elementary school child being taught that she is "cis-gendered, and profits from white privilege", I became alarmed. The teacher knows nothing about our family background, and I believe gender is a harmful social construct based on sexual stereotypes. My youngest believes she can choose to be a boy or girl- literally. The ever increasing focus on race has resulted in ever increasing tensions in the middle and upper schools. I would have taken my kids out for sure, but the public schools in our area never reopened after closing in March, and online learning is not an option for us.
You could simply teach them yourself. Homeschool. If you can afford to put your kids in a private school then you can afford to stay home and homeschool them yourself. You comment sounds like nothing but excuses. You would rather put them in a school that is brainwashing them to the point where they will turn against you to say that they are in private school? Sounds ridiculous to me.
The Woke Extremist racist garbage they are feeding to our kids is horrible & destructive
I'm with you
Have you looked at Bari Weiss substack yet? It's really good!
https://bariweiss.substack.com/
Also
https://abigailshrier.substack.com/
So you don't find it disturbing and problematic that Louise's elementary school age child is being taught she is "cis gendered and profits from white privilege"? I think it's child abuse. Your only comment is, "If you don't like it, leave." Sick.
Thank you for your courage and honesty.
We already send our child to a private school. They are instituting CRT. We don't want to pull her out of the school, as it's the best in our area. How do we fight back against CRT? Are there any form letters we can use?
I know that parents at The Dalton School in NYC have begun to fight back -- I saw a letter that was posted today. Maybe google "Dalton School parents fight back" and see what you find...
Try adapting the material in this article aimed at employers. There’s a form letter near the bottom.
https://newdiscourses.com/2020/07/how-talk-your-employers-about-anti-racism/
You may want to google Christopher F. Rufo....I understand that he is putting together a group to challenge this. I don't know whether your politics would mesh, but you may want to look him up.
Thank you. I have been following his work for a while. I'm more of a centrist heterodox type than he is but I think his work on this stuff is going to prove invaluable and ultimately be a game changer. While this stuff may be opt in, much of what is happening in K12 is compelled speech and coerced participation in activities that appear to violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Organizations are being started by parents to support other parents. Check out “No Left Turn in Education” (https://m.facebook.com/noleftturnineducation/) and find a chapter in your area. Also FairFirAll.org. Or email me at unmaskCRT@gmail.com and I’ll connect you.
Other friends have noted to me the sudden disappearance of Jewish holidays or Jewishness from schooling - as if folding in a long-suffering, recent-suffering and, yet, successful minority is too much for the system to bear: let's simply make them 'white'.
There is only one thing wrong with this article. Its not DEI, its DIE.
Look up easy peazy home school. It's a free homeschool program. It has Christian morals but if that offends you, I honestly don't know.
You are my favorite Karen.
It is from schools such as these - private, insulated and self-important - where the elite intelligentsia (if you can call it that) graduate onwards and upwards into policymaking, media, and the like...
I feel you Erika. My breaking point was there, too. I pulled my child out of a $30,000 a year third grade in Oregon. She's gotten a better education in the public school system, with a pod teacher this year, tbh.
$45,000? As a tuition-based independent school, don't they discriminate on economic status? There isn't tuition assistance for everyone, or they would be a charter school. From the website: "Brentwood School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or national or ethnic origin or ancestry in the administration of its education or admissions policies or its financial support, athletics, or other programs."
Of course they do. It's cosmetic diversity. It is not diversity of thought.
My child was in a school just like this until recently.
I reviewed the Brentwood School website. I think your link and assumptions are taken out of context. https://www.bwscampus.com/
The issue is that it's neo-segregationist.
How so? The piece does not say any of this is mandatory. And I provide the link to all the sessions on the school's web page. I would also caution you about claiming "they've been asking for these conversations." Some have, yes. But many are incredibly troubled by this. I don't see how anything is taken out of context.
Again, nowhere in the piece does it say anything about these sessions being mandatory. And the link shared is to your school's website. If there is an actual inaccuracy in what I wrote, I'm happy to correct. Wait a second ---- are you the Dana Gonzalez I know in real life???
LMAO. Dana is steeped in postmodernism, even using the "it's your subjective experience / your lived experience" critical theory mantra...
There is a thing called objective facts, no matter how you try to linguistically contort and deny them.
The FACT is... you are wholly unable to refute what Erika writes so you don't even try. Instead, you try to redirect the conversation into the parameters where you have the upper hand, namely the "there is no such thing as objectivity, everything is relative, blah blah blah".
For example you write, "It's not that what you write is inaccurate, it's that it feels like a single and incomplete narrative"... So in other words, you're unable to refute what she writes, you instead make it an emotional statement about how it makes you "feel", and then you use your critical theory background to lump what she wrote in as one of many subjective "narratives".
Academia makes the brain mush. This woman is vice principal? Speaks volume to our education system.
This is so bananas! I had no idea you worked at this school. We have a *vehement* disagreement on this topic for sure but we've certainly survived many a disagreement over the years. Happy to talk about it some time somewhere other than the comments section. xoxo
This woman is proud her school takes risk and experiments with children's education (no matter how much it screws up the kids!).
Instead of tried and true educational methods, she just throws shit at the wall to see what sticks. Big yikes.
This comment is everything that is wrong with education today.
I’m curious Dana, genuinely for understanding...
Do you know how many parents and faculty are truly against this curriculum and ideology within your school? Have you had any others speak out against it and if so, how do you handle it? How are you able to get around the Civil Rights Act in regards to self segregating parent groups?
Are you monitoring and keeping track of the changes this is having on the children’s attitudes and relationships? Are you monitoring and keeping track of the changes this is having on children’s mental health? Are you monitoring and keeping track of how the parents are handling these issues with their children that come from this curriculum at their school?
Are you providing faculty any alternative diverse black voices that have spoken out against this type of education? Are you providing parents a full understanding of all sides of the CRT argument so they can make the best decisions of how to handle this issue?
Have you considered what this will mean for the kids as adults who are going to want to segregate into neighborhood and how that will affect future families and race relationships? At what point do you think society will be equitable enough for this type of teaching to cease? What is the end goal and when will you know that will be achieved?
How does this not qualify as racism and discrimination?
"Are you providing faculty any alternative diverse black voices that have spoken out against this type of education?" THIS.
Of course they don't, because that would destroy DEI where it stands.
But if they were serious about intellectual diversity, some great people to talk to would be Carol Swain, John McWhorter, Wilfred Reilly, and Glenn Loury.
I have many of these answers, Er.
Some of your followers are really mean and went straight to insulting me and my qualifications, which made me reactive and I apologize to you for that. I imagine that you don't appreciate it... I know you like to have real convos and a diversified audience. I fear some of your followers might create a vacuum or echo chamber for your publication. Knowing you, i know that's not what you want.
Anyway, always happy to give you the context and all the extra stuff around this. It extends as far as 10 years back or so. Make a date?