Note: the author of this 4-part series on identifying CRT in private schools is an anonymous mother of 2 children who attend private school in the southeast.
The statement of non-discrimination, which identifies what groups are protected from discrimination from an organization has evolved in the “Diversity Statement” and now covers several pages on a school’s website under the tab “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” or DEI. There is so much to unpack on these pages to understand what the school culture is going to teach each student.
Most Americans do not object to the concept of diversity. We are a country made up of all different people and once considered ourselves a melting pot, where anyone can come to the United States and become an American. Inclusion is another idea that most Americans are in favor of, especially in the education arena. No child should feel excluded at school. The word to focus on that stands out as the problem is equity.
Prominently featured on the websites of independent schools is the word equity. This word seems perfectly benign; Americans frequently talk about equality which is even discussed in our Declaration of Independence. But there is a big difference between equality and equity. Equality means equal opportunity and applying the rules evenly to all. Yet equity means equal outcomes and to achieve those equal outcomes it means certain groups need to be elevated above others. Human nature will never fully allow for equal outcomes, as noted by economist Thomas Sowell, “If there is not equality of outcomes among people born the same parents and raised under the same roof, why should equality of outcomes be expected—or assumed—when conditions are not nearly so comparable?”
Another term that is seen on many DEI web pages is “antiracism”, which was recently popularized by Professor Ibram X. Kendi who has written numerous books on the topic for various ages. Kendi believes, “Racial inequality is when two or more racial groups are not standing on approximately equal footing.” Kendi is arguing that racism is about unequal outcomes rather than the more traditional definition or racism that is the favoring of one race over another. His solution to remedy this inequity is antiracism, which is a type of activism that calls for individuals to continually fight against racism everywhere they encounter it. Instead of trying to end discrimination, he sees discrimination as an antiracist tool to elevate his preferred protected classes as stated in his book How to be an Antiracist, “The only remedy to racist discrimination is antiracist discrimination. The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination.” He also argues that there is no such thing as a non-racist. Everyone is either racist or anti-racist. According to Kendi, “Only racists say they’re not racist.” It’s a modern day Kafka trap.
Schools are now training students how to be activists with this specific world view. Is this type of education beneficial to students, families, or society? To impose this curriculum on the students, schools have hired administrators with titles such as Director of Institutional Equity and Director of Diversity. But the position is not limited to a single person, rather there are entire departments dedicated to this type of work. When exploring the DEI tab on a school’s website make note of how many people the school employs for DEI work.
Another area to make note of is how many affinity groups the school promotes for students, faculty and even parents to belong. Clubs such as the Black Student Union, Latinos Unidos, Muslim Student Association, Asian Affinity Group, LGBTQIA+, Jewish Affinity Group, etc. divides students and makes the school culture more tribal. This is completely opposite of the goal for inclusion. Rather than healing divisions among students these groups further racial divides.
Other buzz words that are common on these web pages are systemic racism, microaggressions, and implicit bias. While they all have their own definitions, they all fall under the umbrella term of Critical Race Theory. These ideas are being used by “anti-racist” administrators to elevate their favored, protected groups thereby making the school culture more tribal and divided. It is an endless cycle of victimhood.
In addition to the administrators, the schools are hiring outside consultants to educate faculty and students alike on Critical Race Theory. The top three organizations, according to Parents Defending Education are Panorama Education Inc., National Equity Project, and Pacific Education Group. These organizations are making millions of dollars selling CRT to schools. Be on the lookout for these diversity consultants and dozens of others on the school websites. Parents Defending Education has created the Consultant Report Card to expose these organizations.
The bulk of information gathering will be under the DEI tab, but there is still plenty left to explore on the schools’ websites.
Learn more about CRT in private school curricula in Part 3 of this series.
Pingback: How to Identify Critical Race Theory in Private Schools – Part I - Speak Up For Education