STANDING UP AND FIGHTING BACK
A report on the front page of the Nov. 17 Metro Section in the Washington Post reminds us that when parents and students stand up to the “book burners,” Board of Education members discover their backbones – or are given important positive reinforcement to continue to engage in thoughtful educational practices.
This story came just days after a Nov. 14 national news article in the Post carried a disturbing headline (“Conservative school board wins may dampen racial equity efforts”). But the news in that article also reminds us that when parents and students refuse to be beaten down by the screaming, progress can continue.
The Nov. 14 article recognized that while in most recent school board elections “conservatives” lost, “many observers argue that the victories these conservative candidates did notch, and the intense heat the races generated, will have ramifications nationwide.”
But only if we do not stand up to them. The Nov. 14 article closes with this description of what occurred in a town in Connecticut:
“In 2020, the seaside community of Guilford, Conn., reckoned with the murder of Floyd by a White police officer in Minneapolis by implementing more diverse perspectives into the school curriculum and changing the school’s nickname, the Indians.
“As this was unfolding, some students expressed confusion and frustration talking to their parents about the complex issues around race, gender and history that were being addressed in the classroom, said Guilford resident Arnold Skretta, an attorney who was not on the school board at the time.
“Educators and the school board emphasized to families that critical race theory was not being taught in the classroom, but some parents and officials didn’t believe them, accusing the district in a Zoom forum of trying to make people of color feel more welcome ‘at the expense of White Judeo-Christians,’ Skretta said.
“’At that point, it was blatant, overt racism,’” said Skretta, 42.
“Five conservatives were already running for the school board, having ousted three more traditional Republican school board members in the GOP primary in September. Skretta had tracked their rise and joined a group of Democratic and independents to run against them.
“The conservatives drew national interest and money to their race, appearing on Fox News several times, but last week, they lost by 2-to-1 margins.
“Skretta credited high turnout and said he could not have won without significant voter engagement. He hoped that could be a blueprint for races elsewhere.
“’What happened here in Guilford is the consequence of a town getting engaged,’ he said. ‘Democrats can’t let the right wing weaponize school boards.”’
When we stand up, we win. If we cower or give up, we will lose – as will our children and grandchildren
No comments:
Post a Comment