Combatting moms for liberty misinformation- 2022 midterms post #3/4
Extremists, like the Hartland Clean Slate, want to scare us into thinking that understanding one’s race is dangerous for our kids. But let's define the difference between race and racism. Let's be sure to understand these differences as we look at Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Hang in there with us as we dive into some definitions as it is important to understand the scope of the real issue here.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary RACE is a noun defined as “any one of the groups that humans are often divided into based on physical traits regarded as common among people of shared ancestry. Also : the fact of dividing people, or of people being divided, into such groups : categorization by race. A group of people sharing a common cultural, geographical, linguistic, or religious origin or background. The descendants of a common ancestor : a group sharing a common lineage. A group of living things considered as a category.”
The Merriam-Webster defines RACISM as a noun. ‘A belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. Behavior or attitudes that reflect and foster this belief : racial discrimination or prejudice. The systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another. A political or social system founded on racism and designed to execute its principles”
It is also important to understand what the word systemic means as well. Merriam Webster says that, Systematic and systemic both come from system. Systematic is the more common word; it most often describes something that is done according to a system or method. Systemic describes what relates to or affects an entire system.
For example, a systemic disease affects the entire body or organism, and systemic changes to an organization have an impact on the entire organization, including its most basic operations.
We want to assume that the Clean Slate and Brooke Chapel are coming from a place of authenticity in their fight for what they feel is best for the kids. That they are representing conservative parents with genuine concerns, who want more control over their child’s education. This is understandable, but not what is actually happening.
It has become clear that their goal is much more dangerous as evident by the extremist sources that they cite in their public discussions. Let's not get confused regarding what their agenda is actually about; to defund public education in order to funnel public funds to private schools or charters where they can control the curriculum, exclude marginalized people, further whitewash history, etc. The made up outrage over CRT (see post #1) seems to be code language for “do not teach my children about racism.”
On the public ‘Glenn Gogoleski for Hartland Schools’ FaceBook page there’s a post from 10/19 where the Clean Slate candidate says “CRT? There is no CRT being taught in schools! No way! None at all. Nothing to see here. Keep moving.” And then links this page as his “evidence.” Context is important, if you click on it you will read Karen Niemi’s (CEO of The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning -CASEL) June 2020 response to the murder of George Floyd, which had just happened a few weeks prior.
Gogoleski then goes on to state that “SEL on its own is not a bad tool for kids with issues. But it has been bastardized by the CASEL Group which is the leading purveyor of materials and SEL curriculum.”
First off, what is he even getting at when he says “for kids with issues”? In his argument he accuses the author, Kamilah Drummond-Forrester as “weaponizing SEL to indoctrinate children with her hyper-racialist views.” At the time, Drummond-Forrester was the director of the Open Circle, an SEL curriculum developer highly regarded by CASEL, that created a lesson-based approach to SEL in grades K-5.
Here is an excerpt from the article he linked in this argument: “At Open Circle, the evidence-based SEL program for school-age children that I direct, we work to develop children’s skills for recognizing and managing emotions, empathy, positive relationships, and problem solving. These competencies promote intrapersonal, interpersonal, and cognitive knowledge, skills, and attitudes that support lifelong success. One of the core competencies we focus on, as a necessary foundation for the others, is self-awareness. That self-awareness must include race” (not racism).“ Racism is the behavior or attitudes that reflect and foster this belief : racial discrimination or prejudice. The Clean Slate seems to use race and racism interchangeably. This is misleading and dangerous.
Gogoleski continues to say that, “without acknowledging that many parents probably don’t want their children obsessing about “race” or being propagandized by a far-left activist posing as an educator. They have adjusted the pillar of Social Awareness as a political tool for leftist ideology. . . THIS is THE problem with SEL in the hands of those that wish to impart their political beliefs on students.”
Since when is race a leftist ideology? Since when are teachers imparting their own views on children?
Let’s actually look at the SEL breakdowns that are used in Hartland Elementary Schools. You will see kindergarten through fourth grade attached. They are teaching the five CASEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Please see the attached photos to see SEL up close and how it is communicated to the families in our community. How are these domains imparting a teacher's political views on their students?
What is the Clean Slate afraid of?
Wishing an Orthodox Greek family a Happy Easter, Happy Rosh Hashanan to their Jewish friend, or an Italian-American family enjoying the feast of the seven fishes, or saying Happy Diwali to those who celebrate? Since when is respecting everyone no matter their gender, race and ethnicity a bad thing to want for our children? Again race vs racism.
One cannot exist and truly know who they are and what their gifts are without understanding their race. This teaching comes from every family and every culture. It is acceptable for all of us to see that and honor that without thinking it’s anti-whiteness. Every culture has their own traditions. Why would we not embrace that? Children see differences early in their lives. It seems like Gogoleski and the Clean Slate want to erase any mention of diversity and race.
Through Gogoleski’s words, he clearly thinks teachers are pushing a leftist ideology. The Clean Slate claims they support teachers, but clearly do not. The Clean Slate is making their agenda of marginalizing any child that is “other” front and center on their campaign. This is dangerous for all of us and mostly for our children.
Let’s look at some of the cited resources on The Hartland Clean Slate’s website. The article Trading Academics for Far-Left ‘Social-Emotional Learning’ says that “some of what falls under the SEL umbrella is fairly harmless. But then again, the food pellets that contain rat poison are fairly harmless, too—at least until the poison, which is just a trace component in the pellets, is digested by the intended victim.”
This resource continues to say that “Under SEL Competencies, CASEL drops multiple bombshells acknowledging the far-left globalist indoctrination taking place under the guise of “social” and “emotional” learning. SEL competencies can be leveraged to develop justice-oriented, global citizens, and nurture inclusive school and district communities,” it states, adding that the programs will involve getting children to “assess power dynamics” and confront “issues of race and class across different settings.”
After looking at the SEL competencies, this seems like a drastic leap to make. Under self-awareness the concept of knowing one's race is a component, however racism is not.
Glenn Gogoleski, says “here is the CASEL President OPENLY talking (in a youtube video) about politicizing SEL. It is no longer acceptable to not be a racist, but you must be "anti-racist", as BLM founder Ibram X. Kendi labeled it. And CASEL uses many CRT terms like "white privilege", "systemic racism", "inherent white bias" and others.”
The YouTube video was created in response to George Floyd's murder. The video description states that it was created “in response to the painful events that have highlighted ongoing systemic racism and violence against the Black community, we discuss equity and racial injustice through the lens of SEL.”
When the link is clicked, Karen Niemi, CASEL president and CEO says that “ we believe there is no system more important than education to fighting against racism. We feel that our work in social emotional learning can actively contribute to anti-racism” (meaning no racism). Niemi continues to say, “to have actions, to goals and having the moral courage to act in the face of challenges, hard challenges like racism.”
We end with the words of Drummond-Forrester. “We are doing white children a disservice by teaching them to think of themselves as not possessing race within a racialized society. We are doing children of color a disservice by teaching them to think of themselves as “other.”
Original post https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14NWAnnaTbD/
