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Penfield Central School District started the 2021-22 school year on September 1! Congratulations to all of the students, families, teachers, administrators, staff and other professionals that made this a reality! Full-time and in-person! This wasn’t an easy journey and there are still folks not pleased with the re-opening plan. The best we can do is show our children that we have their backs and at the same time, help them understand and actualize that they are part of a community. Being part of a community has both tremendous privileges and tremendous responsibilities.
Some parents/families seem to be forgetting they are part of a community. They are often coming from a place of fear, backed by their privilege. The two burning issues this year have been 1. DEI – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and 2. Pandemic related re-opening plans. We see it on the news, but we REALLY see it on social media.
So, here are some facts (and some of my reflections)…
DEI: “CRT” is an acronym for both Critical Race Theory and Culturally Responsive Teaching. Critical Race Theory is NOT TAUGHT IN K-12 schools. I found a good article that not only defines it, but discusses the current debate on CRT: What is Critical Race Theory and Why Is It Under Attack?
Per the article, the definition of Critical Race Theory:
“Critical race theory is an academic concept that is more than 40 years old. The core idea is that racism is a social construct, and that it is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies”. Critical race theory is taught in higher education, specifically law programs. So, please stop with the “keep CRT out of our schools”. It was never in.
CRT – Culturally Responsive Teaching is embedded in pedagogy. Embedded means it is an approach. It too, is not a curriculum. The broader approach, which NY State DOE includes in its standards is “Culturally Responsive – Sustaining Education (CR-S)”.
However, the intent behind those “against CRT” and “DEI” is the issue, regardless of definition clarity. Parents wanting to “opt out” for any class with DEI topics, parents wanting to be given a full run down of a lesson plan if it touches on DEI issues before it is implemented, parents actually pulling their children from public schools out of fear that any of this “DEI stuff” will impact them. WHAT THE HELL?!
DEI is not a class; it is not a worksheet. CR-S is an approach, a way to educate critical thinkers, inspire self-reflection and sense of self. It is part and parcel of excellent pedagogy and school administration. It’s what happens when a teacher reviews the way they set up their classroom and notice they put all of the girls in front. It’s what happens when the librarian notices all of the display books in the library are by white authors. It’s what happens when a child asks to start a club for youth with ADHD and the building principal finds an advisor. It’s what happens when a student can’t afford the prom ticket and there is already a confidential pathway to make it happen anyway. It’s also what happens in class when students are tasked to research a part of history followed by critical questions and discussion including, “Who was there? Who was not there? Why not? How does their inclusion/exclusion then impact that group today?” Culturally responsive and equity building.
We pay taxes, yes, but public-school personnel DO NOT WORK FOR YOU PERSONALLY. They are working for the greater community. Their charge is to uplift children by educating them, teaching them to be critical thinkers, teaching them how to function in a group and society. You show your fear and ignorance when you don’t want your child to engage in critical analysis and history. I have only experienced white parents/families expressing their fear and ignorance.
Penfield Central School District has a page outlining their terminology in a great effort to build common language among all stakeholders. We have to be talking about the same thing to have effective conversations. Penfield’s DEI Terminology.
In terms of the pandemic-related re-opening plans…geesh! Some parents/families are really angry about mask mandates. Seriously? I won’t even go into the science as I know you can find it everywhere. I have only experienced white parents/families angry when school districts didn’t return to 5 day in-person at their command (last year) and to masks mandates. Like really, really, angry. Crazy angry.
Parents are ENRAGED by their child being taught history and current relevance. Parents are ENRAGED their child must wear a mask and were ENRAGED when their child wasn’t safe to be in school 5 days last year. Where was this rage in Penfield when the “n” word and swastikas were carved into the lunch tables of our high school? Oh, these weren’t attacks on your child? For this, you trusted the Administration to deal with it?
To us white people – this is what folx around you mean when they talk about “white rage”. To have the time and energy to show up at every school board meeting screaming at school board members, trolling them on their LinkedIn accounts, regularly galvanizing hate on social media, writing email upon email to the PTAs, the Administrators, even the parents (if you abuse the school directory) about experiences you don’t want for your child…that time and resource is privilege. You show your fear and ignorance when you rage about things that are supposed to help build healthier, safer and more equitable communities.
So, how do we build community and teach our children to be engaged and functional within communities? For some of us, it’s time for deeper self-reflection and discussion. For some of us, stay consistent. Keep teaching your/our children that others matter. That community can uplift you if you uplift others. But, also teach them that hate has no place in their community and they CAN and SHOULD stand up to it. Being part of a community has both tremendous privileges and tremendous responsibilities.
Celebration note – Penfield Central School District hired two Black Women leaders this summer:
The shift toward diversity and representation can happen when a community is intentional, strategic and supportive! Keep going Penfield! Thank you to these women for accepting roles in our district!
Sources:
mailing address P.O. BOX 10011, Rochester, NY 14610 • info540westmain@gmail.com
2 Responses
“You show your fear and ignorance when you don’t want your child to engage in critical analysis and history. I have only experienced white parents/families expressing their fear and ignorance.” Let’s be honest Meghan, you have only experienced “white parents/families” because that is all you know and associate with. If you seem to think Penfield white “folx” has a race issue, instead look at the administration that you so blindly defend. Up until this year, 100% of administrators and teachers in PCSD were white. It seems to me that the issue does not fall on parents at all, it rests entirely on the district and the superintendent who does the hiring and promoting of staff.
Before you begin your new career as a blogger? I suggest you research. You sound ignorant “I have only experienced white parents/families angry when school districts didn’t return to 5 day in-person…” Making statements like that only demonstrates your lack of knowledge on CRT with categorizing thoughts and beliefs by the color of your skin…which is the opposite of what you say you believe. In fact, you sound racist.
Hi Audra,
I’m struggling a bit with my response, but I can tell you I don’t see a new career for myself as a blogger. I like participating in these conversations, along with the work itself. 540 West Main allows for an outlet for community members to engage in this way.
In terms of research, I’m not clear as to what you felt was not researched or factual. I don’t understand your connection between the “I have only experienced white parents/families angry when school districts didn’t return to 5 day in-person…” and my ‘lack of knowledge of CRT”. They were two separate topics. My experience is my experience, nobody can argue with that. But, I can tell you I have had several conversations with BOE members and Administrators. I have researched CRT on my own and with others, but no, I am not an expert on Critical Race Theory. I do believe the PCSD’s direction is the right one. I do believe they are aligning with the right people and the right work. You are correct, the recent past was not a strong demonstration of diversity in our district leadership, nor equity building in practices. But there is willingness and energy to engage in change. And change is happening, within our school district anyway.
I do not know if you are from Penfield, but your response makes me think you might be. Either way, I am happy to connect off-line if you are interested. Sharing thoughts via written word is one way to communicate, but it is certainly not necessarily the best way.