District Spends Almost $150,000 on Critical Race Theory Aligned Training
Critical Race Theory (CRT) remains a hot topic among local parents. As the district continues to push divisive practices and policies without considering dissenting inputs, parents are becoming increasingly worried that their children will be exposed to regressive education. The concern is that children are not being built up with a victor / equality mentality, but are instead being conditioned towards Marxist oppressed / equity mindsets.
We often hear the argument: “CRT is legal theory! They don’t teach that in K-12 schools.” This line is a complete distortion of what CRT is though. To unpack this lie, we must first understand that Critical Theories are designed to inspire something called Praxis. In short, Praxis is the “practical application or exercise of a branch of learning.” Critical Theory Praxis can be executed via Critical Pedagogy, which is the application of Critical Theory in education.
Critical Race Theory promotes that the most important thing about you is your race, not your values, your behavior, or your environment. It begins from the assumption that racism occurs in all interactions.
Obfuscation tactics of what is occurring are designed to confuse and make one question the foundations of his or her held beliefs. So while it is technically true that Critical Race Theory is not taught in school, it is the praxis and pedagogy of it that has parents concerned. It is not an argument of ideas as they would like you to believe, but one of implementation.
So the question remains. Is CRT (Praxis) occurring in the District? Let’s check the receipts.
Recently obtained invoices show the controversial Dr. Caprice Hollins of Cultures Connecting, LLC billing the district high dollar amounts (totaling almost $150,000) for training sessions in Social Justice, Implicit Bias, and Privilege. These lessons appear to have been conducted throughout all schools in the district.
Use the arrows or thumbnails to navigate the receipts. Alternatively, you may download a pdf copy here.
Cultures Connecting, LLC is a controversial for-profit consulting firm that organizations such as Influence Watch and Parents Defending Education have identified as pushing agendas in lessons. Evidence of this can be taken directly from the Cultures Connecting website itself.
https://www.culturesconnecting.com/whats-up-with-white-women-workshops
“What’s up with White Women” - Unpacking Sexism & White Privilege in Pursuit of Racial Justice. This 2-day workshop uses a developmental model to examine how our identities change as we grow in our understanding of personal and institutional oppression. This workshop starts from the assumption that white women are upholding racism if they are not actively fighting it. It segregates white women specifically creating the assumption that they are the “oppressor”. Sound familiar?
In their Talking with Children & Youth About Race workshop, they “…explore how young people in early childhood through their teen years are socialized to practice racism and privilege.” Such workgroup topics validate concerns that children are being conditioned toward unproductive thought patterns.
Building upon evidence from our first article Is Critical Race Theory Being Practiced in the District?, it would appear that Dr. Hollins and Cultures Connecting is certainly controversial. Why would the district consult with such a polarizing figure/company knowing that many parents in the district do not approve? This once again showcases that parental concerns and unity come second to the will of the district.
America has spent a lot of time, money, and blood to break away from its racist past. Because of this, it is key that our youth learn about our history and the evils of racism so that neither are repeated. It is imperative that we continue to work towards greater equality in our society. CRT would have us categorize people into groups, splitting them apart into victims and victimizers. It would have your children believe that the color of their skin is more important than the content of their character. Critical Race Theory ensures that no one is equal.
We will continue to let you decide whether CRT Praxis and Pedagogy is occurring in our schools. Considering the evidence, it is understandable why so many parents are worried.
Did you miss: Is Critical Race Theory Being Practiced in the District? Read it here.
Standing against racism does not make you a racist, no matter how many times they call you one. Standing against hate, does not make you hateful, no matter how much they want it to be true. When they falsely attack your character, it is because their positions lack substance. By communicating through Tahoma Parents, writers can remain anonymous, allowing readers to focus on positions and arguments rather than personalities. This allows parents to safely advocate for a positive learning environment.
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