Various issues were presented to the Unit 5 school board, June 16. Over 200 people were in attendance and multiple public comments were given by students, teachers, residents and parents. An issue that had quite a few students take to a podium was Critical Race Theory.
One parent said, “Critical Race Theory is basically the same thing as DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). To hear the kids and my children and their friends repeat aspects of Critical Race Theory is just sad.”
Unit 5 Superintendent Kristen Weikle said they are not teaching it at Unit 5, but some like Alex Shonn, a student, aren’t convinced she is truly relieving an inclusive education.
Shonn said she was not allowed to cite Fox News, Prager University, the Constitution and Federalist Papers because they weren’t on the IMC.
“The Golden Rule was always: Treat others as you would want to be treated. I learned that at home, with no context to race and color. Something is wrong with a family that wants a crash course on Critical Race Theory, to teach their child on how to treat others,” said Shonn. “No kid should have to feel different because of their history. When they are in kindergarten they need to be leaning their ABCs and 123s. Teachers should be vigilant,” said Shonn.
Shonn said her teacher had students take part in a historical TV series called “Roots”, that uses the N-word in reference to a time period, and the teacher next door to Mr. Porter complained about the material after 27 years of teaching this same series.
“Roots” is based on Alex Haley’s family history. Kunta Kinte is sold into the slave trade after being abducted from his African village, and is taken to the United States. Kinte and his family observe notable events in American history, such as the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, slave uprisings and emancipation.
“Apparently it is offense to teach the realities of those times,” said Shonn. “I resent being called oppressed. I am not oppressed. It is an insult to my Jewish and Filipino heritage that you call us that. As if we would never amount to anything. It is all about oppressing the human spirit.”
She was met with opposition by other students. NAACP Vice President Carla Campbell-Jackson said an injustice anywhere is ultimately an injustice everywhere.
“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, coupled with a culturally responsive elective, allows for the advancement of thought process and it challenges our paradigms, thus invoking elements of critical thinking. Engagement occurs organically where our students learn to be empathetic. This ensures that no one is disenfranchised,” said Campbell-Jackson.
Campbell-Jackson said America’s first sin, slavery, may prove difficult to comprehend learning about the past exemplifies a sound-critical thinking mindset.
Now, the board meeting was disrupted several times. After board president Amy Roser told about 30 members in the audience to comply and mask up, there was a shout from a Democratic Socialist of America organization member said, “He is holding up the Nazi Sign.”
One member in the audience, in the back of the room, said he saw him ‘heil Hitler’ and throw up a straight arm.
Another audience member said a man in a peach shirt, two rows of chairs ahead of him, turned towards the board, who were dismissing themselves for recess, and throw his hands up in the air and say, ‘So sorry I’ll put it on for you.’
Cities 92.9 spoke with the man who allegedly threw up the ‘Nazi Sign’ and he said that was doing the farthest thing. He said he was there for the children and to practice democracy.
The board opened with rules and regulations of the board meeting. There was a clock set to 3 min for each public commentator, there was about 50.
Masking of children and comprehensive sex education being taught in schools were topics also brought to the board’s attention by public comments.
