On a regular basis, we will be publishing letters from residents to residents in the edition we call “MB Residents Speak…” If you have information or an opinion, and you would like to share it with your MB neighbors, please email your letter to MBStrong2021@gmail.com.
Dear MB Residents,
In public schools, we teach subjects and events that are scientifically and historically verifiable. Americans decided a long time ago that public school curricula must be able to stand up to scientific and historical rigor and not teach religious or ideological beliefs. 63% of Americans identify as Christians, but the tenets of Christianity are not allowed to be taught in our public schools.
Now, however, we find ourselves in a position where the beliefs and values of one ideology are being taught as scientific facts in our public schools.
The beliefs, assumptions, conclusions, and recommended actions of EDSJI (Equity, Diversity, Social Justice, and Inclusion) are from only one side of the ideological and political spectrum.
Here are a few of the beliefs held by proponents of EDSJI:
· The “E" in EDSJI stands for Equity…a belief that certain people of color are born victimized by historical racism and deserve special treatment at the expense of others, who are considered historical oppressors. America must change from a meritocracy based on hard work and accomplishment to one based on rewarding people based on skin color, culture, gender, sexuality, etc.
· EDSJI curriculum considers the teachings of Martin Luther King — that people should be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin — to now be a racist statement.
· EDSJI seeks to limit free speech, declaring without debate, that the use of so-called “microaggressions” is racist and therefore will not be tolerated. Here are four such examples of triggering speech:
“America is a melting pot.”
“The most qualified person should get the job.”
“America is the land of opportunity.”
“Where are you from?”
These statements came directly from the University of California’s official microaggression website.
· EDSJI proponents teach that our criminal justice system is systemically racist, and they support ideas such as defunding the police.
· EDSJI opposes free-market capitalism because they claim it has white supremacist racist foundations
· EDSJI supports the notion that gender is fluid.
Not all of these concepts are currently being taught in MBUSD but these are the beliefs and values of those behind the national EDSJI movement. The Board voted unanimously in April to adopt an EDSJI program to implement in classrooms, district-wide.
When EDSJI was created, zero input was requested from black intellectuals who challenge the assertions and assumptions made by the creators of EDSJI. Noted Black voices such as Dr. Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, Dr. Glenn Loury, John McWhorter, and Dr. Shelby Steele were never consulted. Each of these scholars has been involved in the black movement and race relations for many decades. But since they disagree with the beliefs of the founders of EDSJI their ideas were ignored. Science encourages open debate … ideology seeks the comfort of like-minded thinkers.
This is why so many of us are troubled by EDSJI. We see it as a belief system that allows for no challenges to the assumptions made by the curriculum. Students are expected to accept those beliefs as fact. You may happen to agree with those beliefs but that does not make it right to impose them on others.
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a government organization that issues America’s education report card, less than 25% of black 8th graders from urban areas are proficient in English, Math, Science, and Reading. Where is the outrage and action within the EDSJI community about this tragedy occurring to children of color in our inner cities? These children are among the most vulnerable at-risk members of society, and leaders in the EDSJI community do not appear to care. 70% of black parents are in favor of school choice (charter schools and voucher programs) for their children. Teachers’ unions and the creators of EDSJI vehemently oppose these programs.
Over 70% of black children are born in single-parent households. To quote President Obama in his beautiful 2008 Father’s day speech “We know the statistics — that children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit a crime; nine times more likely to drop out of schools and 20 times more likely to end up in prison.”
EDSJI ignores these huge obstacles which stand in the way of success for many members of the black community and instead shifts the blame to racism.
The media tells us that protesters against EDSJI are right-wing Trump-supporting white supremacists. A simple check of YouTube videos will show a diverse group from across the political and racial spectrum who are concerned about EDSJI pushing ideological beliefs on their children with which they disagree.
This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. Voters in San Francisco recently voted out three school board members, including one, who after the election results said, “Asian students use white supremacist thinking to assimilate and get ahead." SF School Board ousted. In many EDSJI lessons across the country, this type of message is the norm — that hard work, timeliness, and mastery of math and the written word is white supremacist thinking.
There is no debate that racism still exists. One might argue that systemic racism is alive and well in our inner-city schools as these children are faced with virtually no chance of success with the existing education structure. But this has been going on for decades and continues to this day. The silence about this from teacher's unions and EDSJI proponents is extremely troubling.
In no way is this to imply that everything that is taught in EDSJI is negative for the students — without a doubt, there is some great work being done — but you could make the same argument for introducing Christianity into public schools. However, as a country, we have decided that when it comes to teaching an ideology, it is best left to parents, pastors, and personal choice — not public schools.
All curricula based on ideological beliefs should be removed from our schools. There is nothing preventing parents who share the beliefs found in EDSJI to pursue this for their children on their own, much the same way people with varying religious beliefs attend church or religious schools.
Lastly, but extremely important, we are all neighbors in a small but wonderful city. We may disagree with what is best for our children, but first and foremost we are united by our motivation to best serve our children. We must remember that and be respectful of one another’s opinions, even if we differ from them.
Mike Welsh – MB Resident for 27 years
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