Day 2: Racism in School Curriculum

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There is a tremendous amount of confusion over what Critical Race Theory means and its relationship to other terms, such as “anti-racism” and “social justice,” with which it is often conflated. There are also significant disagreements, among experts and educators alike, about its precise definition.

CRT is an academic legal theory taught in higher education settings, particularly as part of law programs; it is not explicitly being taught in primary and secondary schools. However, there has been a shift within many K-12 classrooms leading to curriculum revisions, and efforts that teachers have made in their lessons to correct stereotypes and narratives that devalue people’s of color contributions and experiences has led to a wave of misunderstanding. What CRT is not – a synonym for culturally relevant teaching.

“When CRT is discussed, either by those who favor or oppose it, many on both sides likely know little about the theory, and are responding to what they’ve heard or read someone else say about CRT,” says, George Korda of The Knoxville News Sentinel.

Locally, CRT has been a hot topic in public schools within the last few years and especially during last November’s Spokane Public Schools board race. The four candidates: Melissa Bedford and Daryl Geffken running for position 3, and Kata Dean and Riley Smith running for position 4 held varying opinions and knowledge on what exactly CRT is and whether it belongs in classrooms. CRT is not currently part of SPS’s curriculum and is not taught in the district.

However, SPS did pass a racial equity resolution in 2020 and is described as a ‘major step forward in addressing racial inequities within the school system.”

Today, we try to shed more light on what is and is not happening in classrooms across the country and some of the ways that schools have omitted more accurate portrayals of America’s history.

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IF YOU HAVE…

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REFLECT

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Take a moment to reflect today’s challenge and any insights you experienced.

• How did this challenge make you feel?
• What did you learn?
• What did you notice about yourself after taking the challenge?
• Consider sharing this new awareness with a friend or group to help deepen your understanding of the information.
• Continue the conversation online and connect with others by joining our Racial & Social Justice Facebook group.

Let us know why this challenge is important to you by leaving your comment here. 

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Again, thank you for joining us in our Stand Against Racism Challenge. Our work continues every weekday from May 2 – May 30. Each day you’ll be offered some content to help you take a deeper dive into the daily topic.

We ask that you undertake this challenge with an open mind and willingness to explore new ideas and allow yourself to sit with any emotions that may come up for you.

This content may be hard to process so consider having a self-care plan in place beforehand. This can include meditation before or after engaging, watching your favorite show, or doing something creative.

We look forward to going on this journey towards true equity and justice with you!

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