"White Privilege" Lesson Draws Nat'l Attention
http://thegrio.com/2013/01/17/white-privilege-lesson-in-wisconsin-high-school-draws-national-attention/
As most of you know, I am greatly interested in how we are handling discussions regarding race and class within our schools.
What do you think of the parent's concerns in this story? And how do you feel about the material and how it is presented?
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National attention has been drawn to a Wisconsin high school’s “American Diversity” course after one parent alleged that students are being taught white people are oppressors of minorities, reports Fox News.
One parent of a Delavan-Darien High School student spoke to Fox News.
“They’re teaching white guilt. They’re dividing the students,” this parent told said. ”They’re saying to non-whites, ‘You have been oppressed and you’re still being oppressed.’”
The parent, who requested to remain anonymous, claims she became alarmed by the content on some handouts that her 18-year-old son brought home from school.
A class handout defines “white privilege” as:
A set of advantages that are believed to be enjoyed by white people beyond those commonly experienced by non-white people in the same social, political, and economic spaces (nation, community, workplace, income, etc.)
Students were also instructed to visit the toy section of a local Wal-Mart, where they were to count the number of white dolls versus the number of black dolls.
School district superintendent, Robert Crist told Fox that “a lot of red flags go u in my mind when I look at the materials. Her concern has merit.”
“Ideally, you would want to present one theory that might be way on the left and another theory that may be way on the right and if you find one in the middle you can present that, too,” he continued. “Now you have a well-rounded discussion in my opinion.”
Crist noted that the course has been suspended, while it is under review.
Quoting Ms.KitKat:
That parents' "white guilt" is showing and it's a hard pill to swallow. Boo-hoo the little white boy is upset because now the world he thought he knew is not in reality- THE reality.
And OF COURSE the class is suspended because God forbid an American teenager feels any sense of emotional angst.
As I said before (and I will say again) ONLY IN AMERICA!
Think a bit deeper.
The little black boy feels resentment as a result. Boo hoo there too?
Dig deeper.
and it is right there when the angst is felt, that the hope for real change can begin. Do you seriously think that "brown child" is completely clueless and this is the very first time s/he has ever felt resentment? LOL
But I would put money down that this is the first time for the "white child" dealing with these emotions and thought processes'.
Quoting Radarma:
I take issue with the resulting feeling/emotion this approach brings on FOR all the students.
How can a brown child not feel resentment?
How can a white child not feel guilt?
Are both of these emotions just part of the package? They might be.
I agree with what you wrote, except the bolded part. I am white, so are my children. We are certainly not oppressing anyone, so I don't feel any guilt.
But I think it's important to teach my children about how there is a certain level of white priviledge, and we need to be aware of it, and we need to work to make sure that everyone is treated equally. Why would you want it removed?
Quoting MeAndTommyLee:
I am white and feel no guillt, my children feel no guilt. We are not oppressing anyone by the mere color of our skin. I regard this material as propaganda and would petition for it to be removed from the school.
what's your point- I know you want to make one. "Dig Deeper"
Quoting Radarma:
Quoting Ms.KitKat:
That parents' "white guilt" is showing and it's a hard pill to swallow. Boo-hoo the little white boy is upset because now the world he thought he knew is not in reality- THE reality.
And OF COURSE the class is suspended because God forbid an American teenager feels any sense of emotional angst.
As I said before (and I will say again) ONLY IN AMERICA!
Think a bit deeper.
The little black boy feels resentment as a result. Boo hoo there too?
Dig deeper.
Quoting Radarma:
Quoting Veni.Vidi.Vici.:
Quoting Radarma:
Quoting Veni.Vidi.Vici.:As for teaching white guilt. That's dumb. I suspect that while there may be a few sympathetic readers on this material it will only serve to piss off people who were never annoyed by other races in the first place.
I think this type of thing, this curriculum, is relevant to ALL.
IMO it's stretching, over thinking and causing to much internalization.
So you think the "lesson" is unnecessary?
In the way that it seems to have been presented, yes.
I'd want it removed because it is unjustifiably inflammable to the white race in this century. If they wish to include a broader history of how this was once an accurate assumption -- fine; but we have been actively correcting the heinous mistakes of our forefathers since the Great Emancipator himself, Abraham Lincoln. In addition, MLK, JFK and many countless others throughout history who moved mountains to correct the injustice; and some paying with their very lives. Additionally, affirmative action has been upheld by the Supreme Court etc. When exactly do the reins pass to the persons that feel they are being oppressed to extend their own destinies?
Quoting pansyprincess:I agree with what you wrote, except the bolded part. I am white, so are my children. We are certainly not oppressing anyone, so I don't feel any guilt.
But I think it's important to teach my children about how there is a certain level of white priviledge, and we need to be aware of it, and we need to work to make sure that everyone is treated equally. Why would you want it removed?
Quoting MeAndTommyLee:
I am white and feel no guillt, my children feel no guilt. We are not oppressing anyone by the mere color of our skin. I regard this material as propaganda and would petition for it to be removed from the school.
According to some on here, Never. Don't you know it is always easier to blame other people and to stay a victim?
Quoting MeAndTommyLee:I'd want it removed because it is unjustifiably inflammable to the white race in this century. If they wish to include a broader history of how this was once an accurate assumption -- fine; but we have been actively correcting the heinous mistakes of our forefathers since the Great Emancipator himself, Abraham Lincoln. In addition, MLK, JFK and many countless others throughout history who moved mountains to correct the injustice; and some paying with their very lives. Additionally, affirmative action has been upheld by the Supreme Court etc. When exactly do the reins pass to the persons that feel they are being oppressed to extend their own destinies?
Quoting pansyprincess:I agree with what you wrote, except the bolded part. I am white, so are my children. We are certainly not oppressing anyone, so I don't feel any guilt.
But I think it's important to teach my children about how there is a certain level of white priviledge, and we need to be aware of it, and we need to work to make sure that everyone is treated equally. Why would you want it removed?
Quoting MeAndTommyLee:
I am white and feel no guillt, my children feel no guilt. We are not oppressing anyone by the mere color of our skin. I regard this material as propaganda and would petition for it to be removed from the school.
"White guilt is a hard pill to swallow"?
That's what you have to say about the specific questions I asked?
Alrighty then.
what's your point- I know you want to make one. "Dig Deeper"
Quoting Radarma:
Quoting Ms.KitKat:
That parents' "white guilt" is showing and it's a hard pill to swallow. Boo-hoo the little white boy is upset because now the world he thought he knew is not in reality- THE reality.
And OF COURSE the class is suspended because God forbid an American teenager feels any sense of emotional angst.
As I said before (and I will say again) ONLY IN AMERICA!
Think a bit deeper.
The little black boy feels resentment as a result. Boo hoo there too?
Dig deeper.
I think that sounds like a good definition. And I think it was probably an eye opening task for the kids to go to the store and see the white/black dolls, advertising on boxes, etc.
I wonder why no black people live in my community.
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- Radarma
on Jan. 17, 2013 at 11:40 AM