"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.
How do you account for the points made in this list? Shouldn't we address this?
http://www.nymbp.org/reference/WhitePrivilege.pdf
Quoting MeAndTommyLee:I am of the overwhelming opinion that JFK was assassinated for his radical support of Civil Rights. He layed that ground-work for Johnson, changed and pushed forward a more liberal agenda than anyone before him and gained the support of many around the nation. This is arguing apples and oranges anyway. The point here is, that a lot of people throughout history have contributed to advancing minorities and they have not adequately taken advantage of these opportunities and live within the mentality that they are oppressed and always will be.
Quoting louzannalady:It was not JFK, that passed Civil Rights measures. It was Johnson. Besides, this is not an exercise in the law. This is an exercise in sociology.
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.
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.
This^
You want to know when it ends? Yeah- me too! I suppose it will end when ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE CREATED EQUAL WILL BE TREATED EQUAL.
It ended for your Irish relatives ( and then it was Italians which it ended for them too) and then it was some other group. For some reason, it has not ended for people of color.
Quoting candlegal:
I didn't miss the point, I just want to know when it ends My husband's family is Irish and were very much discriminated against when they came to this country. That didn't stop them from doing what they had to do. They did it in spite of the discrimination.
Quoting Ms.KitKat:
You missed the whole point. This is a lesson to those who have never had the good fortune(haha) to experience discrimination or prejidice. It's a lesson in self-awareness and personal responsibilty.
Quoting candlegal:
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.
Why would a white child feel guilt? A child has yet to make that large of an impression on society. The child should not feel guilt for something someone else has done.
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.
Critical Race Theory is sociology. It and the concept of white privilege have little to do with the whole oppressor/victim thing and little to do with guilt and entitlement.
You are exactly right. My kids didn't do it and I didn't teach them to feel guilty. My grandkids didn't do it and I will not teach them to feel guilt. They were taught that everyone is the same.
Quoting EireLass:Why would a white child feel guilt? A child has yet to make that large of an impression on society. The child should not feel guilt for something someone else has done.
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.
Classes like these make the chip on the shouder of some minorities all the larger and make white students both guilty and resentful that they are forced to feel guilty. History should be taught as it really was, not whitewashed(sometimes all out lied about) or spun to make one party look better than another. Playing the race card is a HUGE issue in this country and it is pathetic. Children should not be taught to play this card with classes like this.
I live in San Antonio and we white people are only 25% of the population. Doesn't bother me. We live in a very diverse neighborhood and attend a very diverse Church.
Quoting EireLass: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.
Hm...I think the concept is spot-on, but it needs to be politicized a little more. Like the super said, for this issue to really be appropriate in the classroom, it needs to be presented in argument form. With the roll out of common core tasks in most states, argumentative writing is a major component of high school curriculum. Could be a perfect topic if carefully prepared.
The activity to have students evaluate the representation on the store shelves is an interesting one. I live right smack dab between two Walmarts. One is mostly populated by blacks and hispanics, and the other is darn near all white. The store shelves are different.
The white walmart has a small, 2ft section on an aisle for "ethnic products." The one in the black/hispanic area has two full aisles. Similarly, it displays more toys geared toward minorities than the white walmart.
The discrepancy can be seen in the upkeep of both stores. The white walmart is always well-lit, with tons of space between aisles. I've never seen a spill, and shelves are almost always in perfect order. Lines are short, and even the parking lot is cleaner.
The other walmart maintains security in the parking lot and posted at the store entrances. Aisles are much smaller in size (which makes no sense, because it's certainly a much higher volume store...it's NEVER not crowded). Shelves are consistently in disarray, and lines are packed with impatient shoppers.
Who would you save?
- Radarma
on Jan. 17, 2013 at 11:40 AM