"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.
I think it's long past time that students are taught that EVERY race and EVERY nationality has been a slave at some point in history. I think that with regards to US history black history month should include the lesson that it was black Africans that captured and sold other black Africans. I also think that along with teaching children that white Americans bought black slaves, they also bought indentured servants of every color and race, that the Native Americans were enslaved prior to the blacks, and that the Irish were (in general) treated worse ~ and far more violently ~ than black slaves. I think it's important that part of black history month also include such facts as black slave owners (and I don't mean buying family members to free them, I mean plantation owners such as William Ellison of SC).
Rather than creating more racial issues and anger, it's time to put the fact that EVERY race and nationality of humans has treated another badly ~ and with malice and hatred ~ at one point or another, and teach children today that it's time to do better. It's time to teach children to stop blaming their friends and neighbors for things that their great great great grandparents did in this country ~ and encourage them to end the hate instead.
I've always lived in New England. I've always lived in largely Irish populated communities. People find it odd that I've never had black neighbors, schoolmates, etc. I don't know why. I don't know why they don't live here.
Quoting candlegal: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.
I lived in Massachusetts for a good portion of my life. I graduated with a class of 800 and there were three grades in my school. Out of the whole school, there were 2 black children. We had a lot of Irish and Italian in the town I grew up in. Most of the blacks lived in the greater Boston area.
Quoting EireLass:I've always lived in New England. I've always lived in largely Irish populated communities. People find it odd that I've never had black neighbors, schoolmates, etc. I don't know why. I don't know why they don't live here.
Quoting candlegal: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.
It will never end, you won't let it.
Quoting Ms.KitKat:
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.
I agree that this haphazard approach (the way they are teaching/presenting) does create more racial issues and anger. I think intentions are good, but this is going to set us ALL back.
Quoting Farmlady09:
I think it's long past time that students are taught that EVERY race and EVERY nationality has been a slave at some point in history. I think that with regards to US history black history month should include the lesson that it was black Africans that captured and sold other black Africans. I also think that along with teaching children that white Americans bought black slaves, they also bought indentured servants of every color and race, that the Native Americans were enslaved prior to the blacks, and that the Irish were (in general) treated worse ~ and far more violently ~ than black slaves. I think it's important that part of black history month also include such facts as black slave owners (and I don't mean buying family members to free them, I mean plantation owners such as William Ellison of SC).
Rather than creating more racial issues and anger, it's time to put the fact that EVERY race and nationality of humans has treated another badly ~ and with malice and hatred ~ at one point or another, and teach children today that it's time to do better. It's time to teach children to stop blaming their friends and neighbors for things that their great great great grandparents did in this country ~ and encourage them to end the hate instead.
Why have you never taken the initiative and moved to where they live?
Quoting EireLass:
I've always lived in New England. I've always lived in largely Irish populated communities. People find it odd that I've never had black neighbors, schoolmates, etc. I don't know why. I don't know why they don't live here.
Quoting candlegal:
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.
Just reading the first few pages I notice people are confusing privilege with oppression. I wonder what's that about.
I don't think they "should" either, and depending on how the child is being raised, and the peer group's worldviews, many do not feel guilt.
The area between guilt and empathy here is muddy though; the internalization of "whites as the oppressors" is a dangerous thing.
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.
People do not want to hear it. It makes it very inconvenient to their claim that blacks are, I and apparently still are the worse treated race in the history of the world.
Quoting Farmlady09:I think it's long past time that students are taught that EVERY race and EVERY nationality has been a slave at some point in history. I think that with regards to US history black history month should include the lesson that it was black Africans that captured and sold other black Africans. I also think that along with teaching children that white Americans bought black slaves, they also bought indentured servants of every color and race, that the Native Americans were enslaved prior to the blacks, and that the Irish were (in general) treated worse ~ and far more violently ~ than black slaves. I think it's important that part of black history month also include such facts as black slave owners (and I don't mean buying family members to free them, I mean plantation owners such as William Ellison of SC).
Rather than creating more racial issues and anger, it's time to put the fact that EVERY race and nationality of humans has treated another badly ~ and with malice and hatred ~ at one point or another, and teach children today that it's time to do better. It's time to teach children to stop blaming their friends and neighbors for things that their great great great grandparents did in this country ~ and encourage them to end the hate instead.
Holder to investigate....Holder
- Radarma
on Jan. 17, 2013 at 11:40 AM