By Guy Page
The Essex – Westford School District views controversial Critical Race Theory as an “important aspect” in its racial equity program, Erin Maguire, the district Director of Equity and Inclusion, said at a May 4 school board meeting.
“I do think that Critical Race Theory is an important aspect of the academic construct,” Maguire said in response to this question by newly elected board member Elizabeth Cady: “in order to fully achieve equity in the school, it has to be decided, that everyone accepts, that the United States is systemically racist?”
Maguire was reporting on her Equity Audit of staff and students. Her complete answer to Cady’s question appears at the 1 hour, 18 minute mark in the video recording of the Zoom meeting: “I do think that Critical Race Theory is an important aspect of the academic construct, as we consider the impact of race in our community, in our state, and in our country,” Maguire said.
A 20-minute discussion between Maguire and Cady begins at about the one hour, eight minute mark on this video. They discussed the differences between equity and equality, and the impact of ‘equity’ learning on academic standards and high-achieving students.
What is Critical Race Theory?
The following is excerpted from an essay by Christopher Rufo in the March, 2021 issue Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College:
“Critical race theory is an academic discipline, formulated in the 1990s, built on the intellectual framework of identity-based Marxism. Relegated for many years to universities and obscure academic journals, over the past decade it has increasingly become the default ideology in our public institutions. It has been injected into government agencies, public school systems, teacher training programs, and corporate human resources departments in the form of diversity training programs, human resources modules, public policy frameworks, and school curricula.
“There are a series of euphemisms deployed by its supporters to describe critical race theory, including “equity,” “social justice,” “diversity and inclusion,” and “culturally responsive teaching.” Critical race theorists, masters of language construction, realize that “neo-Marxism” would be a hard sell. Equity, on the other hand, sounds non-threatening and is easily confused with the American principle of equality. But the distinction is vast and important. Indeed, equality—the principle proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence, defended in the Civil War, and codified into law with the 14th and 15th Amendments, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965—is explicitly rejected by critical race theorists. To them, equality represents “mere nondiscrimination” and provides “camouflage” for white supremacy, patriarchy, and oppression.
“In contrast to equality, equity as defined and promoted by critical race theorists is little more than reformulated Marxism. In the name of equity, UCLA Law Professor and critical race theorist Cheryl Harris has proposed suspending private property rights, seizing land and wealth and redistributing them along racial lines. Critical race guru Ibram X. Kendi, who directs the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, has proposed the creation of a federal Department of Antiracism. This department would be independent of (i.e., unaccountable to) the elected branches of government, and would have the power to nullify, veto, or abolish any law at any level of government and curtail the speech of political leaders and others who are deemed insufficiently “antiracist.”
“One practical result of the creation of such a department would be the overthrow of capitalism, since according to Kendi, “In order to truly be antiracist, you also have to truly be anti-capitalist.” In other words, identity is the means and Marxism is the end.”
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Also at the May 4 meeting, it was noted that Todd Odit has resigned from the school board. There is a school board director vacancy for a member from Essex Junction. The term of this appointment will be until the next regular EWSD election in April of 2022.
Letters of interest must be emailed to EWSD Board Chair Kim Gleason (kim.gleason@board.ewsd.org) no later than the end of the day on Sunday, May 16. Indicate “EJ School Board Appointment” in the subject line, and include any experience to be considered. The board will review submissions at its May 18 meeting and make an appointment no later than June 1.
Categories: Education
Critical Race Theory has no place in the United States of America. These people touting this anti-American, anti-Constitutional, anti- Patriotic garbage are destroying the fabric or our Nation and brainwashing our kids into hating America, our Constitution, our Values, our Liberty and our God given rights to live as free persons. Parents, Taxpayers, all Citizens must stand up now, go to the School Board and tell them NO Critical Race Theory in our Schools brainwashing our kids or our Community. If they don’t, then Fire them from their positions. This is a Color Revolution and this is a tactic to overflow our Constitution and American way of life.
This is a Call to Action. Read the Open Letter from 124 Retired Generals and Admirals, located at The Federalist, at this link:
https://thefederalist.com/2021/05/10/more-than-120-retired-flag-officers-call-on-americans-to-save-america-our-constitutional-republic-and-hold-those-currently-in-office-accountable/
CRT is merely a PROCESS to INDOCTRINATE our children to a MARXIST life style. IF allowed to FESTER, I feel that The UNITED STATES as we know HER will CRASH and BURN into a 3rd WORLD COUNTRY where ALL are BROKE and NEEDY for everyday goods and services. EQUALITY???HAH!!!
So glad we pulled our kids out of ewsd. Parents wake up. The academics have plummeted even before making space for this racist indoctrination. Once they rid higher level courses and grading, what motivation will students have?
More and more I am seeing, hearing, and reading about parents fighting back against the indoctrination of their children into the cult of Critical Race Theory. It seems that some parents have actually been overseeing their children’s zoom classes, and some of them are horrified with what the are being taught. It would seem that at least occasionally that __it does roll uphill !
Vermont schools, due to past incidents with suicides, police alleged excessive force and more recently the COVID panic have been concerned about inducing undue anxiety in our delicate, snowflake youths. Telling all the “white” kids to hate themselves because of cultural practices that took place decades ago is not going to help with this. If a white kid takes his/her own life after a degrading session of CRT brainwashing, that blood will be on someones hands.
Now let me see if I understand: The administrative group at ewsd has added another official to their cadre of overseers dictating curricular proper-think to their indentured teachers. The new (oh let’s say it — diversity commissar) will enlightenment the herd to the new orthodoxy…THE TRUTH – equity for oppressed groups will now replace our equality quest for individuals in the pantheon of American values. Is that about it? I’m sure you think you’re doing this FOR US…but you gataknow you’re doing this TO US not WITH US…right?
Critical Race Theory is essentially a lie, history that never happened, and the left hopes that the lie will gain traction with repeated telling.
Critical Race Theory is an all out assault on our precious American, United States of America, Our Heritage, hard fought, cemented into Our State and Federal Constitutions,
Preserved in the Civil War and the World Wars, with blood and guts of our parents and ancestors!
CRT is false presumptions of guilt on every USA citizen!
Critical Race Theory is An Evil Absurdity!!?!!
Richmond family: CRT certainly seems to be way off the rails…wrong…evil perhaps. But it’s the attempt to IMPOSE IT and demand SUBMISSION that chafes me most. They’ve made scant efforts to convert us to their enlightenment and what there is has been singularly unconvincing. They’ve opted instead to bushwhack us with it. My understanding is that an element of our cultural is that when we have an insight of merit we attempt to convince our neighbors. Don’t Jehovah Witness’ go door to door to convince us of their theological insights? They don’t try to sneak up on us with their TRUTH. The culture of this board of education and I suspect others evidences an under-the-table element to their functioning. There seems to be a presumption that they know better…they need not convince us of anything…they are in charge and we should just go out and play. Another failing institution requiring heightened voter supervision?
The left used to promote live and let live. Now it insists live as they live. The left has no interest in compromise. It has no interest in allowing people to live their lives as they see fit, absent the tyranny of despots. There are too many examples to count. Everything the left now represents includes forcing all citizens to submit and comply with its wishes and edicts. Just think, Montpelier allowing Black Lives Matter to be painted on State Street, and illegally denying the same free speech to other applicants. Or how about the PA Supreme Court violating its own state constitution by allowing voting by mail, which expressly disallowed? These are not people who love America and the freedom it promises. They are tyrants who tolerate no deviation from their orthodoxy, and they are only too happy to cancel anyone who gets in their way.
I believe we should be teaching the sad, ugly truth about colonialism (not the versions that leave out the horrors inflicted upon others). We are still dealing with the consequences of inhumanity today. Absolutely nothing wrong with teaching that we should treat others with the dignity and respect that we want for ourselves, regardless of race, gender, identity, religion, financial background, etc.