by Guy Page
The influence of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Essex schools will be the topic of a ‘Town Hall’ meeting 6:30 tonight at the Grange building on Rte. 15 in Essex Town.
CRT has been a hot topic at several recent Essex-Westford school board meetings. On May 4 the district’s equity and inclusion director said CRT is an “important aspect” of the district’s programming. However, two weeks later the school superintendent seemed to backpedal, saying that the district is not implementing a CRT curriculum, but then adding that “equity is not a specific curriculum. Equity is not a specific purchase in the budget. Equity is not only one person’s job. Equity can not be described in a checklist. Equity touches all of our educational offerings, operations, and facilities.”
Speakers include:
Alex Katsnelson, a graduating Essex High School senior, will discuss the SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) slides that appear at the high school. A member of the school speech and debate team, he believes there shouldn’t be a political agenda in the schools.
Liz Cady will be discussing what Critical Race Theory is and its implications for our children. With a background as a writer/editor and a member of a military family, she and her husband removed their two children from the Essex-Westford School District this year. “We opted to send them to an independent school due to what was at first the remote learning plan and now due to finding out about this ideology in school,” Cady said. She was elected to the school board in March.
Sen. Russ Ingalls – the state senator from Essex/Orleans counties will discuss the issue at the state level.
Information about educational alternatives to CRT will be shared. Question and answer will follow. The meeting is open to the public. All speakers will be recognized by the moderator.