On January 27, 2022 the Michigan Department of Education offered teachers a webinar entitled Diversity in the Literature that We Teach. The featured speaker, Shonda Buchanan, wrote a book called Who is Afraid of the Black Indian? She spoke about the importance of children reading diverse books and then tied the concept known as Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors to dominant culture, and racism in America. Showing photo examples of racism in 1950’s America, she implied that white people are racist because they haven’t read books by People of Color (POC).
During the second part of the event teachers selected a breakout session webinar to attend. Topics discussed in the breakout sessions included social justice, critical race theory, culturally relevant teaching, and recommended books for teachers such as The 1619 Project, Be Anti-Racist, and Teaching While White.
This webinar is an example of how well intentioned people, explaining the importance of teaching diversity, cross the line and actually teach racism and discrimination by tying characteristics we have no control over to power and privilege.
There were 2000 teachers in attendance. They got continuing education credits for attending. Teachers have to get a certain number of continuing education credits each year to keep their teaching license active. This webinar was paid for by the Michigan Department of Education.
On March 17, 2022 GHAPS is scheduled to hold another Professional Development Day featuring trainer Deanna Rolffs. Grand Haven’s Professional Development is paid for with Title II Federal dollars and must be approved by the local Michigan Department of Education field representative. If you aren’t familiar with Deanna Rolffs, please see this post. She teaches topics of equity, not equality, anti-racism, white consciousness, anti-white supremacy, systemic oppression, and implicit bias.
So my question is “Who is really in charge of educating our children?”
According to Michigan School Code 380.10 -
It is the natural, fundamental right of parents and legal guardians to determine and direct the care, teaching, and education of their children. The public schools of this state serve the needs of the pupils by cooperating with the pupil's parents and legal guardians to develop the pupil's intellectual capabilities and vocational skills in a safe and positive environment.
According to the law, parents should be in charge. Parents are supposed to direct the board, who directs the superintendent, who directs all school employees. Michigan School Code 380.10 says nothing about the State or Federal Government, yet they seem to have a lot of control over the education of our children. If they are paying for the continuing education of teachers, they are deciding what to teach them. They have decided to train them in elements of Critical Race Theory and other divisive Marxist concepts. By accepting the “free” training and money offered by the State and Federal Government, our local community has given up control over the education of our children.
Although the law says parents are in charge, they are only truly in charge if they withdraw their children from public school and elect to homeschool them. Local communities will not be in control until the people demand it. Not just people of Grand Haven, but Americans all across Michigan and across the country. Trump’s plan for educational dollars to follow the student would go a long way to give communities and parents control over their children’s education.
Another possible solution would be to remove state and federal government from educational funding all together, and return the responsibility of funding schools to the community. When either of these things happen, new schools of every kind you can imagine will be created. They will be run by people and businesses. They will start locally and some will expand into “chain” schools. It will be GREAT!
My grandkids will experience this new type of education.