As faculty at a private liberal arts college, I can say that our DEI efforts have made the institution a much better place for everyone, including the rural, Christian students who are for the first time in their lives interacting with students who are not white, christian and gender normative. But, all this anti-DEI and related noise is, I guess, what's needed to rally the base for the next election.
I'm mostly with you, John. But I've shifted on your last sentence. For a long time I've ignored the conservative faux-outrage because it was such a political stunt. It dawned on me last summer as I was writing my political polarization series that we have a generation of conservative leaders who missed the memo telling them that this was all playacting designed to win primaries. This new group (or now empowered old group) seem to really believe the rhetoric that they espouse. And that's very dangerous.
My kids are elementary age not college age. We have intentionally placed them in majority non-white school both as a commitment to our children’s future and as a commitment by example to other white parents around us.
There is a fine like between the replacement theory and denial of demographics.
Our local district has been majority non-white for almost a decade. But because the adult (voting) population is still very slightly majority white the school board is majority white. The board is fighting tooth and nail to stop training to teachers about student achievement and success if it includes issues of culture or race.
And while the district is majority minority the schools are not evenly distributed. My kids school is 10% white and 70% low income. Less than a half mile away is another elementary school that is 86% white and Asian and 7 percent low income.
The active work to prevent teachers from addressing disparity is discouraging. I know of teachers who are working on masters and doctoral work who can’t get districts to sign off on their research work because the district doesn’t want the areas around DEI addressed.
The district has had a slap on the wrist for the board’s action but it is a question of whether the demographics will change or the accreditation will force change first.
Yes, the demographic shift does not equal a shift in power. That's what's motivating groups like your school board. They have the power now and see that the DEI language that makes them uncomfortable is only going to increase. So they are doubling down to protect their control.
As faculty at a private liberal arts college, I can say that our DEI efforts have made the institution a much better place for everyone, including the rural, Christian students who are for the first time in their lives interacting with students who are not white, christian and gender normative. But, all this anti-DEI and related noise is, I guess, what's needed to rally the base for the next election.
I'm mostly with you, John. But I've shifted on your last sentence. For a long time I've ignored the conservative faux-outrage because it was such a political stunt. It dawned on me last summer as I was writing my political polarization series that we have a generation of conservative leaders who missed the memo telling them that this was all playacting designed to win primaries. This new group (or now empowered old group) seem to really believe the rhetoric that they espouse. And that's very dangerous.
My kids are elementary age not college age. We have intentionally placed them in majority non-white school both as a commitment to our children’s future and as a commitment by example to other white parents around us.
There is a fine like between the replacement theory and denial of demographics.
Our local district has been majority non-white for almost a decade. But because the adult (voting) population is still very slightly majority white the school board is majority white. The board is fighting tooth and nail to stop training to teachers about student achievement and success if it includes issues of culture or race.
And while the district is majority minority the schools are not evenly distributed. My kids school is 10% white and 70% low income. Less than a half mile away is another elementary school that is 86% white and Asian and 7 percent low income.
The active work to prevent teachers from addressing disparity is discouraging. I know of teachers who are working on masters and doctoral work who can’t get districts to sign off on their research work because the district doesn’t want the areas around DEI addressed.
The district has had a slap on the wrist for the board’s action but it is a question of whether the demographics will change or the accreditation will force change first.
Yes, the demographic shift does not equal a shift in power. That's what's motivating groups like your school board. They have the power now and see that the DEI language that makes them uncomfortable is only going to increase. So they are doubling down to protect their control.