On Tuesday (June 8), the Republican Committee of Lower Merion Narberth (RCLMN) on its Facebook Page, posted a video that was sharply critical of Critical Race Theory (CRT), and the teaching of CRT in public schools.
RCLMN also sent an email on Thursday (June 3) with a link to an article entitled “Critical Race Theory: What It Is and How to Fight It.“
Last September, the Montgomery County Republican Committee, on their Facebook Page, posted an article from Breitbart calling attention to then-President Trump’s directive to purge Critical Race Theory from Federal Agencies.
The eagerness of Lower Merion and Montco Republicans to emphasize their opposition to CRT is by no means a local phenomenon.
PA Republican Legislators Introduce Bill That They Say Is Aimed At CRT.
Rep. Russ Diamond talks about what led him to introduce House Bill 1532, which would call for a ban on the teaching of Critical Race Theory in PA schools. Diamond joins Rep. Barbara Gleim in sponsoring the measure, saying CRT is divisive in nature. @PAHouseGOP @russdiamond pic.twitter.com/HmocdZ4z0b
— PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) June 7, 2021
Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) and Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland) announced on June 4 that –
they “have joined together to sponsor legislation prohibiting the teaching, funding or dissemination of racist and sexist concepts by the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions, including school districts.
Their legislation – House Bill 1532 – the Teaching Racial and Universal Equality (TRUE) Act, is aimed at curtailing the divisive nature of concepts that have become known as “critical race theory.”
Lawmakers in more than a dozen states have already passed, or are debating legislation to ban the use of Critical Race Theory or divisive topics in the classroom.
Lower Merion School District does not explicity claim to be a proponent of CRT.
However, Dr. Melissa Gilbert, who is currently Vice President of the Lower Merion School Board, and for several years was president of the board, lists Critical Race Theory among her areas of expertise.
And when responding to questions about CRT and the district’s Anti-Racist curriculum, LMSD Director of School and Community Relations, Amy Buckman, provided a link to an article in Edweek.org entitled “What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack?”
At least one Gladwyne Mom thinks LMSD is teaching CRT.
As reported by Linda Stein, writing in the conservative-leaning Delaware Vally Journal Elena Fishbein believes most school districts in the Delaware Valley area are teaching CRT.
“You go to many school boards or board of education administrators and they will deny that they are doing any Critical Race Theory because they don’t use that term purposefully,” Fishbein said. “They use different terms that sound very nice, everybody would agree with anti-racism.”
Any number of conservative web sites have echoed Fishbein’s criticism of LMSD. Fishbein is the founder of a group called No Left Turn.
The group, according to its website believes that “that K-12 education should be free from indoctrination and politicization.”
Fishbein had this to say about why she removed her two sons from the Lower Merion Schools –
This past Spring, I decided to withdraw my children from the local public school and transfer them to a private school for the Fall. In June, shortly after the death of George Floyd and the protests, rioting and looting that ensued, the principal of my children’s elementary school issued a message to parents that shocked me. It described a hastily drawn up plan by a “Cultural Proficiency Committee” at the school “to offer explicit lessons on equity and race for our students.” Despite the fact that the school already offered a robust curriculum that included five distinct programs (plus Black History Month) to help foster empathy, understanding, and compassion in students, they felt an urgent need to execute additional lessons in “cultural proficiency” to children starting in kindergarten, two days before the conclusion of the school year. These lessons included topics such as “diversity,” “racism,” “justice,” “equity” and “privilege”. But instead of reaffirming and fostering the wholesome teaching of MLK, Jr., the lessons in this new “cultural proficiency” unit incorporated specific books that described “whiteness” as an entitlement to steal land, garner riches, and get special treatment. I opted my children out of these classes as well.
Amy Buckman responds
Last August, Amy Buckman defended the district’s curriculum saying, “The Lower Merion School District fully supports the ongoing implementation of an anti-racist curriculum in its schools and encourages the use of developmentally appropriate books that raise awareness of the very real issues of racism and privilege.”
This week in an email, Buckman wrote that –
Resources, including Learning for Justice, No Place for Hate, etc., are not based on a single curriculum or theory; but rather chosen to help students appreciate diversity, understand injustice and act against it. At the secondary level, books include “Stamped.” Each school’s Cultural Proficiency plan and progress are reviewed by the Superintendent or designee.
Buckman also shared a link to the Penn Wynne School’s Culturual Proficiency Plan, which she said was a model for all LMSD elementary schools.
Penn Wynne School’s Cultural Proficiency K-5 Book List
KINDERGARTEN
Shades of People by Shelley Rotner
What If Your Best Friend Were Blue, Vera Kochan
Same, Same, but Different, Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
FIRST GRADE
The Skin You Live In, Michel Tyler
All the Colors We Are; The Story of How We Got Our Skin Color, Kate Kissinger
Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
SECOND GRADE
Henry and the Kite Dragon, Bruce Edward Hall
The Best Part of Me by Wendy Ewald
Teaching Tolerance – Every Family is the Same, Every Family is Different
THIRD GRADE
The Name Jar, Yangsook Choi
The Colors of Us by Karen Katz
Across the Alley, Richard Michelson
FOURTH GRADE – Lessons under revision 2020-21
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
How Do I Feel About Dealing with Racism, Jen Green
*Justin and the Best Biscuits Ever
*Toothpaste Millionaire by Jan Palmer
*Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
*These books were used in the past as literature circles but no longer in use
FIFTH GRADE – – Lessons under revision 2020-21
Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack
Let’s Talk About Race, Julius Lester