Hillsborough Schools Consider Adding Critical Race Theory To Curriculum

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL. – Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a relatively new “woke intellectual” movement based on the premise that race is not a natural feature of physically distinct subgroups of people but a socially constructed category that is used to oppress and exploit people of color.

Critical race theorists hold that the law and legal institutions in the United States are inherently racist insofar as they function to create and maintain social, economic, and political inequalities between whites and nonwhites, especially blacks.

For the record, I tend to believe the part that says racial differences are primarily social constructs (to which the government is the greatest creator of). Anyone who has ever had young children knows they don’t see race.

Hatred is a mostly learned behavior taught by adults.

That said, I certainly do not believe said constructs are intended to exploit people or that U.S. institutions are inherently racist; but if they are, they are the tools of the left to further divide the country, enslave people by making them dependent on government, and help Democrats win elections.

Why else do you think government asks people their race every time they fill out a government document?

Make no mistake, CRT has no place in our public schools, as it does not solve any problems – it merely further divides us. Yet, the woke intellectuals at the Hillsborough County School Board are hellbent on forcing this divisive, hate-filled, theory on us.

Thankfully, one member of the board, Melissa Snively is calling attention to this gibberish and making an effort to stop it.

But just what is she stopping?

The terms are loosely defined, and what they are attempting to pass would be developed by the school superintendent (as if anyone can trust him). But in short, the efforts being proposed by board member Jessica Vaughn and others include:

• a progressive curriculum regarding race, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and harassment;
• diversity, equity and inclusion training to deal with implicit bias;
• an elimination of school mascots that are deemed to be offensive; and,
• acceptable use of medical marijuana of low THC cannabis at qualified schools.

Snively’s proposal would seek to clarify and define the intent of this liberal drivel by adding the following:

“Instruction on the required topics must be factual and objective, and may not suppress or distort significant historical events, such as the Holocaust, slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the civil rights movement and the contributions of women, African American and Hispanic people to our country, as already provided in Section 1003.42(2), F.S. Examples of theories that distort historical events and are inconsistent with State Board approved standards include the denial or minimization of the Holocaust, and the teaching of Critical Race Theory, meaning the theory that racism is not merely the product of prejudice, but that racism is embedded in American society and its legal systems in order to uphold the supremacy of white persons. Instruction may not utilize material from the 1619 Project and may not define American history as something other than the creation of a new nation based largely on universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence. Instruction must include the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments. (c) Efficient and faithful teaching further means that any discussion is appropriate for the age and maturity level.”

Seems like reason, logic, and common sense are on the mind of Ms. Snively, and for that we thank her.

Unfortunately, the balance of the board seems to embrace woke culture, division, hatred, and the manifestation of an “us versus” them mentality that has defined left-wing politics for the last 50 years.

Let the Neanderthals on the Hillsborough School board know that CRT has no place in our schools’ curriculum.

• lynn.gray@hcps.net
• nadia.combs@hcps.net
• stacy.hahn@hcps.net
• jessica.vaughn@hcps.net
• melissa.snively@hcps.net
• henry.washington@hcps.net
• karen.perez@hcps.net

Chris Ingram is a communication, political, and media consultant in Tampa. Follow him on Twitter at @IrreverentView or send him an e-mail to chris@tampafp.com.

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