Huron Board of Education candidates say if critical race theory should be taught at Huron City Schools

HURON – The Huron Board of Education candidates told Huron Insider about if they think Critical Race Theory should be taught at Huron City Schools.

Critical race theory is a school of thought meant to emphasize the effects of race on one’s social standing. In multiple communities in America, there have been concerns about critical race theory being taught in schools. Huron City Schools does not currently teach critical race theory, nor has it ever been considered by the district.

This was one of seven questions on a questionnaire that all of the candidates responded to. Huron Insider will be posting one of the questions along with the responses each night this week (August 15-August 21). These articles can be found here.

The Huron Board of Education candidates are John C. Adams, Sherry Catri, Stacey Hartley, Ryan Hathaway, Stacy Hinners, Kimberly King, Andra Kurtz, and Elizabeth Laffay.

The candidates answers to the question “ Even though there is not evidence of it, should Critical Race Theory be taught in Huron City Schools?” are below.

Adams:

Critical Race Theory or “Critical Theory” as it is originally known, should NOT be taught in ANY public school in America as a viable narrative of our great country. I’ve read from African American authors and theologians who declare this teaching to be racist, divisive, and offering little to no hope to those who are labeled victims of the “system.” There is no doubt that racism exists in pockets of our society and should be confronted. However, to teach our students that racism is inextricably woven into our society and therefore our society, government and legal system must be dismantled and rebuilt to reach the utopia of “equity” not “equality” is divisive and racist to its core. In our great country, there is equal opportunity for those who will diligently press forward even in the midst of difficult situations. Our communities are full of them. It is our hope, with freedom, in our country, that provides a way forward for ALL individuals…students first!

Catri:

From my understanding, Critical Race Theory is an academic college level course that is taught in law schools. While trying to educate myself on the topic, I came across an article which describes CRT as “a complicated deep dive into race, culture, and law, and it has no place in public schools.” In my personal experience, everyone I have spoken with has a different take on what CRT is and what it is not. CRT is not state mandated curriculum and to my knowledge, it is not currently being embedded in district curriculum. As an educator, I do not feel it is my responsibility to teach social theories or promote political agendas in the classroom. Educators should focus on fostering the critical thinking skills needed as an adult, and if students have these skills, they can develop their own understanding of social issues and theories.

Hartley:

This raises the broader issue of curriculum. Curriculum decisions on a host of topics, including the topic of Critical Race Theory, are a concern shared by some parents and community members at the last few board meetings.

Per our district policy, our district curriculum conforms with state academic content standards and curriculum guidelines. I agree with this policy.

Per our district policy, our district upholds academic freedom which includes multiple viewpoints and diversity of perspective. It is the responsibility of the teachers to ensure students have access to materials presenting all sides of an issue. The same policy expressly prohibits teachers from attempting to commit students to adopting teachers’ personal viewpoints. This policy should alleviate the concern some parents and community members shared about “indoctrination”. I agree with this policy.

As one wise college political science professor I know puts it, her goal each semester is to conduct her teachings in a way that her students have no idea what her personal politics are. She’ll often hear them guessing about which political ideology she chooses. They’re usually wrong. I appreciate her goal and think it’s one which could help ensure students’ academic freedom is preserved.

Hathaway:

“Critical Race Theory”, “Critical Theory” or “Equity & Diversity Training” can all be attractive terms used for a more divisive wave of thinking that is making its way across the US. Hidden behind the message of racial “equality” this training actually does the opposite. Instead of “equality”, this type of theory focuses on “equity” which in its core results in bringing down one group to build another up. I do not believe this type of non-curricular “theory” has a place in our schools and therefore do NOT think it should be taught. Let’s leave the “theory” to colleges and universities and those students that choose to pursue them. I attended Norfolk State University which is an HBCU (Historically Black College & University) and I can assure you that many African Americans find this thinking to be racist, divisive, and sends a message to our young ones that there is no hope. Not only does it send the message of no hope to the supposed “oppressed” but also to the “oppressor”. Racism is real, no doubt, but our country as a whole is not. “CRT” and other theories such as these only increase the divisiveness in our country. I would encourage everyone reading this to research CRT with an open mind and assess whether or not they agree with the idea that we should be teaching our little ones to judge others based on race or ANY other characteristic? I believe that all of our children were created in God’s image and this type of theory only divides us. This issue is similar to the Title IX and bullying issue – discrimination is discrimination, whether it is spontaneous, cultural, or a state-mandated curriculum wrapped in a pretty bow. In conclusion, my belief is that the foundational message for our children in the Huron School District, as well as across the country, should be one of American Exceptionalism and the belief that ALL people have the ability to succeed with hard work and perseverance. 

One other important note, the question posed for this topic started with “Even though there is no evidence of…” but it is important to note that even though this may not be in Huron, the Ohio State Board of Education has already tried to pass a resolution in support of CRT and the radical 1619 project while silencing opposition. Below are some sources of a lawsuit regarding this topic. I would suggest your readers do some additional research on this issue.

Source: https://theohiostar.com/2021/04/28/ohio-school-board-sued-for-racial-policies-and-banning-input-

on-1619-project-and-critical-race-theory/

Ohio State Board of Education passed a resolution in support of the radical 1619 Project (The 1619 Project, a New York Times series of opinion pieces and essays, attempts to revise history with one-sided, bias propaganda according to historians who provided feedback on the project). The resolution declared Ohio and its education system as “systematically racist against blacks, indigenous people and people of color in need of internal examination, correction for achievement gaps, disparate discipline, white supremacy, cultural insensitivity, hate speech, and implicit bias” in a 12 to 5 vote on Tuesday July 14, 2020. 

The lawsuit states:

On July 14, 2020 the Ohio State Board of Education embraced and adopted policies advancing Marxist ideologies of critical race theory and the false proposition of systematic racism.

The State Board of Education declared that it ‘shall require training for all state employees and contractors working with the Department of Education to identify their own implicit biases so that they can perform their duties to the citizens of Ohio without unconscious racial bias.

The Ohio State Board of Education explicitly directed the Ohio Department of Education to reexamine Academic Content Standards and Model Curriculums to make recommendations to the State Board of Education as necessary to eliminate bias and ensure that racism and the struggle for equality are accurately addressed.

Hinners:

No, Critical Race Theory should not be taught in Huron Schools – and from all research, it is not and there are no plans for it to be. CRT is an advanced legal and sociological theory that was created to challenge complex legal and social constructs at the law school levels – it’s not appropriately taught at the K-12 level.  
That said, I have heard some folks use this CRT issue to push political positions – both liberal and conservative.  Let me be crystal clear about where I stand on that:  using our public education system to push personal political or religious agendas, whatever they may be, is unacceptable and almost always illegal.  Every single student at Huron City Schools is entitled to a safe, respectful and effective place to learn – regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or identity, religion, politics, or any other legally-protected reason. This isn’t just my opinion; this is federal and state law.  A Board Member must separate personal politics and religious beliefs from their official Board duties. If they can’t or won’t, they are a liability to our District and our students. 

King:

At this point I am continuing to do research on this topic and what effect, if any it has on the curriculum in the school system. In what I have read thus far on what this topic actually is, I don’t believe it is currently something that is incorporated into the curriculum. I do feel that it is important to teach our children history so that we can learn from it. One of the best things we can do as parents is to actively be involved in our children’s education and ask questions to their teachers, principals, and administrators. If you aren’t willing to be an active participant then we can’t expect to have any change.

Kurtz:

Critical Race Theory has been a hot button topic across the country. I think that it’s important that all children feel empowered to become their best self. I feel that this topic takes the focus off of the importance of education, and I don’t feel that it is right path for our children or the community.

Laffay:

Before adopting any curriculum, I would want to review it for myself. I am very sensitive personally about race, coming from a mixed family including blacks, whites, and Argentinians. I thought that CRT sounded useful until I investigated it in depth (including the teachers’ manuals), which I would not have taken the time to do except for the controversy surrounding it. After researching CRT deeply and doing an extensive background check of where the concept originated, I do not believe it belongs in schools. I instead propose we emphasize the plan Huron schools already have in place: “The [Huron school building] Way”. This current plan is already meant to foster kindness, promote acceptance, diminish bullying and relish differences in others while cultivating the qualities that make our children great leaders. I propose we do the same by utilizing our resources already in place and leaving the controversial curriculum alone.