When the history of the Critical Race Theory in K-12 is written, the role of teachers unions will be prominent, if not dominant. The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest teachers union in the country, and it has been active in pushing CRT training and teaching both through its national headquarters and local chapters.NEA in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, targeted local mom Nicole Solas for serving a large number of public records requests, and NEA’s fingerprints are all over the messaging taking place to oppose dissident parents (more on that in subsequent posts). As we documented recently, the NEA Representative Assembly just passed a resolution directing NEA To Invest In Researching Groups Opposed To Critical Race TrainingOne of the messages we continually hear is that “Critical Race Theory” is not taught in K-12. That’s of course a deception because kindergarteners may not have a book called “Critical Race Theory” but they are indoctrinated into the key principles using euphemisms like “antiracism” and “equity.”To the extent there was any doubt, at the NEA Representative Assembly just passed another resolution, New Business Item A, directing NEA to push “Critical Race Theory” into schools (emphasis added):
The National Education Association, in coordination with national partners, NEA state and local affiliates, racial justice advocates, allies, and community activists, shall build powerful education communities and continue our work together to eradicate institutional racism in our public school system by:* * *2. Supporting and leading campaigns that:* * *
- Result in increasing the implementation of culturally responsive education, critical race theory, and ethnic (Native people, Asian, Black, Latin(o/a/x), Middle Eastern, North African, and Pacific Islander) Studies curriculum in pre- K-12 and higher education;
A second resolution, New Business Item 39, reiterates the point, including that NEA must lead the effort against parental pushback (emphasis added):
The NEA will, with guidance on implementation from the NEA president and chairs of the Ethnic Minority Affairs Caucuses:
A. Share and publicize, through existing channels, information already available on critical race theory (CRT) — what it is and what it is not; have a team of staffers for members who want to learn more and fight back against anti-CRT rhetoric; and share information with other NEA members as well as their community members.* * *C. Publicly (through existing media) convey its support for the accurate and honest teaching of social studies topics, including truthful and age-appropriate accountings of unpleasant aspects of American history, such as slavery, and the oppression and discrimination of Indigenous, Black, Brown, and other peoples of color, as well as the continued impact this history has on our current society. The Association will further convey that in teaching these topics, it is reasonable and appropriate for curriculum to be informed by academic frameworks for understanding and interpreting the impact of the past on current society, including critical race theory.* * *E. Conduct a virtual listening tour that will educate members on the tools and resources needed to defend honesty in education including but not limited to tools like CRT.F. Commit President Becky Pringle to make public statements across all lines of media that support racial honesty in education including but not limited to critical race theory.
Once again, NEA already was doing this at the national level, but the fact that NEA representatives from around the country have joined in the demand shows that this is not just a few activists at headquarters, it’s local represenatives shaping education policy in school districts around the country.
It also puts the total lie to the claim that CRT is not being taught in K-12.
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