THIS CLASS ASSIGNMENT TEACHES THAT YOUR RACE AND GENDER DETERMINE WHETHER YOU ARE OPPRESSED OR PRIVILEGED: KEY BELIEFS IN CRT.

 9th Grade Assignment: 

Intersectionality Article

“Oppression, Power and Privilege in the Classroom”

“…my son's language arts class spent weeks in the Cultural Identity lessons teaching him that he is privileged because he is white.”

                                                         —Marquette parent

The Cultural Identity unit assigned students multiple times to identify groups they belong to, based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and, more.

This article teaches that oppressions happen when those parts of your identity (race, gender, etc.) intersect. 

If you’re black and female, you will have two reasons you are oppressed.

"Intersectionality," in the title of the article, is a term used in Critical Race Theory.

The article was written by the arm of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that works with teachers. It promotes Critical Race Theory. Learning Plan: Critical Race Theory

SPLC is also devoted to outing what it calls white supremacy and hate. SPLC Hate Map 

Missouri lawmakers are trying to ban SPLC and its programs from Missouri schools. So, if the current bill passes, this article would no longer be allowed.

To read the article online, you'll need a newslea account. 

https://newsela.com/read/lib-intersectionality/id/26473

Or, read the screenshots from parents.

Note: Teaching Tolerance (last line, above) changed its name to Learning for Justice. It’s still part of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

Questions assigned about the article:

Action:

Parents attempted to challenge the Cultural Identity unit where this article was used. But, the district changed the rules in the challenge regulations and did not accept our documents. This was because challenge requirements had been met the previous semester instead of the current semester.

Note: 

Other assignments in the Cultural Identity unit include a video (Intersectionality 101) that says white people have privilege, and assignments that focus on how race and gender determine whether people are privileged or oppressed.

Also note:

Social justice issues are not in Missouri’s learning standards. Districts can choose how to meet the state’s learning standards. Rockwood and/or individual teachers chose the assignments we have highlighted from the Cultural Identity unit.

DETAILS

Language arts, Cultural Identity unit

Spring, 2020-2021 school year

Parent Concerns:

Social issues replace academics

Written by controversial teaching resource