Why do parents have such an issue with DEIB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, nobody has proven examples of why they are against DEIB in schools. It just seems like a bunch of fragility and racism.

I’m not against DEIB but how it has been implemented and prioritised in my kids’ schools over issues which matter more to me or in ways that cause division and drama.

In my DS’s US, we have had problems with getting the school to address concerns regarding poor teaching. With one, it got to the point where parents had to band together and force the issue. With another, the administration continue to try to avoid the problems. Throughout all of this, there is a constant barrage of DEIB newsletters, invitations to discussion groups and other initiatives which makes it feel like they prioritise DEIB over very real academic problems (which obviously affect all students regardless of skin colour).

In my DD’s MS, I think the intentions are good but clearly younger children aren’t as able to handle the concepts and it can lead to bullying and intolerance. When she was in 5th and 6th grades, it was exasperating. Kids that age tend to see things as black and white (no pun intended). She and I had battles as she and her friends would ‘brand’ other kids as racists, misogynists and homophobes over stupid thoughtless comments that typical immature 11 year old boys and girls might make. Kids would be accused of cultural misappropriation over dumb things which clearly showed they didn’t understand the concept.

[Anonymous]

This thread shows the problem- it is all or nothing and view points are too extreme. DEI in the schools went too far. That doesn't mean it needs to be eradicated. Seven pages here love it or want it gone. There can be a middle ground. Support students learning about racism in American history classes through discussions of slavery and civil rights, but not in math or science class. Have one or two books a year in English class present some of these issues, but not ALL of them. Address systemic racism during assemblies a couple times a year, but not ALL of them. Present some balance in addressing different minority groups. Appreciate diversity in ALL its forms (religious, sexual/gender, learning differences, cultural, and racial). Consider diversity in admissions and hiring without overlooking a clearly much better candidate that may be white.

The opinions on this thread are the problem. The situation has become so polarized that it defeats the purpose of DEI and creates more anger and resentment.

[Anonymous]

My kid's second tier private has quietly dropped most references to DEI and just moved on. I think that's the trend. When will the big 3 catch up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's second tier private has quietly dropped most references to DEI and just moved on. I think that's the trend. When will the big 3 catch up?

Unfortunately probably when they find some equally stupid trend to replace it with!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread shows the problem- it is all or nothing and view points are too extreme. DEI in the schools went too far. That doesn't mean it needs to be eradicated. Seven pages here love it or want it gone. There can be a middle ground. Support students learning about racism in American history classes through discussions of slavery and civil rights, but not in math or science class. Have one or two books a year in English class present some of these issues, but not ALL of them. Address systemic racism during assemblies a couple times a year, but not ALL of them. Present some balance in addressing different minority groups. Appreciate diversity in ALL its forms (religious, sexual/gender, learning differences, cultural, and racial). Consider diversity in admissions and hiring without overlooking a clearly much better candidate that may be white.

The opinions on this thread are the problem. The situation has become so polarized that it defeats the purpose of DEI and creates more anger and resentment.

Although I’ve gotten to where I want DEI gone because it has devalue actual education and divide people, I can accept your suggestions. I think it’s a good middle ground to promote diversity without removing critical aspects of education and without penalizing deserving people because they don’t have the right skin color. I feel that diversity in socioeconomic circumstances should be a higher priority too.

[Anonymous]

Here's the problem: The lessons are ones that adults would have benefitted from (and have now had). Our kids live in a different context, but their easy targets as a captive audience for lessons others should have had.

The kids would be best off if they just functioned together day to day in their very diverse environments. And then systemic racism that we are inured to would strike them as odd.

But instead we are inundating them with differences, drawing lines between them, and tacitly accusing them of the sins of long dead people.

This may feel good for adults now, but it does no favors for future society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's second tier private has quietly dropped most references to DEI and just moved on. I think that's the trend. When will the big 3 catch up?

Our private school has also backed off too. They got the message when no one except the DEI staff showed up for their DEI events. 😆

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the problem: The lessons are ones that adults would have benefitted from (and have now had). Our kids live in a different context, but their easy targets as a captive audience for lessons others should have had.

The kids would be best off if they just functioned together day to day in their very diverse environments. And then systemic racism that we are inured to would strike them as odd.

But instead we are inundating them with differences, drawing lines between them, and tacitly accusing them of the sins of long dead people.

This may feel good for adults now, but it does no favors for future society.

1000+ Well said.

[Anonymous]

DEI is about dividing kids based on the color of their skin. It’s about lumping anyone with peach skin into the category of ‘oppressor’ and ‘racist’.

DEI is about telling anyone that us not a white male that they are a ‘victim’

Look who has made the most money off of DEI. It’s the single biggest grift in American history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the problem: The lessons are ones that adults would have benefitted from (and have now had). Our kids live in a different context, but their easy targets as a captive audience for lessons others should have had.

The kids would be best off if they just functioned together day to day in their very diverse environments. And then systemic racism that we are inured to would strike them as odd.

But instead we are inundating them with differences, drawing lines between them, and tacitly accusing them of the sins of long dead people.

This may feel good for adults now, but it does no favors for future society.

+100. When I was growing up, my white classmates made fun of my food. Now, my children’s white classmates ask me to teach them how to cook it. Of course it was traumatic to be racially excluded. But my children’s white classmates are not my old white classmates. Just because they’re the same race doesn’t mean they’re the same people. To say so would be… racist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the problem: The lessons are ones that adults would have benefitted from (and have now had). Our kids live in a different context, but their easy targets as a captive audience for lessons others should have had.

The kids would be best off if they just functioned together day to day in their very diverse environments. And then systemic racism that we are inured to would strike them as odd.

But instead we are inundating them with differences, drawing lines between them, and tacitly accusing them of the sins of long dead people.

This may feel good for adults now, but it does no favors for future society.

+100. When I was growing up, my white classmates made fun of my food. Now, my children’s white classmates ask me to teach them how to cook it. Of course it was traumatic to be racially excluded. But my children’s white classmates are not my old white classmates. Just because they’re the same race doesn’t mean they’re the same people. To say so would be… racist

Furthermore, I should add, as much as I want apologies from those who hurt me, taking it out on kids today by saying they should apologize for what happened in my adult past isn’t right

[Anonymous]

If there is one way to make antiracism seem completely terrible and awful to middle school kids, it is to teach it the way they teach math.

[Anonymous]

I’ll play. My child’s first grade teacher taught class about pronouns and encouraged DC to adopt different ones. When we expressed that step was perhaps a bit drastic for a 6 year old and perhaps could slow roll any social transition to see how things played out, school told us to F off and basically implied that we are bigots. It was only when our normally happy and enthusiastic child developed daily anxiety and school-avoidant behaviors did teacher and admin back down with tail between their legs, and stopped reading daily books about pronouns to the class.

Thankfully child is doing great from a confidence and sense of self perspective a couple years on, and doesn’t talk about pronouns anymore, fyi.

People on this board have told me that this didn’t happen, but I can assure you that it did and that it was an extremely challenging 12-18 months for the whole family. We are liberal democrats fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread shows the problem- it is all or nothing and view points are too extreme. DEI in the schools went too far. That doesn't mean it needs to be eradicated. Seven pages here love it or want it gone. There can be a middle ground. Support students learning about racism in American history classes through discussions of slavery and civil rights, but not in math or science class. Have one or two books a year in English class present some of these issues, but not ALL of them. Address systemic racism during assemblies a couple times a year, but not ALL of them. Present some balance in addressing different minority groups. Appreciate diversity in ALL its forms (religious, sexual/gender, learning differences, cultural, and racial). Consider diversity in admissions and hiring without overlooking a clearly much better candidate that may be white.

The opinions on this thread are the problem. The situation has become so polarized that it defeats the purpose of DEI and creates more anger and resentment.

Well the problem is with the DEI proponents. Once they start teaching it a little, they can’t stop themselves. There is no end to it. Eventually it turns full circle and they start attacking themselves like it did when BLM turned out to be Hamas enthusiasts. It was nice to see DCPS quietly do away with BLM Week of Action this year, but it should never started in the first place. Reading, writing, science and arithmetic please.

[Anonymous]

It operates according to the principles of a cult. Not appropriate for a school.