do you know a lot of people who are leaving DCPS next year?

[Anonymous]

That’s weird. At Deal, my child read Beowulf (spelling?) and The Call of the Wild.

There was also a novel that took place in Zimbabwe. According to Kirkus: “Weaving African tribal language and lore . . . into a rich tapestry featuring a witty projection of the future, a score of vividly realized characters, and a nonstop adventure culminating in a denouement that's at once taut, comic, and touching, the author has created a splendidly imaginative fantasy." So while it took place in Africa, I’m not sure it focused on race or slavery. Don’t know.

And in social studies, there was a tour of the regions of the world in sixth grade, and ancient history in Seventh.

Anyway, I am African American, and my fave author is Jane Austen. So DC and I read that together in middle school. FYI, that’s always an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many in upper NW. Its more than just how DCPS has handled the pandemic though. It’s also how critical race theory has overtaken the curriculum in just about every subject. I want my kids to learn about our not so great history. But the constant indoctrination that my family achieved everything through “privilege” and that we are all surely closet racists has become too much.

+1

We are leaving DCPS but not because of how they are teaching anti racism. Actually I give them props for trying, especially when our school is like 90% white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s weird. At Deal, my child read Beowulf (spelling?) and The Call of the Wild.

There was also a novel that took place in Zimbabwe. According to Kirkus: “Weaving African tribal language and lore . . . into a rich tapestry featuring a witty projection of the future, a score of vividly realized characters, and a nonstop adventure culminating in a denouement that's at once taut, comic, and touching, the author has created a splendidly imaginative fantasy." So while it took place in Africa, I’m not sure it focused on race or slavery. Don’t know.

And in social studies, there was a tour of the regions of the world in sixth grade, and ancient history in Seventh.

Anyway, I am African American, and my fave author is Jane Austen. So DC and I read that together in middle school. FYI, that’s always an option.

I think there are a lot of white people who think any book that features black or african folks is about slavery. So so sad.

There kids will miss out while they cling to Kill a Mockingbird and books they read once 20 years ago.

[Anonymous]

5 or 6 years ago the Deal English department was told not to use their own curricula anymore. They have been required to use downtown since...

[Anonymous]

*downtown’s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many in upper NW. Its more than just how DCPS has handled the pandemic though. It’s also how critical race theory has overtaken the curriculum in just about every subject. I want my kids to learn about our not so great history. But the constant indoctrination that my family achieved everything through “privilege” and that we are all surely closet racists has become too much.

+1

We are leaving DCPS but not because of how they are teaching anti racism. Actually I give them props for trying, especially when our school is like 90% white.

Then you better move to a nice red state where they reenact slavery and have the black students act as slaves. Maybe the Underground Railroad game?

I hate to say this but white history is disgusting. Yes there are beautiful parts too, which are taught, which are enforced through print, media, etc. Literally 90% of my favorite books are written by White people with a white person on the cover. Most of my favorite shows feature whites. Most of the most famous actors are white.

The fact that you’re boo-hooing about how anti-racism is taught shows me is that you want your child to be told, some white people did bad things but it’s ok! That was the past, everything is great now, their not killing minorities left and right out of hate in the present. You can be proud of who you are and STILL admonish the bad behavior of people who look like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many in upper NW. Its more than just how DCPS has handled the pandemic though. It’s also how critical race theory has overtaken the curriculum in just about every subject. I want my kids to learn about our not so great history. But the constant indoctrination that my family achieved everything through “privilege” and that we are all surely closet racists has become too much.

+1

We are leaving DCPS but not because of how they are teaching anti racism. Actually I give them props for trying, especially when our school is like 90% white.

I fully support my kid’s charter teaching anti-racism in any and all aspects of the curriculum. I don’t support the school making me feel racist for wanting IPL and don’t support the school admin. making bad decisions and using anti-racism to justify those bad decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many in upper NW. Its more than just how DCPS has handled the pandemic though. It’s also how critical race theory has overtaken the curriculum in just about every subject. I want my kids to learn about our not so great history. But the constant indoctrination that my family achieved everything through “privilege” and that we are all surely closet racists has become too much.

+1

We are leaving DCPS but not because of how they are teaching anti racism. Actually I give them props for trying, especially when our school is like 90% white.

I fully support my kid’s charter teaching anti-racism in any and all aspects of the curriculum. I don’t support the school making me feel racist for wanting IPL and don’t support the school admin. making bad decisions and using anti-racism to justify those bad decisions.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many in upper NW. Its more than just how DCPS has handled the pandemic though. It’s also how critical race theory has overtaken the curriculum in just about every subject. I want my kids to learn about our not so great history. But the constant indoctrination that my family achieved everything through “privilege” and that we are all surely closet racists has become too much.

+1

We are leaving DCPS but not because of how they are teaching anti racism. Actually I give them props for trying, especially when our school is like 90% white.

Then you better move to a nice red state where they reenact slavery and have the black students act as slaves. Maybe the Underground Railroad game?

I hate to say this but white history is disgusting. Yes there are beautiful parts too, which are taught, which are enforced through print, media, etc. Literally 90% of my favorite books are written by White people with a white person on the cover. Most of my favorite shows feature whites. Most of the most famous actors are white.

The fact that you’re boo-hooing about how anti-racism is taught shows me is that you want your child to be told, some white people did bad things but it’s ok! That was the past, everything is great now, their not killing minorities left and right out of hate in the present. You can be proud of who you are and STILL admonish the bad behavior of people who look like you.

Poster said they are leaving DCPS NOT because of anti-racism curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many in upper NW. Its more than just how DCPS has handled the pandemic though. It’s also how critical race theory has overtaken the curriculum in just about every subject. I want my kids to learn about our not so great history. But the constant indoctrination that my family achieved everything through “privilege” and that we are all surely closet racists has become too much.

+1

We are leaving DCPS but not because of how they are teaching anti racism. Actually I give them props for trying, especially when our school is like 90% white.

I fully support my kid’s charter teaching anti-racism in any and all aspects of the curriculum. I don’t support the school making me feel racist for wanting IPL and don’t support the school admin. making bad decisions and using anti-racism to justify those bad decisions.

OMG YES. Same. +100
Every communication I receive from our HOS featuring vague and random details about IPL touts equity as a grounding principle and it makes me hurl. How is prolonged DL in the face of scientific evidence that IPL can be done safely addressing equity, particularly when its well established that the negative impacts on student learning outweigh health risks for all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many in upper NW. Its more than just how DCPS has handled the pandemic though. It’s also how critical race theory has overtaken the curriculum in just about every subject. I want my kids to learn about our not so great history. But the constant indoctrination that my family achieved everything through “privilege” and that we are all surely closet racists has become too much.

+1

We are leaving DCPS but not because of how they are teaching anti racism. Actually I give them props for trying, especially when our school is like 90% white.

I fully support my kid’s charter teaching anti-racism in any and all aspects of the curriculum. I don’t support the school making me feel racist for wanting IPL and don’t support the school admin. making bad decisions and using anti-racism to justify those bad decisions.

OMG YES. Same. +100
Every communication I receive from our HOS featuring vague and random details about IPL touts equity as a grounding principle and it makes me hurl. How is prolonged DL in the face of scientific evidence that IPL can be done safely addressing equity, particularly when its well established that the negative impacts on student learning outweigh health risks for all?

+ 1,000,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s weird. At Deal, my child read Beowulf (spelling?) and The Call of the Wild.

There was also a novel that took place in Zimbabwe. According to Kirkus: “Weaving African tribal language and lore . . . into a rich tapestry featuring a witty projection of the future, a score of vividly realized characters, and a nonstop adventure culminating in a denouement that's at once taut, comic, and touching, the author has created a splendidly imaginative fantasy." So while it took place in Africa, I’m not sure it focused on race or slavery. Don’t know.

And in social studies, there was a tour of the regions of the world in sixth grade, and ancient history in Seventh.

Anyway, I am African American, and my fave author is Jane Austen. So DC and I read that together in middle school. FYI, that’s always an option.

I think there are a lot of white people who think any book that features black or african folks is about slavery. So so sad.

There kids will miss out while they cling to Kill a Mockingbird and books they read once 20 years ago.

Exactly. I am THRILLED with the richness and diversity of DCPS’s literature curriculum. It’s a real bright spot of the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many in upper NW. Its more than just how DCPS has handled the pandemic though. It’s also how critical race theory has overtaken the curriculum in just about every subject. I want my kids to learn about our not so great history. But the constant indoctrination that my family achieved everything through “privilege” and that we are all surely closet racists has become too much.

+1

+2

+3
I'm sure I'll be crucified for saying this but I would like my kids to read one book (a single book) before graduation that is not about race or slavery. Every single ELA book at Deal (for 3 years) has been about this. The same went for 4th and 5th grades at our JKLM.
My kid has learned nothing about anything else (except for math and science) for the past 5 years.

+1000. We're bailing at the end of elementary for DCPS. Our Asian family never wants to hear another word about Black History Month. We want our children to learn about ancient civilizations, modern history, great literature, anything but more MLK, Rosa Parks and the rest. Enough already of progressive humanities (read abysmal instruction in the humanities). Crucify me with PP above, so she has company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many in upper NW. Its more than just how DCPS has handled the pandemic though. It’s also how critical race theory has overtaken the curriculum in just about every subject. I want my kids to learn about our not so great history. But the constant indoctrination that my family achieved everything through “privilege” and that we are all surely closet racists has become too much.

+1

+2

+3
I'm sure I'll be crucified for saying this but I would like my kids to read one book (a single book) before graduation that is not about race or slavery. Every single ELA book at Deal (for 3 years) has been about this. The same went for 4th and 5th grades at our JKLM.
My kid has learned nothing about anything else (except for math and science) for the past 5 years.

+1000. We're bailing at the end of elementary for DCPS. Our Asian family never wants to hear another word about Black History Month. We want our children to learn about ancient civilizations, modern history, great literature, anything but more MLK, Rosa Parks and the rest. Enough already of progressive humanities (read abysmal instruction in the humanities). Crucify me with PP above, so she has company.

What school is this? Our kids learn about MLK, Rosa Parks, etc in Kinder and more and more folks throughout the year; we also have robust reads on Asian Americans, Latinos, etc.

Its really impressive the library looks like the school/US in terms. Not all slavery and oppression but sometimes that is part of the story. If you don't look at the whole picture your kids will look like fools in college.

[Anonymous]

So, we have a single curriculum and a largely African-American DCPS student body. For engagement purposes, African-American thematic literature sounds like the right way to go.

Maybe not always, of course, but it sounds like a good engagement strategy.

And if you are going to do African-American thematic literature, in what world is it not going to be suffused with racism as a theme?

I get the desire to just get a straight-down-the-middle humanities courseline, but is there such a thing? Most people would say no.