Private Schools Wokeness Over the Top

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's "woke"? Believing minorities deserve the same opportunities and protections as whites? Count me in. That people can love who they want and identify as they want without harassment or ridicule or fear? Count me in. That all people can worship the god they believe in without exclusion? Count me in. Or even that women should earn as much as men and have all the same opportunities? Count me in.

47 genders?

What does it matter to any of us the choices another individual makes about themself? Is it just uncomfortable to us, so they should adapt and be uncomfortable? Thus we just pick the "woke" issues we agree with and ridicule the issues?

Mental illness is what it is.

When things are divorced from reality it does matter.

Especially when the nonsense is forced onto others as the only truth. It's Orwellian, and how every totalitarian regime started, left or right.

Absolutely! We are living in mad times. The only "truth" that matters is one's personal belief unless of course the woke mob deem that truth contrary to its rhetoric. It's a very sad time for children and teens indeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

As a parent who raised 6 productive members of society, I can unequivocally that given your title you are an idiot.

I probably shouldn't have used the term "woke" because it is a cultural lightening rod but I'm human and I make mistakes. I'm not American so I am not with either side of this debate so perhaps the term doesn't have the significance or the meaning it has for me as it does for others - I'm looking at it from the outside in (though admittedly I have lived here for 15 years now so in a way the US is part of me but I'm still an outsider). You call me an idiot. Did you bother understanding my critique and reading what I said? Calling people you disagree with idiots is part of the problem. It seems like no one is willing to listen to the other side anymore. I'm not even the "other side" I'm just a person looking in. The US has become so tribal that different opinions are not tolerated. I feel lost here. What I loved about America is quickly disappearing.

But there isn't a debate. Woke is a term weaponized by the right to signal "black people"

Ultimately the question is, do we as a society values each other, and celebrate the differences we all share, or are we meant to segregate and compartmentalize.

What you are calling "woke" is people coming together and sharing the best of the cultures we come from, and then there are the segregationists, who lost the Civil War and World War II and are now trying it again.

Oh my, the Woke Church apparently does not tolerate discusion or debate. Who knew?

Beware OP you're about to be excommunicated, move out of crazy DC while you can

You mock, but really what is the woke church? Who controls it? What is the organization behind it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely shocked about people referring to a melting pot.

I am OLD and even I remember waaaay back in the 80s talking about how the US isn't a melting pot - that was an antiquated and stupid analogy. Instead, we could think of the US as a salad bowl, where every piece retains it's own unique flavors and comes together as one better whole.

I've also read through most of nine pages and have yet to understand exactly what the OP is worried about or what she considers "woke". I get she doesn't like Kendi. OK, fair enough. Reasonable people can disagree about any specific person or idea. But not sure where the lead comes from there to some larger "wokeness" she's concerned about.

If you're OLD you probably don't have K12 kids right now and have not seen the insane indoctrination going on in many DC schools.

You'd be surprised. Ask OP.

I actually have middle schoolers and high schoolers right now (yup - I was an old first time mom)
And many people have asked for examples, but haven't really gotten much.

OK, here go a few good general articles:

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-turn-liel-leibovitz

https://unherd.com/2022/11/anti-racism-attacks-my-american-dream/

https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter

Using Bari Weiss for anything is discredting for any argument on any issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's "woke"? Believing minorities deserve the same opportunities and protections as whites? Count me in. That people can love who they want and identify as they want without harassment or ridicule or fear? Count me in. That all people can worship the god they believe in without exclusion? Count me in. Or even that women should earn as much as men and have all the same opportunities? Count me in.

Exactly, so when people use the term as a perjorative, then they fall into the hands of the same people who weaponized "defund the police" who it turns out, are the ones actually defunding the police. Two sides of the same coin. Take a term in good faith and turn the tables to make it evil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's "woke"? Believing minorities deserve the same opportunities and protections as whites? Count me in. That people can love who they want and identify as they want without harassment or ridicule or fear? Count me in. That all people can worship the god they believe in without exclusion? Count me in. Or even that women should earn as much as men and have all the same opportunities? Count me in.

47 genders?

What does it matter to any of us the choices another individual makes about themself? Is it just uncomfortable to us, so they should adapt and be uncomfortable? Thus we just pick the "woke" issues we agree with and ridicule the issues?

Mental illness is what it is.

When things are divorced from reality it does matter.

Especially when the nonsense is forced onto others as the only truth. It's Orwellian, and how every totalitarian regime started, left or right.

Absolutely! We are living in mad times. The only "truth" that matters is one's personal belief unless of course the woke mob deem that truth contrary to its rhetoric. It's a very sad time for children and teens indeed.

Who, or what, is this "woke mob"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's "woke"? Believing minorities deserve the same opportunities and protections as whites? Count me in. That people can love who they want and identify as they want without harassment or ridicule or fear? Count me in. That all people can worship the god they believe in without exclusion? Count me in. Or even that women should earn as much as men and have all the same opportunities? Count me in.

47 genders?

What does it matter to any of us the choices another individual makes about themself? Is it just uncomfortable to us, so they should adapt and be uncomfortable? Thus we just pick the "woke" issues we agree with and ridicule the issues?

Mental illness is what it is.

When things are divorced from reality it does matter.

Especially when the nonsense is forced onto others as the only truth. It's Orwellian, and how every totalitarian regime started, left or right.

Absolutely! We are living in mad times. The only "truth" that matters is one's personal belief unless of course the woke mob deem that truth contrary to its rhetoric. It's a very sad time for children and teens indeed.

Who, or what, is this "woke mob"?

I think the better question is whether the woke mob is in the room with her now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example. My children’s private school DEI lead has set up to inclusivity groups. One related to sexual orientation and one to people of color. Which apparently only included black people. The lead staff member is black and said someone who looked like another staff member with white skin and brown eyes wouldn’t be able to join. In the name of inclusivity. My kids were really upset and said it doesn’t make sense. They were in 6th grade. The school also included discussion of gender and sexuality in the context of identity for elementary schools. And our school is moderate.

OP here. Interesting. Thanks PP and good to know. My kids are so young that we haven't been exposed to any of this yet (so my concerns are just general).

I honestly think the people who are initiating this stuff are true believers which is why I think the religion comparison is appropriate. But if you are at a moderate school with enough balance that people can speak freely, speak out. Our DEI person absolutely intended the talk about gender fluid as part of the DEI for elementary school kids until the parents got wind and freaked out. Parents felt that at the age when many kids haven’t even had basic sex ed and when many kids are just hitting puberty, adding this in was too much. The kids need to understand why their bodies are changing and what to expect and what their organs can do. That is what parents want for 5th graders. We didn’t want them literally confused but another layer of information talking about sexuality. It just isn’t necessary at such a young age. With the BIPOC club it was just super interesting to hear my kids say that how is it good for our society to start excluding people again based on race. The kids have learned about MLK and his views and this BIPOC club was directly contrary to that teaching. You can dress it up as a safe space etc but at bottom it is excluding people based on race. And that is racist. I am sure white southerners wanted blacks at the back of the bus so the white at the front could feel safe. Same same.

FYI, gender has nothing to do with sexuality. At all. If you are going to object, at least understand what you are objecting to. Maybe parents who don’t even understand the curriculum aren’t the best people to be second-guessing it. It’s like the popularly-elected Texas School Board deciding what counts as a scientific or historical fact. Unless you just want generation after generation of equally ignorant people without any intellectual advancement or progress at all, poorly-educated people shouldn’t be designing curriculum. I know you think your mom hunches are the gold standard for determining what’s developmentally appropriate at different ages, but there’s actually science on this question. And gender itself is a matter of scientific inquiry. If I asked you what makes a boy a boy, you might tell me a penis. But what about people who are born with both a or is and a vulva? Is that a boy? Or someone who is born with neither? Boy? Girl? You may say it’s a matter of chromosomes, but you’d be wrong there too. Chromosomes frequently don’t “match” genitalia. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this before opining about what kids should learn at what ages. If any one manages to equip them with more basic biological information than you have demonstrated, they will be doing them a favor regardless of the context.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely shocked about people referring to a melting pot.

I am OLD and even I remember waaaay back in the 80s talking about how the US isn't a melting pot - that was an antiquated and stupid analogy. Instead, we could think of the US as a salad bowl, where every piece retains it's own unique flavors and comes together as one better whole.

I've also read through most of nine pages and have yet to understand exactly what the OP is worried about or what she considers "woke". I get she doesn't like Kendi. OK, fair enough. Reasonable people can disagree about any specific person or idea. But not sure where the lead comes from there to some larger "wokeness" she's concerned about.

If you're OLD you probably don't have K12 kids right now and have not seen the insane indoctrination going on in many DC schools.

You'd be surprised. Ask OP.

I actually have middle schoolers and high schoolers right now (yup - I was an old first time mom)
And many people have asked for examples, but haven't really gotten much.

OK, here go a few good general articles:

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-turn-liel-leibovitz

https://unherd.com/2022/11/anti-racism-attacks-my-american-dream/

https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter

Using Bari Weiss for anything is discredting for any argument on any issue.

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example. My children’s private school DEI lead has set up to inclusivity groups. One related to sexual orientation and one to people of color. Which apparently only included black people. The lead staff member is black and said someone who looked like another staff member with white skin and brown eyes wouldn’t be able to join. In the name of inclusivity. My kids were really upset and said it doesn’t make sense. They were in 6th grade. The school also included discussion of gender and sexuality in the context of identity for elementary schools. And our school is moderate.

OP here. Interesting. Thanks PP and good to know. My kids are so young that we haven't been exposed to any of this yet (so my concerns are just general).

I honestly think the people who are initiating this stuff are true believers which is why I think the religion comparison is appropriate. But if you are at a moderate school with enough balance that people can speak freely, speak out. Our DEI person absolutely intended the talk about gender fluid as part of the DEI for elementary school kids until the parents got wind and freaked out. Parents felt that at the age when many kids haven’t even had basic sex ed and when many kids are just hitting puberty, adding this in was too much. The kids need to understand why their bodies are changing and what to expect and what their organs can do. That is what parents want for 5th graders. We didn’t want them literally confused but another layer of information talking about sexuality. It just isn’t necessary at such a young age. With the BIPOC club it was just super interesting to hear my kids say that how is it good for our society to start excluding people again based on race. The kids have learned about MLK and his views and this BIPOC club was directly contrary to that teaching. You can dress it up as a safe space etc but at bottom it is excluding people based on race. And that is racist. I am sure white southerners wanted blacks at the back of the bus so the white at the front could feel safe. Same same.

FYI, gender has nothing to do with sexuality. At all. If you are going to object, at least understand what you are objecting to. Maybe parents who don’t even understand the curriculum aren’t the best people to be second-guessing it. It’s like the popularly-elected Texas School Board deciding what counts as a scientific or historical fact. Unless you just want generation after generation of equally ignorant people without any intellectual advancement or progress at all, poorly-educated people shouldn’t be designing curriculum. I know you think your mom hunches are the gold standard for determining what’s developmentally appropriate at different ages, but there’s actually science on this question. And gender itself is a matter of scientific inquiry. If I asked you what makes a boy a boy, you might tell me a penis. But what about people who are born with both a or is and a vulva? Is that a boy? Or someone who is born with neither? Boy? Girl? You may say it’s a matter of chromosomes, but you’d be wrong there too. Chromosomes frequently don’t “match” genitalia. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this before opining about what kids should learn at what ages. If any one manages to equip them with more basic biological information than you have demonstrated, they will be doing them a favor regardless of the context.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example. My children’s private school DEI lead has set up to inclusivity groups. One related to sexual orientation and one to people of color. Which apparently only included black people. The lead staff member is black and said someone who looked like another staff member with white skin and brown eyes wouldn’t be able to join. In the name of inclusivity. My kids were really upset and said it doesn’t make sense. They were in 6th grade. The school also included discussion of gender and sexuality in the context of identity for elementary schools. And our school is moderate.

OP here. Interesting. Thanks PP and good to know. My kids are so young that we haven't been exposed to any of this yet (so my concerns are just general).

I honestly think the people who are initiating this stuff are true believers which is why I think the religion comparison is appropriate. But if you are at a moderate school with enough balance that people can speak freely, speak out. Our DEI person absolutely intended the talk about gender fluid as part of the DEI for elementary school kids until the parents got wind and freaked out. Parents felt that at the age when many kids haven’t even had basic sex ed and when many kids are just hitting puberty, adding this in was too much. The kids need to understand why their bodies are changing and what to expect and what their organs can do. That is what parents want for 5th graders. We didn’t want them literally confused but another layer of information talking about sexuality. It just isn’t necessary at such a young age. With the BIPOC club it was just super interesting to hear my kids say that how is it good for our society to start excluding people again based on race. The kids have learned about MLK and his views and this BIPOC club was directly contrary to that teaching. You can dress it up as a safe space etc but at bottom it is excluding people based on race. And that is racist. I am sure white southerners wanted blacks at the back of the bus so the white at the front could feel safe. Same same.

FYI, gender has nothing to do with sexuality. At all. If you are going to object, at least understand what you are objecting to. Maybe parents who don’t even understand the curriculum aren’t the best people to be second-guessing it. It’s like the popularly-elected Texas School Board deciding what counts as a scientific or historical fact. Unless you just want generation after generation of equally ignorant people without any intellectual advancement or progress at all, poorly-educated people shouldn’t be designing curriculum. I know you think your mom hunches are the gold standard for determining what’s developmentally appropriate at different ages, but there’s actually science on this question. And gender itself is a matter of scientific inquiry. If I asked you what makes a boy a boy, you might tell me a penis. But what about people who are born with both a or is and a vulva? Is that a boy? Or someone who is born with neither? Boy? Girl? You may say it’s a matter of chromosomes, but you’d be wrong there too. Chromosomes frequently don’t “match” genitalia. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this before opining about what kids should learn at what ages. If any one manages to equip them with more basic biological information than you have demonstrated, they will be doing them a favor regardless of the context.

This is exactly what I’m trying to stay away from. A boy with a vulva? How did this happen to us and so quickly?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example. My children’s private school DEI lead has set up to inclusivity groups. One related to sexual orientation and one to people of color. Which apparently only included black people. The lead staff member is black and said someone who looked like another staff member with white skin and brown eyes wouldn’t be able to join. In the name of inclusivity. My kids were really upset and said it doesn’t make sense. They were in 6th grade. The school also included discussion of gender and sexuality in the context of identity for elementary schools. And our school is moderate.

OP here. Interesting. Thanks PP and good to know. My kids are so young that we haven't been exposed to any of this yet (so my concerns are just general).

I honestly think the people who are initiating this stuff are true believers which is why I think the religion comparison is appropriate. But if you are at a moderate school with enough balance that people can speak freely, speak out. Our DEI person absolutely intended the talk about gender fluid as part of the DEI for elementary school kids until the parents got wind and freaked out. Parents felt that at the age when many kids haven’t even had basic sex ed and when many kids are just hitting puberty, adding this in was too much. The kids need to understand why their bodies are changing and what to expect and what their organs can do. That is what parents want for 5th graders. We didn’t want them literally confused but another layer of information talking about sexuality. It just isn’t necessary at such a young age. With the BIPOC club it was just super interesting to hear my kids say that how is it good for our society to start excluding people again based on race. The kids have learned about MLK and his views and this BIPOC club was directly contrary to that teaching. You can dress it up as a safe space etc but at bottom it is excluding people based on race. And that is racist. I am sure white southerners wanted blacks at the back of the bus so the white at the front could feel safe. Same same.

FYI, gender has nothing to do with sexuality. At all. If you are going to object, at least understand what you are objecting to. Maybe parents who don’t even understand the curriculum aren’t the best people to be second-guessing it. It’s like the popularly-elected Texas School Board deciding what counts as a scientific or historical fact. Unless you just want generation after generation of equally ignorant people without any intellectual advancement or progress at all, poorly-educated people shouldn’t be designing curriculum. I know you think your mom hunches are the gold standard for determining what’s developmentally appropriate at different ages, but there’s actually science on this question. And gender itself is a matter of scientific inquiry. If I asked you what makes a boy a boy, you might tell me a penis. But what about people who are born with both a or is and a vulva? Is that a boy? Or someone who is born with neither? Boy? Girl? You may say it’s a matter of chromosomes, but you’d be wrong there too. Chromosomes frequently don’t “match” genitalia. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this before opining about what kids should learn at what ages. If any one manages to equip them with more basic biological information than you have demonstrated, they will be doing them a favor regardless of the context.

This is exactly what I’m trying to stay away from. A boy with a vulva? How did this happen to us and so quickly?!

The dumb, anti-scientific, woke mob, enabled by the self-enriching Democratic Party, made 10 times worse in bubble city DC where 95% folks vote one party and think the other one is Hitler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example. My children’s private school DEI lead has set up to inclusivity groups. One related to sexual orientation and one to people of color. Which apparently only included black people. The lead staff member is black and said someone who looked like another staff member with white skin and brown eyes wouldn’t be able to join. In the name of inclusivity. My kids were really upset and said it doesn’t make sense. They were in 6th grade. The school also included discussion of gender and sexuality in the context of identity for elementary schools. And our school is moderate.

OP here. Interesting. Thanks PP and good to know. My kids are so young that we haven't been exposed to any of this yet (so my concerns are just general).

I honestly think the people who are initiating this stuff are true believers which is why I think the religion comparison is appropriate. But if you are at a moderate school with enough balance that people can speak freely, speak out. Our DEI person absolutely intended the talk about gender fluid as part of the DEI for elementary school kids until the parents got wind and freaked out. Parents felt that at the age when many kids haven’t even had basic sex ed and when many kids are just hitting puberty, adding this in was too much. The kids need to understand why their bodies are changing and what to expect and what their organs can do. That is what parents want for 5th graders. We didn’t want them literally confused but another layer of information talking about sexuality. It just isn’t necessary at such a young age. With the BIPOC club it was just super interesting to hear my kids say that how is it good for our society to start excluding people again based on race. The kids have learned about MLK and his views and this BIPOC club was directly contrary to that teaching. You can dress it up as a safe space etc but at bottom it is excluding people based on race. And that is racist. I am sure white southerners wanted blacks at the back of the bus so the white at the front could feel safe. Same same.

FYI, gender has nothing to do with sexuality. At all. If you are going to object, at least understand what you are objecting to. Maybe parents who don’t even understand the curriculum aren’t the best people to be second-guessing it. It’s like the popularly-elected Texas School Board deciding what counts as a scientific or historical fact. Unless you just want generation after generation of equally ignorant people without any intellectual advancement or progress at all, poorly-educated people shouldn’t be designing curriculum. I know you think your mom hunches are the gold standard for determining what’s developmentally appropriate at different ages, but there’s actually science on this question. And gender itself is a matter of scientific inquiry. If I asked you what makes a boy a boy, you might tell me a penis. But what about people who are born with both a or is and a vulva? Is that a boy? Or someone who is born with neither? Boy? Girl? You may say it’s a matter of chromosomes, but you’d be wrong there too. Chromosomes frequently don’t “match” genitalia. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this before opining about what kids should learn at what ages. If any one manages to equip them with more basic biological information than you have demonstrated, they will be doing them a favor regardless of the context.

This is exactly what I’m trying to stay away from. A boy with a vulva? How did this happen to us and so quickly?!

The dumb, anti-scientific, woke mob, enabled by the self-enriching Democratic Party, made 10 times worse in bubble city DC where 95% folks vote one party and think the other one is Hitler.

You guys really need more intellectual curiosity. You need to read more. There have been intersex people since time immemorial. Intersex people have genitalia that include both male and female reproductive organs, and/or otherwise nonbinary genitalia. This has ALWAYS existed to the same degree it does now. Read a book and stop being so entrenched in your ignorance. As for chromosomes, you can start by reading this: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-new-science-of-sex-and-gender/

[Anonymous]

What a shocker that rich white people think any attempt to add seats at the table is inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's "woke"? Believing minorities deserve the same opportunities and protections as whites? Count me in. That people can love who they want and identify as they want without harassment or ridicule or fear? Count me in. That all people can worship the god they believe in without exclusion? Count me in. Or even that women should earn as much as men and have all the same opportunities? Count me in.

47 genders?

What does it matter to any of us the choices another individual makes about themself? Is it just uncomfortable to us, so they should adapt and be uncomfortable? Thus we just pick the "woke" issues we agree with and ridicule the issues?

Telling elementary school aged children, and frankly even middle school children, to “explore their genderS” as homework and a social studies unit is F d woke at its worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

Harsh question: Why should someone who claims to be “from a foreign background “ and from a religion that hardly represents a common viewpoint in the US expect to “fit in” — or even want to “fit in”? Surely you must realize that it’s the culture and values behind what you deem “wokeness” that has given you and your kids not just the chance of fitting in, but of being accepted at all by schools and universities that, not too long ago, we’re almost exclusively white, male, American, and, in many cases aggressively Christian?

Talk about saying the quiet part out loud. Before it went out of virtue signaling fashion, there was a melting pot theory (and practice). Now, fitting in is passe in favor of naked tribalism, which ultimately thrives no hate.

Tribalism is natural. The melting pot works when the immigrant population is low. Not enough to really form a tribe, so you mix in and assimilate.