DCPS Chancellor encouraging parents to talk about genocide for Thanksgiving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hated the line “if you celebrate.” WTH? Who doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving?

Totally inappropriate comments in his note.

Me! Me! Me! The world should revolve around me!

[Anonymous]

Ugh, so lame. This is America. We don't like to talk about how we committed genocide. Can't we just, like, buy stuff?

[Anonymous]

Thanksgiving is a harvest festival. Lots of countries and cultures have one.

While there is plenty to consider and lessons to be had from history, the spirit of Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be undermined by focusing, on that particular day, on human fallibility nor on politics.

Instead, the focus should be on gratitude, sharing, family and friends, and the good things humans can do, like grow and learn.

The Chancellor’s idiotic email is an almost comic example of wokeness gone awry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is a harvest festival. Lots of countries and cultures have one.

While there is plenty to consider and lessons to be had from history, the spirit of Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be undermined by focusing, on that particular day, on human fallibility nor on politics.

Instead, the focus should be on gratitude, sharing, family and friends, and the good things humans can do, like grow and learn.

The Chancellor’s idiotic email is an almost comic example of wokeness gone awry.

I just can’t take anyone who uses the term “wokeness” seriously.

And if you somehow failed to notice that for the past 100 years thanksgiving was an opportunity for schools to teach flagrant lies about the treatment of Native Americans in this country I don’t even know what to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is a harvest festival. Lots of countries and cultures have one.

While there is plenty to consider and lessons to be had from history, the spirit of Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be undermined by focusing, on that particular day, on human fallibility nor on politics.

Instead, the focus should be on gratitude, sharing, family and friends, and the good things humans can do, like grow and learn.

The Chancellor’s idiotic email is an almost comic example of wokeness gone awry.

I just can’t take anyone who uses the term “wokeness” seriously.

And if you somehow failed to notice that for the past 100 years thanksgiving was an opportunity for schools to teach flagrant lies about the treatment of Native Americans in this country I don’t even know what to say.

I'm not sure the history (truth or myth) of Thanksgiving has been given much attention in many classrooms over the years. Much of the history has been implied based on family traditions and assumptions about what has occurred. Good or bad. Only recently, within the last 5 years, has attention been placed on the real story with instructional time dedicated to it. Many of us were taught that Thanksgiving was a time to be with family and be thankful, the origin story would not have likely been something taught in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is a harvest festival. Lots of countries and cultures have one.

While there is plenty to consider and lessons to be had from history, the spirit of Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be undermined by focusing, on that particular day, on human fallibility nor on politics.

Instead, the focus should be on gratitude, sharing, family and friends, and the good things humans can do, like grow and learn.

The Chancellor’s idiotic email is an almost comic example of wokeness gone awry.

Agree completely. And it’s because of positions like this that Youngkin was elected in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is a harvest festival. Lots of countries and cultures have one.

While there is plenty to consider and lessons to be had from history, the spirit of Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be undermined by focusing, on that particular day, on human fallibility nor on politics.

Instead, the focus should be on gratitude, sharing, family and friends, and the good things humans can do, like grow and learn.

The Chancellor’s idiotic email is an almost comic example of wokeness gone awry.

I just can’t take anyone who uses the term “wokeness” seriously.

And if you somehow failed to notice that for the past 100 years thanksgiving was an opportunity for schools to teach flagrant lies about the treatment of Native Americans in this country I don’t even know what to say.

Yes, we all get it. Even the kindergartners making cute hats with buckles out of construction paper will get it before they graduate high school.

But we don’t need to wring our hands 24/7 to learn from history. Taking a day to express gratitude and celebrate positives is okay.

Wallowing in the flaws is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is a harvest festival. Lots of countries and cultures have one.

While there is plenty to consider and lessons to be had from history, the spirit of Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be undermined by focusing, on that particular day, on human fallibility nor on politics.

Instead, the focus should be on gratitude, sharing, family and friends, and the good things humans can do, like grow and learn.

The Chancellor’s idiotic email is an almost comic example of wokeness gone awry.

I just can’t take anyone who uses the term “wokeness” seriously.

And if you somehow failed to notice that for the past 100 years thanksgiving was an opportunity for schools to teach flagrant lies about the treatment of Native Americans in this country I don’t even know what to say.

Yes, we all get it. Even the kindergartners making cute hats with buckles out of construction paper will get it before they graduate high school.

But we don’t need to wring our hands 24/7 to learn from history. Taking a day to express gratitude and celebrate positives is okay.

Wallowing in the flaws is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

And realistically those kindergartners don't know any history about the real story of Thanksgiving. Some teachers pull resources off Teachers Pay Teachers that has not been vetted or approved called "The truth about Thanksgiving" or something like it, see below. Who gets to decide if this appropriate?

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-First-Thanksgiving-Fact-or-Fiction-6215666?st=e2d894c0b5876ade20dd5cca7a2c8dcb

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is a harvest festival. Lots of countries and cultures have one.

While there is plenty to consider and lessons to be had from history, the spirit of Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be undermined by focusing, on that particular day, on human fallibility nor on politics.

Instead, the focus should be on gratitude, sharing, family and friends, and the good things humans can do, like grow and learn.

The Chancellor’s idiotic email is an almost comic example of wokeness gone awry.

I just can’t take anyone who uses the term “wokeness” seriously.

And if you somehow failed to notice that for the past 100 years thanksgiving was an opportunity for schools to teach flagrant lies about the treatment of Native Americans in this country I don’t even know what to say.

Yes, we all get it. Even the kindergartners making cute hats with buckles out of construction paper will get it before they graduate high school.

But we don’t need to wring our hands 24/7 to learn from history. Taking a day to express gratitude and celebrate positives is okay.

Wallowing in the flaws is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

And realistically those kindergartners don't know any history about the real story of Thanksgiving. Some teachers pull resources off Teachers Pay Teachers that has not been vetted or approved called "The truth about Thanksgiving" or something like it, see below. Who gets to decide if this appropriate?

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-First-Thanksgiving-Fact-or-Fiction-6215666?st=e2d894c0b5876ade20dd5cca7a2c8dcb

There are ZERO kindergartners doing that assignment. None, zip, zero.

My K kid made a turkey hat, watched a movie and colored in a turkey. Hell my 3rd grader colored in a disguise for a turkey at school after reading Turkey Trouble on Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yea- thanksgiving is a myth we tell ourselves. And I’ll ‘move on’ when we restore the indigenous folks & give them their land back. Then we can ‘move on’ as he relocate to reservations.

I thought the Noble Savage thing was offensive in previous centuries. But this progressive version is somehow worse.

If you want to express support for indigenous peoples, then do something NOW for those who live on reservations. There are plenty of organizations that could benefit from your donations.

Scolding people who celebrate Thanksgiving is just the worst kind of virtue signaling, entitled nonsense.

+1 on this one. I'm so over it. There are some actual native people around who are primarily ignored in every possible way by our society. Thanksgiving itself is a lovely holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is a harvest festival. Lots of countries and cultures have one.

While there is plenty to consider and lessons to be had from history, the spirit of Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be undermined by focusing, on that particular day, on human fallibility nor on politics.

Instead, the focus should be on gratitude, sharing, family and friends, and the good things humans can do, like grow and learn.

The Chancellor’s idiotic email is an almost comic example of wokeness gone awry.

I just can’t take anyone who uses the term “wokeness” seriously.

And if you somehow failed to notice that for the past 100 years thanksgiving was an opportunity for schools to teach flagrant lies about the treatment of Native Americans in this country I don’t even know what to say.

Yes, we all get it. Even the kindergartners making cute hats with buckles out of construction paper will get it before they graduate high school.

But we don’t need to wring our hands 24/7 to learn from history. Taking a day to express gratitude and celebrate positives is okay.

Wallowing in the flaws is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

And realistically those kindergartners don't know any history about the real story of Thanksgiving. Some teachers pull resources off Teachers Pay Teachers that has not been vetted or approved called "The truth about Thanksgiving" or something like it, see below. Who gets to decide if this appropriate?

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-First-Thanksgiving-Fact-or-Fiction-6215666?st=e2d894c0b5876ade20dd5cca7a2c8dcb

There are ZERO kindergartners doing that assignment. None, zip, zero.

My K kid made a turkey hat, watched a movie and colored in a turkey. Hell my 3rd grader colored in a disguise for a turkey at school after reading Turkey Trouble on Tuesday.

Maybe in your school, but whether k, 1st grade or even 2nd, these are exactly the types of resources that are being used in some classrooms by teacher discretion and what parents are so angry about. Be glad your kid did the old traditional stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yea- thanksgiving is a myth we tell ourselves. And I’ll ‘move on’ when we restore the indigenous folks & give them their land back. Then we can ‘move on’ as he relocate to reservations.

I thought the Noble Savage thing was offensive in previous centuries. But this progressive version is somehow worse.

If you want to express support for indigenous peoples, then do something NOW for those who live on reservations. There are plenty of organizations that could benefit from your donations.

Scolding people who celebrate Thanksgiving is just the worst kind of virtue signaling, entitled nonsense.

+1 on this one. I'm so over it. There are some actual native people around who are primarily ignored in every possible way by our society. Thanksgiving itself is a lovely holiday.

So let's not ignore them. Let's, say, spend some time reading books by native people, like the chancellor suggested.

[Anonymous]

If it’s so hard for some people to read an email from the Chancellor (gasp)… and if it’s so hard for people’s kids to learn about the truth about what happened to the Native Americans (quelle horreur!!) , then imagine how hard it must have been to have been slaughtered like a pig.. and to be treated like a mosquito even to this day.

Pro tip to those that have their panties in a bunch over an email- delete the email, enjoy your Turkey and stop ranting and raving on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is a harvest festival. Lots of countries and cultures have one.

While there is plenty to consider and lessons to be had from history, the spirit of Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be undermined by focusing, on that particular day, on human fallibility nor on politics.

Instead, the focus should be on gratitude, sharing, family and friends, and the good things humans can do, like grow and learn.

The Chancellor’s idiotic email is an almost comic example of wokeness gone awry.

Agree completely. And it’s because of positions like this that Youngkin was elected in Virginia.

No it wasn’t. Youngkin won because of an elaborate right-wing straw man about CRT being taught in schools and exasperation by northern Virginia mommies over closing schools during a deadly pandemic. And because Terry McAullife, who actually was a decent governor, ran a bad campaign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is objectively stupid and only the most clueless racist would not see that. But DCPS should really be focusing on educating kids.

Devoting one day a year to being thankful for our families, friends, and lives is "objectively stupid"...

I'm thankful for my family every day of the year. Aren't you? I celebrate Thanksgiving, but if you're not thankful for your family on Wednesday the holiday isn't going to change that.

That’s actually not true at all. There is something to be said about an entire nation making a conscious effort to stop work, school and other activities for a single day, for the sole purpose of giving thanks to God for our blessings.