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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have no problem having my kids recognize the privileges they have in life. Yes, some of those are due to us having worked hard, but others are due to the color of our skin, sexual identity, religion. No control over those. I teach my kids to have empathy towards classmates/ peers who have to overcome more obstacles to “make it” in this society. I also point out that most people on this planet are way worse off than we are here. I agree with this kind of lesson. I hope it teaches my kids to be more grateful for what they have been given in life. Would Jesus say, “Too bad, so sad, you got stuck living with a poor, brown/black, single parent.”?[/quote]
But this is you, a parent, teaching a lesson.  That is how is should be.  This is not a lesson the schools should be teaching. [/quote]

Why not?

Should they teach about anything related to "being a good person"?

Honesty? Responsibility? Empathy? etc.?

[/quote]

I don't think anyone  is suggesting that there are lessons about being a good person. It's about developing critical thinking skills and understanding multiple points of view. The best way I can understand what an author has written, whether it's a novel or a primary source from an historical event or a textbook IS to understand that everyone comes with a point of view made up of their experiences. My world view is just that--MY view. It's really okay to teach kids that people have different experiences from them. It makes them better thinkers and problem solvers. I truly don't understand why people are so afraid and upset around this. [/quote]

I don’t see how that “identify your privilege” bingo card is about an author’s point of view.  It seems clearly directed at students themselves - “Drive/Get driven to school”, “Have your own bedroom”, “Military kid”. [/quote]

People who were born on third base have a vested interest in making others believe they hit a triple, otherwise we would all need to take a long hard look at the way that we have been doing things. Why does a 6’5” white, moderately good looking son of privilege get to run a hedge fund and rule the Commonwealth over someone smarter and better qualified? Why do people consider Donald Trump a “successful businessman”, when he has shown zero aptitude for anything other than selling himself and who would have been a destitute loser if he was born to anyone other than a millionaire investment mogul?

America is not a meritocracy. Britain has surpassed us on class mobility. The phrase “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” was intended to be a mockery of the system, not a rallying cry and goal. I’m sorry if this makes you feel guilty, but facts are facts. Our kids need to know what’s what if they are going to lead this country into a new era of diminished American influence and increased global and internal  strife. Waving the flag pretending all is good is delusional thinking. [/quote]

People who are unsuccessful and frustrated have a vested interest in blaming their problems on "the system."  That actually was true with Trump, but the consequences are even more severe when a large segment of society just decides to focus on reallocating wealth rather than expanding opportunities.

As for America, it is still a meritocracy, which is why so many people want to come here, but it is losing its advantage, especially when children in other countries are taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and science, and American children are taught to define themselves by their race, religion, and ethnicity, and do everything they can to make sure they can check the "oppressed" box rather than the "privilege" box.  Those who want to ram this down the throats of kids should be driven out of public education.  [/quote]

Compared to North Korea, America is a meritocracy. But for the vast majority of people, where they were born will dictate where they end up (if not lower). I am an example of meritocracy in action, in that I was able to work hard and get ahead and somehow manage to get around my complete lack of connections or know how. I also got a ton of breaks most of my working class peers (including those who were far smarter and more deserving than me) never got. But I’ll never be a CEO. The best I’ll get is UMC. It’s on my kids to build on that and do more.

I’m not insecure about it. I got lucky. Most kids don’t. I want to fix things for them because now that I’m “here”, I see a whole lot of mediocre around me. I had to climb to get where the privilege kids fell. America isn’t going to lead the world in anything with mediocrity calling the shots.[/quote]

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