Biden cancels ties to critical race theory in schools

Biden admin walks back ties to group pushing critical race theory in schools
Fox News 21 July 2021
The Biden administration blamed an “error” Wednesday after promoting a radical activist group’s handbook that pushes critical race theory in schools and calls on educators to “disrupt Whiteness.” 

“The Department does not endorse the recommendations of this group, nor do they reflect our policy positions,” the Department of Education (DOE) said in a statement. “It was an error in a lengthy document to include this citation.”

DOE linked to the Abolitionist Teaching Network’s “Guide for Racial Justice & Abolitionist Social and Emotional Learning” in its handbook intended as a “roadmap” for schools to reopen safely during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Abolitionist Teaching promotes justice, healing, joy, and liberation for all Black, Brown, and Indigenous folx, inclusive of all intersecting identities,” the group’s guide states. It calls on educators to “[r]emove all punitive or disciplinary practices that spirit murder Black, Brown, and Indigenous children” and to “[b]uild a school culture that engages in healing and advocacy.”

“This requires a commitment to learning from students, families, and educators who disrupt Whiteness and other forms of oppression,” it states.

The guide also claims that social and emotional learning (SEL) “can be a covert form of policing used to punish, criminalize, and control Black, Brown, and Indigenous children and communities to adhere to White norms,” and that “[m]ost SEL standards are rooted in Eurocentric norms, not to empower, love, affirm, or free Black, Brown, or Indigenous children.” 

DOE’s handbook currently links to the group’s guide in a section about meeting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students.
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