The Biden plan: Bringing Critical Race Theory into public schools
The U.S. Department of Education under the Biden administration has proposed a new rule that, if adopted, would prioritize federal education grants to K-12 public schools that promote Critical Race Theory, the “1619 Project,” and “anti-racist” activist Ibram X. Kendi. Your feedback is needed — submit comments here to express concern over this new rule. There is suggested text you can send, or you can edit the text to further personalize your message. The comment deadline is May 19, 2021.
The text of the proposed rule states the focus of this federal effort is addressing “systemic racism” in America by establishing priorities for grants in American History and Civics Education programs that, for one, “incorporate racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse perspectives into teaching and learning.” Grant applicants will, among other things, have to describe how their proposed school projects “take into account systemic marginalization, biases, inequities, and discriminatory policy and practice in American history.”
The New York Times’ “1619 Project,” which numerous scholars and historians have criticized for its factual distortions and inaccuracies, the intolerant ideas of Critical Race Theory (CRT), and the toxic theories of Ibram X. Kendi are leading examples of what the Biden administration wants schools to focus on.
Our next generation can learn about America’s complex history — faults and all — and the many ethnic groups who have contributed to shaping our country without being trained in a repressive ideology that is rooted in ideas that violate the most basic principles of equality and justice.
Your feedback is needed to push back on this proposed rule that would foment racial discord under the guise of educational equity. Students, teachers, and administrators cannot be the most successful version of themselves in a school environment dominated by a narrow, cynical worldview that replaces emphasizing our common humanity with tribalism.
Submitting Comments — Deadline: May 19, 2021
The federal rulemaking process requires giving the public an opportunity to offer comments on proposed rules, which the agency (the U.S. Department of Education, in this case) has to then review.
- Comments can be submitted electronically here, where the feedback is then uploaded into the Federal eRulemaking Portal. You can also navigate the Federal eRulemaking Portal directly to submit a comment. Comments submitted by fax or email will not be accepted.
- Comments can also be submitted through the postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery and should be addressed to Mia Howerton, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3C152, Washington, D.C. 20202. Please reference “Docket ID ED-2021-OESE-0033.“