CRT a trojan horse to downgrade liberty

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Editor’s Note: The Bluegrass Beacon is a weekly syndicated newspaper column posted on the Bluegrass Institute’s website after being published by newspapers statewide.

Those wishing to interject radical racial ideology under the banner known as Critical Race Theory (CRT) into public school classrooms are sweating blood and tears to stop the momentum created by states – a dozen so far – banning the teaching of this divisive and, in some cases, downright seditious dogma.

CRT’s proponents aim for the next generation to view everything – be it the founding of this country, its free-market economic system or even how we teach mathematics – solely through the lens of race.

Simultaneously, proponents attempt to downplay concerns about CRT, claiming it’s all just an overstated misunderstanding.

If so, then why such furor from progressives to block legislation like Bill Request 60 filed by Fort Thomas Republican Rep. Joe Fischer, which specifically prevents teaching that this country or commonwealth is “fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist” or that “meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race to oppress members of another race”?

If the concerns are so unfounded, why such an outcry against attempts to ban the teaching of that which supposedly isn’t even happening?

Regardless, a fast-growing number of Kentuckians aren’t fooled by attempts of those driving this trojan horse to downplay concerns.

Their concerns are warranted, and they know it.

CRT-based teaching if unchecked will unleash tribalism and stoke seething hatred for America and all it stands for, especially its economic principles and the recognition of individual accomplishments which make our nation’s economy and standard of living the envy of the world.

The National Education Association (NEA) – the nation’s largest teachers’ union – during its annual summer convention voted to spread and further the teaching of CRT.

The NEA adopted a resolution stating: “we oppose attempts to ban critical race theory and/or the 1619 Project.”

That 1619 Project is yet another controversial program claiming everything in our nation’s history centers around slavery and that America began when the first boatload of slaves arrived on its shores rather than with the Constitution’s implementation in 1789.

Incidentally, that NEA agenda item was introduced by a Jefferson County Public Schools teacher, indicating some strong support for it already present in the Bluegrass State.

We’re unlikely to see union bosses become concerned enough about what our kids are taught that we might see a resolution condemning the vacuous social studies standards implemented by Kentucky’s public education system.

Still, Kentuckians need to know our state’s standards suppress individuality for the sake of the Marxist collective by ignoring individuals like Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell, whose inventions have given us the greatest standard of living in history while offering motivation for all willing to strive to better themselves.

The misdirected focus on CRT wouldn’t be happening if our public education leaders instead concentrated on our students’ most important needs.

Why, for example, are some in our education system so obsessively focused on a racially divisive curriculum while around 200,000 – or nearly one in three Kentucky K-12 students – have sobering reading deficiencies?

Kentucky’s students aren’t in classrooms to be shaped into whatever world view their teachers and administrators may happen to hold.

Rather, they’re to receive the kind of education which prepares them for productive, and patriotic – yes, patriotic – citizenship.

Parents who don’t feel their public schools are doing that must have choices when it comes to where, how and by whom their children are educated.

They absolutely have the right to send their children to schools that don’t violate their values or oppose their beliefs.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis obviously gets it and represents the kind of leadership totally missing from Kentucky’s current gubernatorial administration and public education leadership.

“The woke class wants to teach kids to hate each other rather than teaching them how to read, but we will not let them bring nonsense ideology into Florida’s schools,” DeSantis said.

Let’s not let “them” bring it into Kentucky’s schools, either.

Jim Waters is president and CEO of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, Kentucky’s free market think tank. Reach him at jwaters@freedomkentucky.com and @bipps on Twitter.