Texas banned the teaching of critical race theory in public schools last year. But with the University of Texas-Austin passing a resolution supporting critical race theory (CRT), Daily Signal contributor Jarrett Stepman says the school has joined the majority of universities in no longer preparing students for the future.
"They have lost the public trust," he submits. "They think essentially that they have the right to determine what is education and what isn't for the people of this country."
Stepman says UT-Austin and others are more interested in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion than they are in focusing on fundamental pedagogy.
"I think it's ultimately going to backfire," he predicts. "I think that they've made a misstep in stepping into this, because it does expose essentially where they're coming from and how radical they've become."
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is thinking the state should look into curtailing tenure for professors promoting critical race theory.
Meanwhile in Wheaton, Illinois, the principal of a middle school there in the western suburb of Chicago has foisted a school-approved lecture presented by 13- and 14-year-olds on the use of the "n"-word. Laurie Higgins of the Illinois Family Institute reports the all-girls club, Panthers in Black, gave their racist presentation to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, whose attendance was required.
"They had a captive audience whose parents were not told anything about the content of this," she details. "They went on to preach their beliefs about race and oppression and what kind of jokes students may make and who was allowed to use the 'n'-word and in what context are they allowed to use it."
Higgins thinks it is highly unlikely that the club came up with the presentation on their own; she suspects Principal Rachel Bednar was behind it.
"My understanding from people who are deeply involved in the issue right now is that this is chiefly the work of the principal of the school, who they are calling to be fired," the cultural issues writer relays. "She has been a really huge problem, but this was one that really angered parents."
Higgins asserts that this form of bigotry is trickling down from the universities into high schools and middle schools, and she believes it is just a matter of time until it reaches the elementary level.
