In the Credential Program at UCSB it was 1971 (just back from the army) and what you are talking about was already starting to creep into the program. It would take too long to give a detailed report here, but to say the least it was disturbing to say the least. I heard and was taught the start of Marxist prejudice politics.
In one class I made the mistake of raising my hand and objecting to the concept that equal application of law was a white man's politics and revolutionary groups like the then Revolutionary SDS were what the nation should be following. Needless to say my grade went from an "A" to a "C"......
What does SDS stand for? Students for a Democratic Society. We had a top Democrat Supervisor in SB County who was outed as a founding member in another State and preached revolution against the nation.
Sorry you had to go through it.
This is exactly what the Communists throughout the world have done to destroy and replace both culture and government in nation after nation. The present teachers and misled students have no idea how twisted things have become.
Fantastic comment! Thank you for sharing this- There is no doubt this movement to destroy the West goes well over a century back- it was your experience that turned into "multi-culturalism" and has become what it is today. I agree with you wholeheartedly that most teachers and students have no idea of what is going on.
Taking one back also to 1964, and the erroneously named Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley. SDS wanted to recruit followers on campus for their brand of class warfare, set out in the Tom Hayden-drafted Port Huron statement. UC campuses at the time were declared politically neutral property, so they tried to restrict this demand.
Mario Savio then exhorted the crowds to throw their bodies on the "cogs of this odious machine" which led the now infamous Sproul Hall sit-in. I had to pick my way across their sprawling bodies on my way to my senior year classes. Decades later a very substantial donation to UC Berkeley demanded a brass plaque commemorating this event be installed on those very Sproul Hall steps, as the price for that gift.
Consequently the Free Speech Movement was never about "free speech"; just the recruitment demands by outside radical leftists to push their economic class warfare agenda. Only later did the threat of the Vietnam draft add its existential fervor to this economic class warfare movement.
Fast forward to the present, the treatment of conservative groups or speakers on UC campuses today proves yet again, Berkeley in the 1960's was never about "free speech". I remain teetering 60years later whether this event was ultimately a good or bad thing. It just was. And like many nascent movements, it was already a force ripe to be harvested. I only ask we be honest and stop perpetuating myths or reverence about it today as an unearned buzz word.
..........."Campus representatives for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) joined the protest. After a stand-off with campus police, a temporary compromise was reached, but by then the Berkeley Free Speech Movement (FSM) had been born.........."
Excellent recounting! These things go back much further than most people know. Just like all modern day abused speech it means exactly the opposite of what it says- Orwell got that right with "double speak." Anti-racists are racists, anti-fascists are fascists, the tolerance movement is intolerant etc.... Thanks again!
So, i survived all extreme positions while making sure that i would get to know them. Indeed, the Franfurt School equipped me with thinking tools, Mario Salvo sharpened my debate skills and the Stanford/Berkley sit -ins gave me the experience of diversity in plurality. In conclusion: I tasted it all, pontificated all, reviewed it all, digested it all and emerged with emotional and intellectual riches that furthered my professional life, made me more compassionately human. Let it be. You are drawing hasty conclusions too early. Let it be. Let it be
I too had similar experiences while taking a series of Econ classes in the late 1970’s…while the merits of free market capitalism was part of the curriculum, most professors slanted their lectures & required readings towards socialist thinking (one step removed from communism), which signaled to students the go-along-to-move-along-to-matriculation mentality (same system applied for K-High School systems — learn & repeat the lessons to jump to the next grade level…
unfortunately, this slow creep of the communists’ takeover of Our Nation goes back to the 1950s (see pushback by McCarthy et al)…fortunately, there are good people standing in the way…
just one of many many examples of the use of Hollywood & the music industry…BUT, something far more sinister [evil] has been allowed to flourish through all parts of our society…It has been protected and safeguarded…It has been camouflaged to appear as trusted…It has been projected (normalized) by “STARS.” Do people follow the 'STARS'?
This is excellent. I feel there is even more to it, including HR departments and hiring agencies in Santa Barbara. It's true we don't get to decide who or what we are, we are just born that way. Thanks for you insight.
Erik, there is wayyyy more to it. "what happens in the school room in this generation becomes the politics of the next." Every public institution is infested with these racist, sexist, and vicious ideologies that promote a double standard and violence. It is in the courts, the conventional laws, entertainment industry and as you say, now HR departments and hiring agencies all over the country and here in Santa Barbara. The germinating source of this fiasco is the universities, then the elementary schools and high schools. Tragic really.
Many of us are well aware that our public schools have been rotten for some time, but it's very helpful and revealing to learn more details about the mechanics of indoctrination and subversion. Thanks for this very well written expose! Now if only we could convince people to stop voting for the leftists currently controlling most local school boards and the state department of education ...
As long as voters assume (1) teacher union, or their PAC endorsements are a good thing, and (2) whomever "raises the most money" must be the best choice, we will continue down the same path of special interest control of our school boards. This country as a whole currently spends over $800 billion dollars a year on public education. The financial stakes are immense; the results are mixed.
Rule one is to never put teacher union interests on both sides of the bargaining table. We will never get an independent assessment of the direction our schools need to take, when we only listen to the collective bargaining units who now dominate all too many school boards.That is what is not working today.
Today in the vast number of school districts there is no independent community arbiter, which is the intended role of an elected school board. No one should fear wider participation by neutral community over-sight interests sitting on our school boards. Everyone shares the same goals: the best darn education for our students that we can possibly provide within our available resources.
There is a need for mutually respected arms-length bargaining power sitting between these two forces: a community at large wanting both measurable student accomplishment, and well-compensated and valued educators. Turf wars and internecine attacks within the educational community have no place. That is where an independent school board should be setting a new tone, that brings balance to these current educational turf wars.
Democracy is also being used to destroy and replace Christianity, which John Dewey promoted as well. It is the democratization of Christianity in the wake of the Protestant revolt that led to huge number of Christians breaking away from the Church, and the promotion of self-interpretation and personal experiences, combined with a rejection and suspicion of a central authority that would lead to changes promoting secular, humanistic, anti-clerical, and relativistic ideologies.
When America was born in 1776, only 21-year-old White English-speaking males who owned property could vote. As our country matured the "property owning" requirement was challenged and dropped. Despite efforts by "nativisits" 21-year-old White male naturalized immigrants secured the right to vote. After the Civil War, "White" was dropped (technically, anyway). Then, in 1920 being "male" as a requirement to vote was dropped. In 1924 Native Americans were reclassified and declared U.S. citizens, so they, too, could now vote. "Jim Crow" prevented many Black Americans from voting in the Apartheid south, and discrimination against Hispanics in the Southwest and Texas prevented many Spanish-speaking Americans from voting. So, in 1965 the Voting Rights Act was passed to insure that Black Americans could actually vote. Likewise, ballots were printed in languages other than English so non-English speaking U.S. citizens could also vote. After Barry McGuire's big hit "Eve of Destruction" convinced our nation's lawmakers that "old enough to kill, but not for votin'" was unjust, the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1972.
All Americans are NOT White, Anglo-Saxon, or Christian, so just get over it! Our evolution as a nation to become "a more perfect union" as been long and painful, and this is where we now find ourselves.
And therein lies Herr Rummelsburg's overriding concern: too many OTW (other than White) non-Protestants are able to vote and impact government policy! Hence the rash of recently enacted laws by like-minded individuals in some States to restrict voting by mail (the U.S. Army has been voting by mail since 1864); printing ballots in "English Only;" reducing the number of polling places in underserved, non-white neighborhoods;...and the list could go on!
Just thank GOD (if you still believe there is such a thing) that you live in California where you can study each and every ballot measure, and each and every candidate at your leisure and then vote from the convenience of your dining room table! If you live in a State where you must stand in line for hours without food, water, or a toilet in order to show an "approved" government issued ID with a name and signature that exactly matches your voter registration - you live in a State where they DO NOT want you to vote.
As a retired U.S. Army Warrant Officer, I served to support, protect, and defend the U.S. Constitution for ALL of my fellow-Americans. Now, I see that there is an ongoing effort by some to "Make America Great Again"? HELLOOOO! America is already "Great" and it has been getting GREATER since 1776 by reaching out to include ALL of us who live here. If you are concerned by the failures of a "woke" education system, get involved in your child's education, like my parents did. "Reading the Bible will not make you a Christian!" my dear mother often said. Likewise, reading Karl Marx will not make you a Marxist. Despising and hating your fellow Americans who disagree with you is something you do all on your own; and it is NOT an American value, it is NOT a Christian virtue, and it will NEVER "make America great again." I am American, and so are ALL of you! We, as a people, do NOT need any version of Donald Trump's vision of a "Unified Reich"!
Mr. Siemsen, I will assume you are blind to your hypocrisy when you cast aspersions, false attribution, and slander against a fellow citizen as you have here with me by falsely saying “And therein lies Herr Rummelsburg's overriding concern: too many OTW (other than White) non-Protestants are able to vote and impact government policy!” You refer to me as “herr”? we all know what that means. I never said nor implied that I have any concern with any American citizen’s color or race and I never mentioned voting. I assert and have no such concerns which makes your statement false and malicious. And I will remind you that in the same post you said “Despising and hating your fellow Americans who disagree with you is something you do all on your own; and it is NOT an American value, it is NOT a Christian virtue, and it will NEVER "make America great again." You slander me as an act of contempt (read despise) after you willfully put false words into my mouth. If you were a man of character you would retract your accusations and false statements and apologize for the offense you cause to truth and to a fellow citizen.
OUCH! Must have hit a nerve. Did you not condemn "multiculturalism" and write "CRT and DEI are inherently evil"? Did you not conclude that these efforts to include viewpoints beyond those of the traditional White Anglo-Saxon Protestant perspective are "the rotten fruits of the dehumanizing endeavor of modern education"? The purpose of education is to prepare our nation's children to become informed citizens who care for their communities and neighbors and vote accordingly. When an informed populace learned that slavery was evil, they took steps to abolish it, the same can be said of the cause for worker's rights, women's rights, civil rights, gay rights, etc. America's contemporary schools are not "evil" because they no longer inflict corporal punishment on students "for not speaking English"; remove Native American children from their families and forbidden to speak their language in a boarding school; or deny Black children access to an equal education. We are all Americans, even those of us who are "blind to our own hypocrisy" and who appreciate the "multicultural" experience of one of Santa Barbara's many ethnic celebrations.
America is not that great,, it was founded on "enlightenment" ideals which were ultimately secular and liberal in their nature, the separation of Church and state is another travesty. The Constitution is just that, a piece of paper and fancy writing, it's not something to be worshipped, our focus should be on God and not "democracy" or whatever else secularists promote.
1. No one is advocating "worshipping the Constitution," just as Christians don't worship the Bible. In both cases, we advocate following their precepts. 2. America was not founded on secularist ideals. Read conservative Catholic writer Robert R. Reilly's America on Trial: A Defense of the Founding, recently published by Ignatius Press, an orthodox Catholic publisher. You can find his related article ("The enduring roots of the Declaration's proclamation of equality," July 3, 2022) at CatholicWorldReport.com. It's noteworthy that both the extreme left and certain elements of the extreme right trash America's founding and its founders. This misrepresentation is what Reilly addresses in this book. 3. Since you clearly disdain America, perhaps you should consider moving elsewhere.
What is so great about America or American democracy, what has it conserved? Pornography, drug use, corruption, abortion, the destruction of the family, the promotion of hedonistic and self centered beliefs and movements, decreased religiosity are all things wrong with America and other Democratic Republics.
The Enlightenment emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority, including religious authority. Key American founders, such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, were heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideals. They promoted ideas of liberty, democracy, and separation of church and state, which contrasted with the Catholic view of the Church's role in society and public life.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution explicitly states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," which establishes a secular state where religion is a private matter. This principle is at odds with the Catholic belief that the Church should have a significant role in guiding moral and ethical decisions in public life.
The emphasis on individual rights and freedoms in the American founding documents can lead to moral relativism, where individual choice is paramount, potentially at the expense of communal values and objective moral truths as taught by the Church. This individualism can undermine the Catholic emphasis on community, social justice, and the common good, which are integral to Catholic social teaching.
Why should I move, although America is largely a degenerate nation it doesn't mean it's impossible to create positive change. What's wrong with being critical of America, we shouldn't blindly follow a secular state.
Once again you're using straw man tactics. Your original comment focused on America's founding and thus so did my response. My response was in no way a defense of current conditions in America, which in many ways are an inversion and perversion of our founding principles. Moreover, the same moral and social ills you listed are also widespread in many other countries whose history and governing principles are quite different from our own, so it's unfair and inaccurate to blame them on our founding principles. It has been said that the best and most efficient form of government is a benevolent absolute monarchy. But when the absolute monarch is not benevolent, it is very difficult to prevent his or her tyranny and abuses. Erecting a system that could prevent such a scenario was what our founders intended. Is it perfect? Of course not. No system is or can be, thanks to the human frailty and limitations resulting from original sin. No doubt some of the founders were influenced by various philosophies of that era, but you also seem to deny that our founding principles have any roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Again, I recommend that you read Robert R. Reilly's book on the American founding. You repeatedly criticize America for being a democracy. It is not. It is a Constitutional Republic. Finally, yes of course you're entitled to stay here and freely voice your opinions, thanks to the very same First Amendment that you criticized in your comment above.
And although you're correct in that some countries suffer from similar issues despite having different governments, that's a result of secularism which began to increase globally in the 19th and 20th centuries, along with rationalist though, ecting the rigand revolutionary movements that sought to stamp out Church influence. And a monarchy is more than capable of protecting the rights of its citizens, including free speech. Simply being under a monarchy doesn't mean you don't have free speech.
It matters little what some founding fathers were influenced by, they ultimately supported a secular state founded upon liberalism, the same liberalism that has lead to hyper-individualism, anti-clericalism, attacks on social order and tradition (central authority and morality). Some founding fathers were freemasonry which the Church has condemned universally, inherently like Jefferson were heretical as they were drifts, others may have been protestant yet protestantism too was focused on “democratization” which would lead to more secular movements that questioned legal and religious authority. And America is both a representative democracy and constitutional republic, its not an either/or.
I truly don't get what there is to defend about a system that is ultimately relativistic in nature, the will of God and truth and justice should always be above the will of the people.
Why? Am I not allowed to critique a secular state that I live in? America has many glaring flaws, it's inability to preserve the life of the unborn is chief among them. So long as the slaughter of the innocent continues I will oppose the relativistic nature of American democracy.
Whose GOD? The war god of the ancient Israelites? The Father of Jesus the Messiah? Buddha's source of enlightenment? ALLAH and his prophet Muhammad? Odin, who slew the Frost Giants and saved humanity? The Earthmother who gives and sustains all life?
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ" Mahatma Gandhi
Every single American citizen, natural or naturalized, can hold a US passport which is the most coveted document in the world. That is our common denominator. No matter what race, background, economic status we all share the immense benefit of owning a US passport.
Sorry those who came here illegally chose not to share this unique US privilege, but they do hold citizenship somewhere else which deserves their loyalty and pride.
If they want to share this common American passport privilege, they can make things right by legal process. We should never be required to condone their lawlessness, nor diminish our own pride in US passport ownership. That is how out of many, we become one. Not by the intentionally divisive politics for partisan gain of today.
Reject any and all who attempt to divide and conquer. Remind those of what does unite us - the privilege of carrying a US passport. Either by established birth right or legal process to obtain one.
My goodness. This is one of the more ill-informed articles I have seen come through your publication. It reads like a newsmax opinion piece. Full of accusations but completely lacking in any substance.
The statement "Multiculturalism, and its central aim was “to destroy white hegemony”" is telling. It presents a dichotomy. Either there is white hegemony or there is not. So if multiculturalism is out to destroy white hegemony, would that not be an acceptable goal? Or do you believe there should be white hegemony and that keeping it is a good thing? Is white hegemony the great American experiment? I would ask Italian immigrants in the later 1800s, because they weren't considered white, but are a pretty big part of the great American experiment. Here is an interesting read:
One thing that came up that I thought was interesting was that the Italians felt they were being negatively stereotyped as criminally minded. Do you view Italians as mostly "mafia types"?
Identity exists in so many more ways. If we are all human first and foremost, do you work tirelessly to house those who are struggling? You identify family as being the second most important piece of identity. I imagine you wouldn't let your family go homeless, but since being human sits at the top of your hierarchy, shouldn't you show compassion to every other human? Maybe identity is more than one thing to more than one person. Maybe we can study and learn from each other. Maybe the shared experiences of people are interesting. There is way to many things to respond to here, but I was piqued by the article about Israel. The author(s) claimed that the Jewish people cannot be separated from Israel. I didn't see much backlash to that identity, but I think you would object to a black person saying that have experienced systemic racism.
Do you want to know what really is the problem? A capitalistic viewpoint on news media. I believe capitalism has given us some of the greatest achievements, perhaps only second to coffee. But what I mean by capitalism and media is that as soon as you need to make money "selling" news, you will find ways that drive engagement. It is why Rupert Murdoch put topless women on Page 3 of the Sun. It is why his newspaper sold millions more copies than competitors allowing him to buy up all the other media outlets. Its why people write dumb articles like this that have no basis. They are simply meant to stir up the pot, upset people, and drive engagement. This is why we are falling apart as a nation. Because news is about viewership, not facts or research. Journalism is dying, being replaced by talking heads that shout things that make you angry.
This article lacks any degree of critical analysis, fact checking, supporting documentation, research. It is sad to me that you can't see the campus protests for what they are. People are dying, and we as human beings (your highest order of identity) have compassion for them. That is what the protests are at their root. Your news media just likes to get you mad, so they show the bad apples. You claim Jan 6 just had a few bad apples, but you can't extend that compassion to anyone else?
I honestly hoped the Current would have something that would make me think, reevaluate my belief. Maybe it will. But for now my guiding principle is belief in the dignity of every human being, whether I like them or not. Please do better.
You seem to have missed the entire point of the piece. Identity politics is taught to children to balkanize American society on the basis of immutable characteristics. By including LGBTQ identity even whites can participate. This is bad and is a step backward. Your reply rambles through multiculturalism dichotomy, human identity, Italian immigrants, homelessness, Israel, capitalism and ends nowhere. It reads like chat GPT. You say nothing at all but you are clearly critical of the Current and and its content. You have a notably sparce presence on substack. Where did you come from?
If you're implying that liberal free-markets and capitalism result in social and moral decay (degenerate men putting nude women in magazines) than yeah, I agree with you. But that's where my agreement ends.
I asked 1000 people what was their first takeaway form this article and not one said that it is about the dichotomy between multiracialism and white hegemony. I would bet anything that this drivel is AI generated. Another clue is the link reference to a 22-year-old academic article from CUNY academic works on how Italian immigrants were viewed in the late 19th century. I doubt that this work is part of Justin's evening reading list. Justin and your ilk, if you cannot think for yourself, please learn to before polluting these pages with your AI generated self-flagellation.
My apologies Jeff. My comment was a bit rambly. I just don't agree with your points. What is the intent of the balkanization? To split everybody up into groups for what reason? I cannot find the reason to do so, so its hard for me to accept this line of thinking. I think the article is making boogeymen out of nothing. CRT and DEI are not inherently evil or bad concepts. There can be bad executions of it, but simply using a different perspective too look at things is helpful.
And to my background, as Eleanor Roosevelt said, 'Great Minds Discuss Ideas. Average Minds Discuss Events. Small Minds Discuss People'. I'm a local.
I did suspect you were a real person Justin, my work in the public schools for 33 years has taught me a near encyclopedia of knowledge about the rotten fruits of the dehumanizing endeavor of modern education. Your post was quite a bit worse than just rambly, it made far too many statements that run contrary to reality. I wrote you a response this morning but thought better of sending it. In general, our schools have taught us to believe the opposite of what is true- one example from your post- "white hegemony" is not even a reality that exists, so anything anyone says about it is inaccurate at best, but more likely manipulative and false. My article has theoretical, logical and philosophical coherence and it comes off to the "educated" as "Full of accusations but completely lacking in any substance." This is astounding, for either what I wrote was true or untrue, your statement claims that all of it was untrue. A "great mind" described by Eleanor Roosevelt would have refuted the assertions put forth as substantive, but it is clear why you chose to avoid such an effort. As to your most recent statement, you are incorrect, CRT and DEI are inherently evil, it is demonstrable and self-evident to a soul who understands the proper definition of ideology and its origins. But DEI and CRT are not just normal evil ideologies, they are a hybrid and synthesis of many errors that make them especially evil. I will explain those in future articles and would be very open to discussing the ideas with you at a future date.
I'm glad to be accepted as real. I thank you for your service in the public school sector for 33 years. I am so sorry you see the world in such dire terms. I reread your article several times to find the substance. It is so difficult to write a cohesive critique of your article because you make so many misguided statements, equivocations, and other nonsense I have a hard time even summarizing them to refute them. You give no evidence of anything you have stated (EDIT: I guess you make the connection to the campus protests of the war in Israel and Palestine, but the link is weak, and I would argue invalid). You mention Marxism, dialectical materialism, Freire, and the Frankfurt school as some great boogeymen coming for our children but make zero connection to anything actually occurring. Show me where in the teacher credential program children are taught that neoliberalism is bad. Give me a citation. Please.
To pick apart your eighth paragraph:
“In reality, the word “identity” means the same, or sameness to something substantial.” --This is one of several accepted meanings of identity. This is the definition you are using in relation to identity politics.
"For example, all human beings share a nature made intelligible by the powers of the human soul manifest in the human body." --How is this an example? You are asserting that identity comes from the soul. The soul is not demonstrable so I don’t know what this has to do with anything.
"Substantially, every human person is the same; meaning we all truly share an identity." --Your use of the word substantially keeps throwing me off. I agree we all share an identity or a piece thereof. Are you saying that the biggest piece of our identity is that we are human? I am in agreement.
"Considerations of ethnicity, sexuality, gender, culture, and citizenship are not substantial forms, but accidental forms and no real identity with such accidents is possible." --How can you claim citizenship is an accidental form and no real identity is possible from this, but then the title of your article is “I am American, and so are you”?
"The big lie is to come to believe that something accidental is substantial and therefore an identity. This is simply outside the boundary of reality, even if it is commonly believed. Accidental forms can be important considerations, but not nearly as important as true identity." --So again, are you American first, or human first?
"There is a hierarchy of values rooted in the natural law…" Natural law demonstrates that the strong take from the weak. Is that the basis for government you wish to rely on?
Human, Family, Country of residence, this is your value system. I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with that hierarchy of value. I also don’t think SEL, DEI, or CRT are in any way challenging your hierarchy. I would love for you to give me an exact example of how they are and look forward to your articles doing so.
"We are human beings who share a nature, who owe gratitude to our parents for the gift of life and to the United States of America for a glorious citizenship that is slipping through our fingers." --I am grateful to my parents and to this Country. And I would like to see it do better by lifting up all people. That which I can do for my Country is to think critically.
"If we continue to allow this movement to take root in our souls through our schools, we will be destroyed from within and without.
I am American and so are you.
It’s time to put things back into their proper order." --What do you suggest?
I would love for an a critical analysis of CRT, without straw-manning. That is my request.
I think your sincere comment here proves you a kind soul. I am grateful for the expansiveness of your expression here because we can derive clarity on our differences.
I am glad you read and re-read the article several times in search of substance. That you found none is truly a reflection on modern education. What I discovered in my 33 year quest to learn what is wrong with modern education is a multi-volume book length topic.
However, first, I must object that your characterizations of my words as "misguided statements, equivocations, and other nonsense" which really says nothing about my essay but are subjective and self-referential statements whose conclusion is you just can't understand what I wrote-
The deep root of your confusion is the secular humanist worldview- to demonstrate this truth to yourself, notice that there are some posters here, who like you, didn't understand what I wrote and mischaracterized my words in different ways than you, but also notice that most posters here perfectly understood what I wrote and commented coherently. So even by self-referencing standards, what makes your misunderstanding more valid than those who understood?
We can start with the reality that modern education excised the meaning of the word "substance" generations ago, so it makes sense that you can't find the substance or understand the difference between substance and accident, two philosophical terms from Aristotle's categories that serve as a basis for true grammar. So not only is the distinction between substance and accident erased, the true meanings of the very words have been radically altered. And since you have no true idea about what the word substance means, you search instead for material facts that satisfy your feelings, rather than the coherent propositions that explains the anatomy of confusion.
One of the greatest sings of our differences is your statement on the soul. You say it is not demonstrable so you don't know what it has to do with anything- so you subjectively conclude that there is no soul, so it has nothing to do with the article, when in fact it has everything to do with it. Those of us not completely deluded by the public schools who are not material atheists, we know that there are invisible, immaterial animating principles for 3 kinds of being, plants, animals and humans. Only materialists are blind to this obvious reality. But it explains your confusion.
Anyway, after a rejection of the immaterial, all your arguments are irretrievably flawed.
I will skip to the end- there are many excellent critiques of CRT that don't strawman- look at James Lindsay's Cynical Theories- if you are teachable, he will help you.
I wish I could be of more service to you Justin- I have worked with many adults, many of whom have made themselves unteachable, but countless young souls, most of whom are very teachable- if you could find a way to be teachable, I could really help you.
Why did you stay in public school for for so long? 33 years is a long time for an institution than you now condemn. What it just a gradual learning - or did something snap?
Good question Thomas! Something snapped in my first year in 1991. I was the enemy for my entire life and when I became in charge of 30 little beautiful souls I was granted insight into the viciousness of modern education. I have been behind enemy lines ever since. It has truly been war games, and I have done my level best to discover what is wrong with modern public school, that took years and then I have been discovering an authentic Liberal Arts education. I have worked as a teacher in New Hampshire, Mass, Texas, Georgia and most of my life here in California- I have been on several excellent school boards, hired as a senior Fellow for two reputable organizations, one being The American Principles Project, I have developed a teacher formation program for authentic education and much more. If one doesn't mind the loneliness of being behind enemy lines and doesn't have an attachment to money it is a glorious life to fight the good fight and to educe souls to leave the darkness of error and enter into the light of truth. Truly the most gratifying job in the world I think. So I condemned it from 1991 to the present but I don't participate in the evil.
Thank you for such a great explanation of how the destruction is taking place!
In the Constitution Class, put on by Patriot Academy, it explains that the public school system, which was Bible based, was designed to teach kids to 1) Serve the church 2) Serve their country, and 3) Serve their family. Without learning to do those 3 things, we would not have the freedom we have in America.
This obviously is not happening and what you explain is happening. Now the real question is, what can we do to stop this? How do we unify to take a strong stand? I think it requires each of us to take responsibility of our own families but we have to have a movement or something to empower people and encourage people to action.
Thanks Christy for even broaching the idea of a solution. As bad and entrenched as the school situation is, there has to be a solution to turn hearts away from Marxism indoctrination. Wherever it has been tried before the people always found a way out.
So true Mary! The solution can be found at the crossroads where Athens and Jerusalem meet- in the Great Western Tradition where Revealed Truth and true Philosophy reveal the true anthropology and a recovery of the liberal arts and sciences rooted in the virtues that aims to deracinate vice- an authentic education in the schools is the answer- that would be a game changer.
What freedoms do we have in America that they don't have in, say, Norway, England, New Zealand, Canada? Guns? Look what that gets us? Religion? Sounds like you don't want freedom except for your own Christianity. The electoral college? Don't get me started. America is a wonderful but flawed country like many others. Addressing our nation's faults does not make one unpatriotic. Quite the contrary. Perhaps we should focus on being a bit more humble, and learn from those countries that consistently rank as the happiest in the world (yes, those democratic socialist countries are pretty dang happy)...perhaps we can investigate and learn from them - just like they can learn from us. Also, are there public educators that take advantage of their captive audience to push their own views? Sure. But the vast majority are not doing this and our schools are doing their best to educate not indoctrinate. Can you point out a single example of indoctrination that is happening? Like a specific, concrete example? Exposing one to new views and ideas is not indoctrination. Examining how systemic racism (e.g. redlining, drug laws, etc.) has impacted people of color is not indoctrination. Would be genuinely interested in hearing about specific examples.
This concept might be difficult to understand but I am going to share it anyhow. The difference between Christianity and other religions, is the fact that Freedom is at the root of it. God is a gentleman and He does not force anyone to believe in Him. He gives people the Freedom to choose…I am not sure you could say that about many other religions because most a riddled with rules and choice is not a thing.
God does state the consequences for such decisions, if people decide not to follow Him, but He allows people to decide. Whether you like it or not, the United States of America was founded on these principle and our nation was designed to support the furtherance of these principles that God set, and when they are followed, God protects us.
To answer your question and give a concrete example would be the “Lack of Freedom and restriction of opinion” that has infiltrated everyone one of our systems. I believe this is “Anti-Freedom measures” and a constant theme in our culture to destroy our nation. That being said, I could give 1000’s of examples of the restrictions of our freedoms.
So to be clear, it is not Freedom for Christianity, it is Freedom for everyone and that is the root of Christianity, even though there are Christian churches who don’t always do a great job at displaying that core value. The church may not be doing it well but they should be.
Unify under Christ, and not just some nationalistic movement that co-opts Christianity for its own purposes, but a movement that puts the will of God, not the people first. We need to reject free and liberal markets which profit of vice and destroy traditions, we need to cease embracing democracy or republicanism as good things (they don't promote moral societies, they are for hyper individualism, hedonism, and moral relativism). The most essential unit in society is the family, not the individual and the fmaily is supposed to be a "domestic Chruch" with an emphasis on mutual love, support, and charity.
SPOT ON. I've sadly talked with too many teachers who 'proudly' spew their political views, one even admitting that 'when my 5th graders leave my class they will hate Trump as much as I do'. That's not teaching, that's indoctrination. No school child should know a teacher's personal stand on so many issues as listed in Steven's post. TEACH the basics, remember reading, writing and that pesky arithmatic??? While kids are suffering depression and anxiety over their gender (look in yer pants), color, etc etc they come out of school with a serious lack of basic education. But then again, dumb down the masses and they can be lead right to the rail cars, eh? I've said it again and again, so glad to be an old fut because the path society is taking is very, very sadly precarious.
I have always wondered why do they want to dismantle society and play identity politics. Is it to divide and rule, the oldest strategy in the world or is it something else?
Few months ago my son called me from school saying the students had organized a walk out for higher pay for teachers at his middle school. He had a Math test that day and he wanted to know what he should do as his Math classroom was almost empty. I told him to stay put and focus on his Math test and that school is not for learning politics. I told him his teacher might even give him credit for doing so.
Later that day on his way home he told me his Math teacher told the remaining students that he was proud they did not participate in the walk out and instead decided to focus on their real education. He even gave them credit just for staying in class and doing the right thing. The realization that dawned on my son about politics and school is the true education he received that day.
As a parent I have experienced what this article says. Gender, identity, sex, race and everything else in between is being twisted, warped and fed to young impressionable minds as the "Truth" in SB schools.
A basket that my daughter learned to weave in art class became a symbol of cultural appropriation of native Americans and the teacher proceeded to give them a talk about this nonsense.
I happened to see the huge encampment of anti Israel activists on UCSB campus couple of weeks ago when my daughter and I went for a walk there. My daughter who is in High School told me she does not buy into their politics and that these protests were politically motivated on both sides. She further added that she would never "unfriend" her (Jewish or Palestinian) or any other friends because of this and she explained that this "unfriending" of people is what is going on in schools, universities and social media over this issue.
I am glad that many young adults are seeing through this nonsense and their identity politics. I have learnt that parents set the foundation of their child's future. A child's education first and always starts at home!
Interesting. I was had the understanding that was senior 'ditch day' at DP and a few kids quickly re-branded it as a walk out for teachers. My kid was at Costco eating pizza.
I wouldn't want anyone to miss this one critical sentence: ..........."Few months ago my son called me from school saying the students had organized a walk out for higher pay for teachers at his middle school."...........
(Who in fact was leading whom? Time to name names.)
I cannot name names because I do not know who was leading whom. One thing I can say is that there are teachers who are very conscientious about their job, who keep a low profile and the children love to attend their classes. These teachers have made an impact on the younger generations for the better. These wise souls do exist in our public schools and I am grateful to them.
Yet we must hide them, rather than celebrate them. And emulate them. Therein lies the deeper sickness in our state educational-industrial complex. Even after voter-approved Prop 98 granted 50% of all general funds directly to our state educational-industrial complex. Time for voters to re-set this relationship too.
Your comment, “Ultimately the identity politics movement is designed to make us hate our true identity as human beings made in the image and likeness of God, to hate our families because they are propagandized as anchors to our “true” identity, and to hate our country because it oppresses us” is a bit extreme. I interact with many young people and they do not hate their families, their country, or themselves. Of course there are always extremes found on both the left and the right but it is unfair to blame the schools when social media has far more impact on our youth.
Hi Nancy, I appreciate your point but I must beg to differ with you- I can assure you that it is not extreme and it is the very theoretical, albeit hidden, aim of the schools- most teachers don't mean such harm, but they don't have to, they just have to buy into the marxist methods- the reason you know many who are not taken in by this scheme is that good families mitigate the damage the schools can do- so you will learn if you investigate that children from broken homes are more susceptible to the agenda, but it is the agenda. I worked for 23 years in an impoverished district, I know of what I speak. Perceived outcomes is not the same thing as theoretical roots- and I stand by that comment as accurate only cast as extreme by a society that wants to keep that truth hidden.
Brian. This is not true. For example, my family's school, DPHS, just graduated the highest percentage of students meeting/exceeding standards in reading in school history - over 70% met/exceeded standards. I know that doesn't fit your narrative about public education, but let's not wallow in hyperbole. Are there problems in education? Sure, let's talk about those but let's do so thoughtfully and intelligently. https://www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/42767864231726/2023.
The 5th largest economy in the world ( aka Calif, after now flailing Japan) passed Prop 98 almost immediately after Prop 13, which dedicates 50% of all general state revenues to public education. Automatically, no strings attached.
This state very much values education and dedicates a bulk on its revenues in its support . Something else turned this state into its now #45 nationwide ranking. Keep looking for answers, because the statewide fiscal support is there. Time to ask how this money is spent; not just demands to give even more.
I think you and I agree that education is not reinforced at home for certain groups.
The question is why?
Every Hispanic family I’ve talked to says they value education and want their kids to succeed and are frustrated that the district is not doing a better job.
You pointed out poor Asians do better than others of similar economics because of the family reinforcement on education. There have been numerous studies about how education needs to be reinforced at home.
But education is not reinforced at home in certain cultures and economic statuses. Two kids sitting next to each other class, their academics hinge upon whether or not the parents reinforce the value of education at home by making sure the child does their homework, speaks up to the teacher if they do not understand something, make sure the child goes to school, etc…. Be a parent.
The question in the 21st century is why don’t parents make sure their kids are getting the most out of school?
Which brings me back to the conversations I’ve had with families and the district over the years. The families are under the impression that all education occurs in school. That if a student is not doing their homework or they are falling behind that the school, the teacher will do something. This is not the case. Too many kids are passed onto the next grade level despite not being able to read and do math at grade level. The buck is passed. Per the teachers this is district policy, to not hold back students.
So we’re back to government verse culture.
When you go to the district and you ask why are certain groups falling behind academically their excuses start with ethnicity, then move to both parents work jobs. When you point out that all kids have the same teacher and books they go to mom & dad working jobs. Then you point out that in most every household both parents work they go back to ethnicity. These are the superintendents playing this shell game.
When in reality it is that schools tell parents “don’t worry about education we got that covered while you work, sit back and let us raise your child”.
The question, is it purposeful that our schools don’t share the “easy fix” to poor grades or is it just ignorance?
As to the ESL, yes CA has more than other states. However, according to the data you sent SBUSD is 95% English speaking. Most students are 2nd to third generation American. Language is not the barrier, but the excuse. Virginia Alvarez, past board member ran her campaign stating she immigrated here without speaking English. She touted how she learned English, did well in school and achieved. Is she smarter or was education more valued in her home?
As to wealth and better grades we see education is valued more in those areas because the parents impress upon the kids the importance of good study habits and doing their school work. It’s not because every affluent person has an after school tutor coming to the house. It’s not because the curriculum is radically different or the teachers are better.
Like a family of obese people, money & ethnicity do not dictate obesity. It’s good eating habits or the lack thereof from portion size to eating healthy foods. This is passed down by the parents. I’ve seen quite a few lower socioeconomic families eating fast food and junk food every day. Fast food is not cheap or healthy.
The kids learn their eating habits from the parent’s. The parents don’t see anything wrong with their eating habits or their children growing larger and larger so they do not do anything to promote a healthier living style.
Doctors don’t tell the kids or family to put down the fork and exercise. They prescribe pills. Child obesity is a serious issue in the US. It’s not a complicated fix and neither is a higher quality education.
It starts at home, but no one is telling parents. So the cycle continues unless the child is influenced outside the home. And school is not influencing children to do better.
In reality we are seeing the opposite. Schools make excuses like ethnic inequality and racism as the reason for poor academics when in reality all kids have the same teachers and books and whether or not a child can read has nothing to do with the subject matter of the book. Same with math, they’d like you to believe math is racist.
We circle back to poor education being a result of bad school districts.
So how do we change the district so that they reinforce education in the home?
This is a very important discussion Brian. You say "The question in the 21st century is why don’t parents make sure their kids are getting the most out of school?" This may appear to be the question, but there is a more fundamental reality that must be addressed first. I will suggest that the modern public school has lost sight of the meaning of the word "education." I have asked countless teachers and parents and most people cannot define that very important word. If you have a few years, I can demonstrate that our Santa Barbara schools are theoretically bankrupt when it comes to "education" and "educating" their students. The fundamental reasons are that not only does no one in the school have an understanding of what the word education means we have lost 3 vital prerequisites that require a recover of the true meaning of the word "nature." The modern school can make no reasonable sense of 1. The Nature of Reality- 2. The Nature of the Human Person (the philosophical anthropology) and 3. The Nature of Human learning.
I can assure you, the theoretical roots of an authentic education is the true starting point- there are many problems in the family, but those are secondary considerations, not first- the family, broken and otherwise is the given, and I can assure you, the true teacher must teach all those who end up in front of him and even children from broken and depleted homes can learn very well.
1995? You are a whipper snapper.
In the Credential Program at UCSB it was 1971 (just back from the army) and what you are talking about was already starting to creep into the program. It would take too long to give a detailed report here, but to say the least it was disturbing to say the least. I heard and was taught the start of Marxist prejudice politics.
In one class I made the mistake of raising my hand and objecting to the concept that equal application of law was a white man's politics and revolutionary groups like the then Revolutionary SDS were what the nation should be following. Needless to say my grade went from an "A" to a "C"......
What does SDS stand for? Students for a Democratic Society. We had a top Democrat Supervisor in SB County who was outed as a founding member in another State and preached revolution against the nation.
Sorry you had to go through it.
This is exactly what the Communists throughout the world have done to destroy and replace both culture and government in nation after nation. The present teachers and misled students have no idea how twisted things have become.
Thanks for the article.
Fantastic comment! Thank you for sharing this- There is no doubt this movement to destroy the West goes well over a century back- it was your experience that turned into "multi-culturalism" and has become what it is today. I agree with you wholeheartedly that most teachers and students have no idea of what is going on.
Taking one back also to 1964, and the erroneously named Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley. SDS wanted to recruit followers on campus for their brand of class warfare, set out in the Tom Hayden-drafted Port Huron statement. UC campuses at the time were declared politically neutral property, so they tried to restrict this demand.
Mario Savio then exhorted the crowds to throw their bodies on the "cogs of this odious machine" which led the now infamous Sproul Hall sit-in. I had to pick my way across their sprawling bodies on my way to my senior year classes. Decades later a very substantial donation to UC Berkeley demanded a brass plaque commemorating this event be installed on those very Sproul Hall steps, as the price for that gift.
Consequently the Free Speech Movement was never about "free speech"; just the recruitment demands by outside radical leftists to push their economic class warfare agenda. Only later did the threat of the Vietnam draft add its existential fervor to this economic class warfare movement.
Fast forward to the present, the treatment of conservative groups or speakers on UC campuses today proves yet again, Berkeley in the 1960's was never about "free speech". I remain teetering 60years later whether this event was ultimately a good or bad thing. It just was. And like many nascent movements, it was already a force ripe to be harvested. I only ask we be honest and stop perpetuating myths or reverence about it today as an unearned buzz word.
..........."Campus representatives for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) joined the protest. After a stand-off with campus police, a temporary compromise was reached, but by then the Berkeley Free Speech Movement (FSM) had been born.........."
Excellent recounting! These things go back much further than most people know. Just like all modern day abused speech it means exactly the opposite of what it says- Orwell got that right with "double speak." Anti-racists are racists, anti-fascists are fascists, the tolerance movement is intolerant etc.... Thanks again!
So, i survived all extreme positions while making sure that i would get to know them. Indeed, the Franfurt School equipped me with thinking tools, Mario Salvo sharpened my debate skills and the Stanford/Berkley sit -ins gave me the experience of diversity in plurality. In conclusion: I tasted it all, pontificated all, reviewed it all, digested it all and emerged with emotional and intellectual riches that furthered my professional life, made me more compassionately human. Let it be. You are drawing hasty conclusions too early. Let it be. Let it be
I too had similar experiences while taking a series of Econ classes in the late 1970’s…while the merits of free market capitalism was part of the curriculum, most professors slanted their lectures & required readings towards socialist thinking (one step removed from communism), which signaled to students the go-along-to-move-along-to-matriculation mentality (same system applied for K-High School systems — learn & repeat the lessons to jump to the next grade level…
unfortunately, this slow creep of the communists’ takeover of Our Nation goes back to the 1950s (see pushback by McCarthy et al)…fortunately, there are good people standing in the way…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDrFCMHX9OU
Fight 4 Team Trump…
Fabianism.
(Only now we learn this was not just one more teen rock star, appealing only to screaming pre-pubescent fans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVHCfBBraK0)
just one of many many examples of the use of Hollywood & the music industry…BUT, something far more sinister [evil] has been allowed to flourish through all parts of our society…It has been protected and safeguarded…It has been camouflaged to appear as trusted…It has been projected (normalized) by “STARS.” Do people follow the 'STARS'?
Sad , just a Travesty what’s going on in Our Society , Lies and more Lies, Appalling !!!!
Thank you for this revealing explanation of how we got to where we are today.
This is excellent. I feel there is even more to it, including HR departments and hiring agencies in Santa Barbara. It's true we don't get to decide who or what we are, we are just born that way. Thanks for you insight.
I always liked this quote and don't know its attribution:
Fate is what we are born with. Destiny is what we do with it.
Erik, there is wayyyy more to it. "what happens in the school room in this generation becomes the politics of the next." Every public institution is infested with these racist, sexist, and vicious ideologies that promote a double standard and violence. It is in the courts, the conventional laws, entertainment industry and as you say, now HR departments and hiring agencies all over the country and here in Santa Barbara. The germinating source of this fiasco is the universities, then the elementary schools and high schools. Tragic really.
Many of us are well aware that our public schools have been rotten for some time, but it's very helpful and revealing to learn more details about the mechanics of indoctrination and subversion. Thanks for this very well written expose! Now if only we could convince people to stop voting for the leftists currently controlling most local school boards and the state department of education ...
As long as voters assume (1) teacher union, or their PAC endorsements are a good thing, and (2) whomever "raises the most money" must be the best choice, we will continue down the same path of special interest control of our school boards. This country as a whole currently spends over $800 billion dollars a year on public education. The financial stakes are immense; the results are mixed.
Rule one is to never put teacher union interests on both sides of the bargaining table. We will never get an independent assessment of the direction our schools need to take, when we only listen to the collective bargaining units who now dominate all too many school boards.That is what is not working today.
Today in the vast number of school districts there is no independent community arbiter, which is the intended role of an elected school board. No one should fear wider participation by neutral community over-sight interests sitting on our school boards. Everyone shares the same goals: the best darn education for our students that we can possibly provide within our available resources.
There is a need for mutually respected arms-length bargaining power sitting between these two forces: a community at large wanting both measurable student accomplishment, and well-compensated and valued educators. Turf wars and internecine attacks within the educational community have no place. That is where an independent school board should be setting a new tone, that brings balance to these current educational turf wars.
Well said. Thanks for sharing.
John Dewey hoped to use public education to bury the “ rotting corpse of Christianity”
This goal is being advanced every day your children are sitting in most schools.
Democracy is also being used to destroy and replace Christianity, which John Dewey promoted as well. It is the democratization of Christianity in the wake of the Protestant revolt that led to huge number of Christians breaking away from the Church, and the promotion of self-interpretation and personal experiences, combined with a rejection and suspicion of a central authority that would lead to changes promoting secular, humanistic, anti-clerical, and relativistic ideologies.
When America was born in 1776, only 21-year-old White English-speaking males who owned property could vote. As our country matured the "property owning" requirement was challenged and dropped. Despite efforts by "nativisits" 21-year-old White male naturalized immigrants secured the right to vote. After the Civil War, "White" was dropped (technically, anyway). Then, in 1920 being "male" as a requirement to vote was dropped. In 1924 Native Americans were reclassified and declared U.S. citizens, so they, too, could now vote. "Jim Crow" prevented many Black Americans from voting in the Apartheid south, and discrimination against Hispanics in the Southwest and Texas prevented many Spanish-speaking Americans from voting. So, in 1965 the Voting Rights Act was passed to insure that Black Americans could actually vote. Likewise, ballots were printed in languages other than English so non-English speaking U.S. citizens could also vote. After Barry McGuire's big hit "Eve of Destruction" convinced our nation's lawmakers that "old enough to kill, but not for votin'" was unjust, the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1972.
All Americans are NOT White, Anglo-Saxon, or Christian, so just get over it! Our evolution as a nation to become "a more perfect union" as been long and painful, and this is where we now find ourselves.
And therein lies Herr Rummelsburg's overriding concern: too many OTW (other than White) non-Protestants are able to vote and impact government policy! Hence the rash of recently enacted laws by like-minded individuals in some States to restrict voting by mail (the U.S. Army has been voting by mail since 1864); printing ballots in "English Only;" reducing the number of polling places in underserved, non-white neighborhoods;...and the list could go on!
Just thank GOD (if you still believe there is such a thing) that you live in California where you can study each and every ballot measure, and each and every candidate at your leisure and then vote from the convenience of your dining room table! If you live in a State where you must stand in line for hours without food, water, or a toilet in order to show an "approved" government issued ID with a name and signature that exactly matches your voter registration - you live in a State where they DO NOT want you to vote.
As a retired U.S. Army Warrant Officer, I served to support, protect, and defend the U.S. Constitution for ALL of my fellow-Americans. Now, I see that there is an ongoing effort by some to "Make America Great Again"? HELLOOOO! America is already "Great" and it has been getting GREATER since 1776 by reaching out to include ALL of us who live here. If you are concerned by the failures of a "woke" education system, get involved in your child's education, like my parents did. "Reading the Bible will not make you a Christian!" my dear mother often said. Likewise, reading Karl Marx will not make you a Marxist. Despising and hating your fellow Americans who disagree with you is something you do all on your own; and it is NOT an American value, it is NOT a Christian virtue, and it will NEVER "make America great again." I am American, and so are ALL of you! We, as a people, do NOT need any version of Donald Trump's vision of a "Unified Reich"!
Mr. Siemsen, I will assume you are blind to your hypocrisy when you cast aspersions, false attribution, and slander against a fellow citizen as you have here with me by falsely saying “And therein lies Herr Rummelsburg's overriding concern: too many OTW (other than White) non-Protestants are able to vote and impact government policy!” You refer to me as “herr”? we all know what that means. I never said nor implied that I have any concern with any American citizen’s color or race and I never mentioned voting. I assert and have no such concerns which makes your statement false and malicious. And I will remind you that in the same post you said “Despising and hating your fellow Americans who disagree with you is something you do all on your own; and it is NOT an American value, it is NOT a Christian virtue, and it will NEVER "make America great again." You slander me as an act of contempt (read despise) after you willfully put false words into my mouth. If you were a man of character you would retract your accusations and false statements and apologize for the offense you cause to truth and to a fellow citizen.
OUCH! Must have hit a nerve. Did you not condemn "multiculturalism" and write "CRT and DEI are inherently evil"? Did you not conclude that these efforts to include viewpoints beyond those of the traditional White Anglo-Saxon Protestant perspective are "the rotten fruits of the dehumanizing endeavor of modern education"? The purpose of education is to prepare our nation's children to become informed citizens who care for their communities and neighbors and vote accordingly. When an informed populace learned that slavery was evil, they took steps to abolish it, the same can be said of the cause for worker's rights, women's rights, civil rights, gay rights, etc. America's contemporary schools are not "evil" because they no longer inflict corporal punishment on students "for not speaking English"; remove Native American children from their families and forbidden to speak their language in a boarding school; or deny Black children access to an equal education. We are all Americans, even those of us who are "blind to our own hypocrisy" and who appreciate the "multicultural" experience of one of Santa Barbara's many ethnic celebrations.
Mr. Siemsen, I am grateful for your response, thank you!
Thank you Mr Siemsen for your intelligent response. Well said.
America is not that great,, it was founded on "enlightenment" ideals which were ultimately secular and liberal in their nature, the separation of Church and state is another travesty. The Constitution is just that, a piece of paper and fancy writing, it's not something to be worshipped, our focus should be on God and not "democracy" or whatever else secularists promote.
1. No one is advocating "worshipping the Constitution," just as Christians don't worship the Bible. In both cases, we advocate following their precepts. 2. America was not founded on secularist ideals. Read conservative Catholic writer Robert R. Reilly's America on Trial: A Defense of the Founding, recently published by Ignatius Press, an orthodox Catholic publisher. You can find his related article ("The enduring roots of the Declaration's proclamation of equality," July 3, 2022) at CatholicWorldReport.com. It's noteworthy that both the extreme left and certain elements of the extreme right trash America's founding and its founders. This misrepresentation is what Reilly addresses in this book. 3. Since you clearly disdain America, perhaps you should consider moving elsewhere.
What is so great about America or American democracy, what has it conserved? Pornography, drug use, corruption, abortion, the destruction of the family, the promotion of hedonistic and self centered beliefs and movements, decreased religiosity are all things wrong with America and other Democratic Republics.
The Enlightenment emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority, including religious authority. Key American founders, such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, were heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideals. They promoted ideas of liberty, democracy, and separation of church and state, which contrasted with the Catholic view of the Church's role in society and public life.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution explicitly states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," which establishes a secular state where religion is a private matter. This principle is at odds with the Catholic belief that the Church should have a significant role in guiding moral and ethical decisions in public life.
The emphasis on individual rights and freedoms in the American founding documents can lead to moral relativism, where individual choice is paramount, potentially at the expense of communal values and objective moral truths as taught by the Church. This individualism can undermine the Catholic emphasis on community, social justice, and the common good, which are integral to Catholic social teaching.
Why should I move, although America is largely a degenerate nation it doesn't mean it's impossible to create positive change. What's wrong with being critical of America, we shouldn't blindly follow a secular state.
Once again you're using straw man tactics. Your original comment focused on America's founding and thus so did my response. My response was in no way a defense of current conditions in America, which in many ways are an inversion and perversion of our founding principles. Moreover, the same moral and social ills you listed are also widespread in many other countries whose history and governing principles are quite different from our own, so it's unfair and inaccurate to blame them on our founding principles. It has been said that the best and most efficient form of government is a benevolent absolute monarchy. But when the absolute monarch is not benevolent, it is very difficult to prevent his or her tyranny and abuses. Erecting a system that could prevent such a scenario was what our founders intended. Is it perfect? Of course not. No system is or can be, thanks to the human frailty and limitations resulting from original sin. No doubt some of the founders were influenced by various philosophies of that era, but you also seem to deny that our founding principles have any roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Again, I recommend that you read Robert R. Reilly's book on the American founding. You repeatedly criticize America for being a democracy. It is not. It is a Constitutional Republic. Finally, yes of course you're entitled to stay here and freely voice your opinions, thanks to the very same First Amendment that you criticized in your comment above.
And although you're correct in that some countries suffer from similar issues despite having different governments, that's a result of secularism which began to increase globally in the 19th and 20th centuries, along with rationalist though, ecting the rigand revolutionary movements that sought to stamp out Church influence. And a monarchy is more than capable of protecting the rights of its citizens, including free speech. Simply being under a monarchy doesn't mean you don't have free speech.
It matters little what some founding fathers were influenced by, they ultimately supported a secular state founded upon liberalism, the same liberalism that has lead to hyper-individualism, anti-clericalism, attacks on social order and tradition (central authority and morality). Some founding fathers were freemasonry which the Church has condemned universally, inherently like Jefferson were heretical as they were drifts, others may have been protestant yet protestantism too was focused on “democratization” which would lead to more secular movements that questioned legal and religious authority. And America is both a representative democracy and constitutional republic, its not an either/or.
I truly don't get what there is to defend about a system that is ultimately relativistic in nature, the will of God and truth and justice should always be above the will of the people.
If I pay for your ticket OUT will you leave and denounce your U.S. passport?
Why? Am I not allowed to critique a secular state that I live in? America has many glaring flaws, it's inability to preserve the life of the unborn is chief among them. So long as the slaughter of the innocent continues I will oppose the relativistic nature of American democracy.
Whose GOD? The war god of the ancient Israelites? The Father of Jesus the Messiah? Buddha's source of enlightenment? ALLAH and his prophet Muhammad? Odin, who slew the Frost Giants and saved humanity? The Earthmother who gives and sustains all life?
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ" Mahatma Gandhi
Do not forget the god of the secular humanists
The one True God, the Most Holy Trinity
Every single American citizen, natural or naturalized, can hold a US passport which is the most coveted document in the world. That is our common denominator. No matter what race, background, economic status we all share the immense benefit of owning a US passport.
Sorry those who came here illegally chose not to share this unique US privilege, but they do hold citizenship somewhere else which deserves their loyalty and pride.
If they want to share this common American passport privilege, they can make things right by legal process. We should never be required to condone their lawlessness, nor diminish our own pride in US passport ownership. That is how out of many, we become one. Not by the intentionally divisive politics for partisan gain of today.
Reject any and all who attempt to divide and conquer. Remind those of what does unite us - the privilege of carrying a US passport. Either by established birth right or legal process to obtain one.
J: E X C E L E N T. It's why are so many people trying to get here and be a part of our beautiful America.
My goodness. This is one of the more ill-informed articles I have seen come through your publication. It reads like a newsmax opinion piece. Full of accusations but completely lacking in any substance.
The statement "Multiculturalism, and its central aim was “to destroy white hegemony”" is telling. It presents a dichotomy. Either there is white hegemony or there is not. So if multiculturalism is out to destroy white hegemony, would that not be an acceptable goal? Or do you believe there should be white hegemony and that keeping it is a good thing? Is white hegemony the great American experiment? I would ask Italian immigrants in the later 1800s, because they weren't considered white, but are a pretty big part of the great American experiment. Here is an interesting read:
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1206&context=qc_pubs
One thing that came up that I thought was interesting was that the Italians felt they were being negatively stereotyped as criminally minded. Do you view Italians as mostly "mafia types"?
Identity exists in so many more ways. If we are all human first and foremost, do you work tirelessly to house those who are struggling? You identify family as being the second most important piece of identity. I imagine you wouldn't let your family go homeless, but since being human sits at the top of your hierarchy, shouldn't you show compassion to every other human? Maybe identity is more than one thing to more than one person. Maybe we can study and learn from each other. Maybe the shared experiences of people are interesting. There is way to many things to respond to here, but I was piqued by the article about Israel. The author(s) claimed that the Jewish people cannot be separated from Israel. I didn't see much backlash to that identity, but I think you would object to a black person saying that have experienced systemic racism.
Do you want to know what really is the problem? A capitalistic viewpoint on news media. I believe capitalism has given us some of the greatest achievements, perhaps only second to coffee. But what I mean by capitalism and media is that as soon as you need to make money "selling" news, you will find ways that drive engagement. It is why Rupert Murdoch put topless women on Page 3 of the Sun. It is why his newspaper sold millions more copies than competitors allowing him to buy up all the other media outlets. Its why people write dumb articles like this that have no basis. They are simply meant to stir up the pot, upset people, and drive engagement. This is why we are falling apart as a nation. Because news is about viewership, not facts or research. Journalism is dying, being replaced by talking heads that shout things that make you angry.
This article lacks any degree of critical analysis, fact checking, supporting documentation, research. It is sad to me that you can't see the campus protests for what they are. People are dying, and we as human beings (your highest order of identity) have compassion for them. That is what the protests are at their root. Your news media just likes to get you mad, so they show the bad apples. You claim Jan 6 just had a few bad apples, but you can't extend that compassion to anyone else?
I honestly hoped the Current would have something that would make me think, reevaluate my belief. Maybe it will. But for now my guiding principle is belief in the dignity of every human being, whether I like them or not. Please do better.
You seem to have missed the entire point of the piece. Identity politics is taught to children to balkanize American society on the basis of immutable characteristics. By including LGBTQ identity even whites can participate. This is bad and is a step backward. Your reply rambles through multiculturalism dichotomy, human identity, Italian immigrants, homelessness, Israel, capitalism and ends nowhere. It reads like chat GPT. You say nothing at all but you are clearly critical of the Current and and its content. You have a notably sparce presence on substack. Where did you come from?
If you're implying that liberal free-markets and capitalism result in social and moral decay (degenerate men putting nude women in magazines) than yeah, I agree with you. But that's where my agreement ends.
I asked 1000 people what was their first takeaway form this article and not one said that it is about the dichotomy between multiracialism and white hegemony. I would bet anything that this drivel is AI generated. Another clue is the link reference to a 22-year-old academic article from CUNY academic works on how Italian immigrants were viewed in the late 19th century. I doubt that this work is part of Justin's evening reading list. Justin and your ilk, if you cannot think for yourself, please learn to before polluting these pages with your AI generated self-flagellation.
My apologies Jeff. My comment was a bit rambly. I just don't agree with your points. What is the intent of the balkanization? To split everybody up into groups for what reason? I cannot find the reason to do so, so its hard for me to accept this line of thinking. I think the article is making boogeymen out of nothing. CRT and DEI are not inherently evil or bad concepts. There can be bad executions of it, but simply using a different perspective too look at things is helpful.
And to my background, as Eleanor Roosevelt said, 'Great Minds Discuss Ideas. Average Minds Discuss Events. Small Minds Discuss People'. I'm a local.
I did suspect you were a real person Justin, my work in the public schools for 33 years has taught me a near encyclopedia of knowledge about the rotten fruits of the dehumanizing endeavor of modern education. Your post was quite a bit worse than just rambly, it made far too many statements that run contrary to reality. I wrote you a response this morning but thought better of sending it. In general, our schools have taught us to believe the opposite of what is true- one example from your post- "white hegemony" is not even a reality that exists, so anything anyone says about it is inaccurate at best, but more likely manipulative and false. My article has theoretical, logical and philosophical coherence and it comes off to the "educated" as "Full of accusations but completely lacking in any substance." This is astounding, for either what I wrote was true or untrue, your statement claims that all of it was untrue. A "great mind" described by Eleanor Roosevelt would have refuted the assertions put forth as substantive, but it is clear why you chose to avoid such an effort. As to your most recent statement, you are incorrect, CRT and DEI are inherently evil, it is demonstrable and self-evident to a soul who understands the proper definition of ideology and its origins. But DEI and CRT are not just normal evil ideologies, they are a hybrid and synthesis of many errors that make them especially evil. I will explain those in future articles and would be very open to discussing the ideas with you at a future date.
Apologies for the formatting:
I'm glad to be accepted as real. I thank you for your service in the public school sector for 33 years. I am so sorry you see the world in such dire terms. I reread your article several times to find the substance. It is so difficult to write a cohesive critique of your article because you make so many misguided statements, equivocations, and other nonsense I have a hard time even summarizing them to refute them. You give no evidence of anything you have stated (EDIT: I guess you make the connection to the campus protests of the war in Israel and Palestine, but the link is weak, and I would argue invalid). You mention Marxism, dialectical materialism, Freire, and the Frankfurt school as some great boogeymen coming for our children but make zero connection to anything actually occurring. Show me where in the teacher credential program children are taught that neoliberalism is bad. Give me a citation. Please.
To pick apart your eighth paragraph:
“In reality, the word “identity” means the same, or sameness to something substantial.” --This is one of several accepted meanings of identity. This is the definition you are using in relation to identity politics.
"For example, all human beings share a nature made intelligible by the powers of the human soul manifest in the human body." --How is this an example? You are asserting that identity comes from the soul. The soul is not demonstrable so I don’t know what this has to do with anything.
"Substantially, every human person is the same; meaning we all truly share an identity." --Your use of the word substantially keeps throwing me off. I agree we all share an identity or a piece thereof. Are you saying that the biggest piece of our identity is that we are human? I am in agreement.
"Considerations of ethnicity, sexuality, gender, culture, and citizenship are not substantial forms, but accidental forms and no real identity with such accidents is possible." --How can you claim citizenship is an accidental form and no real identity is possible from this, but then the title of your article is “I am American, and so are you”?
"The big lie is to come to believe that something accidental is substantial and therefore an identity. This is simply outside the boundary of reality, even if it is commonly believed. Accidental forms can be important considerations, but not nearly as important as true identity." --So again, are you American first, or human first?
"There is a hierarchy of values rooted in the natural law…" Natural law demonstrates that the strong take from the weak. Is that the basis for government you wish to rely on?
Human, Family, Country of residence, this is your value system. I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with that hierarchy of value. I also don’t think SEL, DEI, or CRT are in any way challenging your hierarchy. I would love for you to give me an exact example of how they are and look forward to your articles doing so.
"We are human beings who share a nature, who owe gratitude to our parents for the gift of life and to the United States of America for a glorious citizenship that is slipping through our fingers." --I am grateful to my parents and to this Country. And I would like to see it do better by lifting up all people. That which I can do for my Country is to think critically.
"If we continue to allow this movement to take root in our souls through our schools, we will be destroyed from within and without.
I am American and so are you.
It’s time to put things back into their proper order." --What do you suggest?
I would love for an a critical analysis of CRT, without straw-manning. That is my request.
Good morning Justin,
I think your sincere comment here proves you a kind soul. I am grateful for the expansiveness of your expression here because we can derive clarity on our differences.
I am glad you read and re-read the article several times in search of substance. That you found none is truly a reflection on modern education. What I discovered in my 33 year quest to learn what is wrong with modern education is a multi-volume book length topic.
However, first, I must object that your characterizations of my words as "misguided statements, equivocations, and other nonsense" which really says nothing about my essay but are subjective and self-referential statements whose conclusion is you just can't understand what I wrote-
The deep root of your confusion is the secular humanist worldview- to demonstrate this truth to yourself, notice that there are some posters here, who like you, didn't understand what I wrote and mischaracterized my words in different ways than you, but also notice that most posters here perfectly understood what I wrote and commented coherently. So even by self-referencing standards, what makes your misunderstanding more valid than those who understood?
We can start with the reality that modern education excised the meaning of the word "substance" generations ago, so it makes sense that you can't find the substance or understand the difference between substance and accident, two philosophical terms from Aristotle's categories that serve as a basis for true grammar. So not only is the distinction between substance and accident erased, the true meanings of the very words have been radically altered. And since you have no true idea about what the word substance means, you search instead for material facts that satisfy your feelings, rather than the coherent propositions that explains the anatomy of confusion.
One of the greatest sings of our differences is your statement on the soul. You say it is not demonstrable so you don't know what it has to do with anything- so you subjectively conclude that there is no soul, so it has nothing to do with the article, when in fact it has everything to do with it. Those of us not completely deluded by the public schools who are not material atheists, we know that there are invisible, immaterial animating principles for 3 kinds of being, plants, animals and humans. Only materialists are blind to this obvious reality. But it explains your confusion.
Anyway, after a rejection of the immaterial, all your arguments are irretrievably flawed.
I will skip to the end- there are many excellent critiques of CRT that don't strawman- look at James Lindsay's Cynical Theories- if you are teachable, he will help you.
I wish I could be of more service to you Justin- I have worked with many adults, many of whom have made themselves unteachable, but countless young souls, most of whom are very teachable- if you could find a way to be teachable, I could really help you.
Why did you stay in public school for for so long? 33 years is a long time for an institution than you now condemn. What it just a gradual learning - or did something snap?
Good question Thomas! Something snapped in my first year in 1991. I was the enemy for my entire life and when I became in charge of 30 little beautiful souls I was granted insight into the viciousness of modern education. I have been behind enemy lines ever since. It has truly been war games, and I have done my level best to discover what is wrong with modern public school, that took years and then I have been discovering an authentic Liberal Arts education. I have worked as a teacher in New Hampshire, Mass, Texas, Georgia and most of my life here in California- I have been on several excellent school boards, hired as a senior Fellow for two reputable organizations, one being The American Principles Project, I have developed a teacher formation program for authentic education and much more. If one doesn't mind the loneliness of being behind enemy lines and doesn't have an attachment to money it is a glorious life to fight the good fight and to educe souls to leave the darkness of error and enter into the light of truth. Truly the most gratifying job in the world I think. So I condemned it from 1991 to the present but I don't participate in the evil.
Thank you for the detail to your journey. It always helps me understand someone's point of view when I found out how they gained their perspective.
Thank you for such a great explanation of how the destruction is taking place!
In the Constitution Class, put on by Patriot Academy, it explains that the public school system, which was Bible based, was designed to teach kids to 1) Serve the church 2) Serve their country, and 3) Serve their family. Without learning to do those 3 things, we would not have the freedom we have in America.
This obviously is not happening and what you explain is happening. Now the real question is, what can we do to stop this? How do we unify to take a strong stand? I think it requires each of us to take responsibility of our own families but we have to have a movement or something to empower people and encourage people to action.
Christy, thanks for this good comment! We must brainstorm together to figure out how we can move forward with a plan that returns us (US) to sanity.
Thanks Christy for even broaching the idea of a solution. As bad and entrenched as the school situation is, there has to be a solution to turn hearts away from Marxism indoctrination. Wherever it has been tried before the people always found a way out.
So true Mary! The solution can be found at the crossroads where Athens and Jerusalem meet- in the Great Western Tradition where Revealed Truth and true Philosophy reveal the true anthropology and a recovery of the liberal arts and sciences rooted in the virtues that aims to deracinate vice- an authentic education in the schools is the answer- that would be a game changer.
What freedoms do we have in America that they don't have in, say, Norway, England, New Zealand, Canada? Guns? Look what that gets us? Religion? Sounds like you don't want freedom except for your own Christianity. The electoral college? Don't get me started. America is a wonderful but flawed country like many others. Addressing our nation's faults does not make one unpatriotic. Quite the contrary. Perhaps we should focus on being a bit more humble, and learn from those countries that consistently rank as the happiest in the world (yes, those democratic socialist countries are pretty dang happy)...perhaps we can investigate and learn from them - just like they can learn from us. Also, are there public educators that take advantage of their captive audience to push their own views? Sure. But the vast majority are not doing this and our schools are doing their best to educate not indoctrinate. Can you point out a single example of indoctrination that is happening? Like a specific, concrete example? Exposing one to new views and ideas is not indoctrination. Examining how systemic racism (e.g. redlining, drug laws, etc.) has impacted people of color is not indoctrination. Would be genuinely interested in hearing about specific examples.
This concept might be difficult to understand but I am going to share it anyhow. The difference between Christianity and other religions, is the fact that Freedom is at the root of it. God is a gentleman and He does not force anyone to believe in Him. He gives people the Freedom to choose…I am not sure you could say that about many other religions because most a riddled with rules and choice is not a thing.
God does state the consequences for such decisions, if people decide not to follow Him, but He allows people to decide. Whether you like it or not, the United States of America was founded on these principle and our nation was designed to support the furtherance of these principles that God set, and when they are followed, God protects us.
To answer your question and give a concrete example would be the “Lack of Freedom and restriction of opinion” that has infiltrated everyone one of our systems. I believe this is “Anti-Freedom measures” and a constant theme in our culture to destroy our nation. That being said, I could give 1000’s of examples of the restrictions of our freedoms.
So to be clear, it is not Freedom for Christianity, it is Freedom for everyone and that is the root of Christianity, even though there are Christian churches who don’t always do a great job at displaying that core value. The church may not be doing it well but they should be.
Unify under Christ, and not just some nationalistic movement that co-opts Christianity for its own purposes, but a movement that puts the will of God, not the people first. We need to reject free and liberal markets which profit of vice and destroy traditions, we need to cease embracing democracy or republicanism as good things (they don't promote moral societies, they are for hyper individualism, hedonism, and moral relativism). The most essential unit in society is the family, not the individual and the fmaily is supposed to be a "domestic Chruch" with an emphasis on mutual love, support, and charity.
SPOT ON. I've sadly talked with too many teachers who 'proudly' spew their political views, one even admitting that 'when my 5th graders leave my class they will hate Trump as much as I do'. That's not teaching, that's indoctrination. No school child should know a teacher's personal stand on so many issues as listed in Steven's post. TEACH the basics, remember reading, writing and that pesky arithmatic??? While kids are suffering depression and anxiety over their gender (look in yer pants), color, etc etc they come out of school with a serious lack of basic education. But then again, dumb down the masses and they can be lead right to the rail cars, eh? I've said it again and again, so glad to be an old fut because the path society is taking is very, very sadly precarious.
Great article thank you!
I have always wondered why do they want to dismantle society and play identity politics. Is it to divide and rule, the oldest strategy in the world or is it something else?
Few months ago my son called me from school saying the students had organized a walk out for higher pay for teachers at his middle school. He had a Math test that day and he wanted to know what he should do as his Math classroom was almost empty. I told him to stay put and focus on his Math test and that school is not for learning politics. I told him his teacher might even give him credit for doing so.
Later that day on his way home he told me his Math teacher told the remaining students that he was proud they did not participate in the walk out and instead decided to focus on their real education. He even gave them credit just for staying in class and doing the right thing. The realization that dawned on my son about politics and school is the true education he received that day.
As a parent I have experienced what this article says. Gender, identity, sex, race and everything else in between is being twisted, warped and fed to young impressionable minds as the "Truth" in SB schools.
A basket that my daughter learned to weave in art class became a symbol of cultural appropriation of native Americans and the teacher proceeded to give them a talk about this nonsense.
I happened to see the huge encampment of anti Israel activists on UCSB campus couple of weeks ago when my daughter and I went for a walk there. My daughter who is in High School told me she does not buy into their politics and that these protests were politically motivated on both sides. She further added that she would never "unfriend" her (Jewish or Palestinian) or any other friends because of this and she explained that this "unfriending" of people is what is going on in schools, universities and social media over this issue.
I am glad that many young adults are seeing through this nonsense and their identity politics. I have learnt that parents set the foundation of their child's future. A child's education first and always starts at home!
Interesting. I was had the understanding that was senior 'ditch day' at DP and a few kids quickly re-branded it as a walk out for teachers. My kid was at Costco eating pizza.
I think it was kind of pre-planned at Goleta Valley JH but I was unaware of it till my son called me to ask if he could get picked up from school.
I wouldn't want anyone to miss this one critical sentence: ..........."Few months ago my son called me from school saying the students had organized a walk out for higher pay for teachers at his middle school."...........
(Who in fact was leading whom? Time to name names.)
I cannot name names because I do not know who was leading whom. One thing I can say is that there are teachers who are very conscientious about their job, who keep a low profile and the children love to attend their classes. These teachers have made an impact on the younger generations for the better. These wise souls do exist in our public schools and I am grateful to them.
Yet we must hide them, rather than celebrate them. And emulate them. Therein lies the deeper sickness in our state educational-industrial complex. Even after voter-approved Prop 98 granted 50% of all general funds directly to our state educational-industrial complex. Time for voters to re-set this relationship too.
Your comment, “Ultimately the identity politics movement is designed to make us hate our true identity as human beings made in the image and likeness of God, to hate our families because they are propagandized as anchors to our “true” identity, and to hate our country because it oppresses us” is a bit extreme. I interact with many young people and they do not hate their families, their country, or themselves. Of course there are always extremes found on both the left and the right but it is unfair to blame the schools when social media has far more impact on our youth.
Hi Nancy, I appreciate your point but I must beg to differ with you- I can assure you that it is not extreme and it is the very theoretical, albeit hidden, aim of the schools- most teachers don't mean such harm, but they don't have to, they just have to buy into the marxist methods- the reason you know many who are not taken in by this scheme is that good families mitigate the damage the schools can do- so you will learn if you investigate that children from broken homes are more susceptible to the agenda, but it is the agenda. I worked for 23 years in an impoverished district, I know of what I speak. Perceived outcomes is not the same thing as theoretical roots- and I stand by that comment as accurate only cast as extreme by a society that wants to keep that truth hidden.
No Child Left Behind
They promote and graduate 60% of kids who cannot perform academics at grade level.
They do not educate the children. Instead they give them a “diploma” that they cannot read.
They don’t lift up kids, they tear the top down and then make excuses why despite the bell curve a kid still cannot read the menu at In & Out.
The 5th largest economy in the world appears to choose to not value education.
Brian. This is not true. For example, my family's school, DPHS, just graduated the highest percentage of students meeting/exceeding standards in reading in school history - over 70% met/exceeded standards. I know that doesn't fit your narrative about public education, but let's not wallow in hyperbole. Are there problems in education? Sure, let's talk about those but let's do so thoughtfully and intelligently. https://www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/42767864231726/2023.
The 5th largest economy in the world ( aka Calif, after now flailing Japan) passed Prop 98 almost immediately after Prop 13, which dedicates 50% of all general state revenues to public education. Automatically, no strings attached.
This state very much values education and dedicates a bulk on its revenues in its support . Something else turned this state into its now #45 nationwide ranking. Keep looking for answers, because the statewide fiscal support is there. Time to ask how this money is spent; not just demands to give even more.
Fascinating !
I think you and I agree that education is not reinforced at home for certain groups.
The question is why?
Every Hispanic family I’ve talked to says they value education and want their kids to succeed and are frustrated that the district is not doing a better job.
You pointed out poor Asians do better than others of similar economics because of the family reinforcement on education. There have been numerous studies about how education needs to be reinforced at home.
But education is not reinforced at home in certain cultures and economic statuses. Two kids sitting next to each other class, their academics hinge upon whether or not the parents reinforce the value of education at home by making sure the child does their homework, speaks up to the teacher if they do not understand something, make sure the child goes to school, etc…. Be a parent.
The question in the 21st century is why don’t parents make sure their kids are getting the most out of school?
Which brings me back to the conversations I’ve had with families and the district over the years. The families are under the impression that all education occurs in school. That if a student is not doing their homework or they are falling behind that the school, the teacher will do something. This is not the case. Too many kids are passed onto the next grade level despite not being able to read and do math at grade level. The buck is passed. Per the teachers this is district policy, to not hold back students.
So we’re back to government verse culture.
When you go to the district and you ask why are certain groups falling behind academically their excuses start with ethnicity, then move to both parents work jobs. When you point out that all kids have the same teacher and books they go to mom & dad working jobs. Then you point out that in most every household both parents work they go back to ethnicity. These are the superintendents playing this shell game.
When in reality it is that schools tell parents “don’t worry about education we got that covered while you work, sit back and let us raise your child”.
The question, is it purposeful that our schools don’t share the “easy fix” to poor grades or is it just ignorance?
As to the ESL, yes CA has more than other states. However, according to the data you sent SBUSD is 95% English speaking. Most students are 2nd to third generation American. Language is not the barrier, but the excuse. Virginia Alvarez, past board member ran her campaign stating she immigrated here without speaking English. She touted how she learned English, did well in school and achieved. Is she smarter or was education more valued in her home?
As to wealth and better grades we see education is valued more in those areas because the parents impress upon the kids the importance of good study habits and doing their school work. It’s not because every affluent person has an after school tutor coming to the house. It’s not because the curriculum is radically different or the teachers are better.
Like a family of obese people, money & ethnicity do not dictate obesity. It’s good eating habits or the lack thereof from portion size to eating healthy foods. This is passed down by the parents. I’ve seen quite a few lower socioeconomic families eating fast food and junk food every day. Fast food is not cheap or healthy.
The kids learn their eating habits from the parent’s. The parents don’t see anything wrong with their eating habits or their children growing larger and larger so they do not do anything to promote a healthier living style.
Doctors don’t tell the kids or family to put down the fork and exercise. They prescribe pills. Child obesity is a serious issue in the US. It’s not a complicated fix and neither is a higher quality education.
It starts at home, but no one is telling parents. So the cycle continues unless the child is influenced outside the home. And school is not influencing children to do better.
In reality we are seeing the opposite. Schools make excuses like ethnic inequality and racism as the reason for poor academics when in reality all kids have the same teachers and books and whether or not a child can read has nothing to do with the subject matter of the book. Same with math, they’d like you to believe math is racist.
We circle back to poor education being a result of bad school districts.
So how do we change the district so that they reinforce education in the home?
Vote out every school board member for starters.
This is a very important discussion Brian. You say "The question in the 21st century is why don’t parents make sure their kids are getting the most out of school?" This may appear to be the question, but there is a more fundamental reality that must be addressed first. I will suggest that the modern public school has lost sight of the meaning of the word "education." I have asked countless teachers and parents and most people cannot define that very important word. If you have a few years, I can demonstrate that our Santa Barbara schools are theoretically bankrupt when it comes to "education" and "educating" their students. The fundamental reasons are that not only does no one in the school have an understanding of what the word education means we have lost 3 vital prerequisites that require a recover of the true meaning of the word "nature." The modern school can make no reasonable sense of 1. The Nature of Reality- 2. The Nature of the Human Person (the philosophical anthropology) and 3. The Nature of Human learning.
I can assure you, the theoretical roots of an authentic education is the true starting point- there are many problems in the family, but those are secondary considerations, not first- the family, broken and otherwise is the given, and I can assure you, the true teacher must teach all those who end up in front of him and even children from broken and depleted homes can learn very well.