Angry Crowd Won’t Stop at Critical Race Theory; Book Bans; Mask Mandates.
Dr. Jeannie Stone recently resigned her position as Superintendent of Richardson ISD. Richardson, Texas is an urban school district just North of Dallas. Stone was voted 2019 Superintendent of the year, and for good reason. Richardson ISD a majority-minority school district, and 56.9% of its students are economically disadvantaged, yet Richardson ISD graduates 91% of its kids.
Dr. Stone first drew the attention of the angry crowd when she stepped up in 2018 and met with student activists who shared tales of racism and discrimination throughout their experience with Richardson ISD. In response, she released a video listing their demands and vowed to keep the list posted on her office door until these demands were met. This alerted some parents who oppose any discussion on race to begin actively opposing her ideas to protect her students of color and focus on providing them the best possible education.
Cue COVID-19. The nationwide trend of angry parents shouting ugly personal attacks at school boards and administrators did not overlook Richardson ISD. Karen Clardy, the RISD board President, abruptly resigned in September. Richardson ISD was one of the first Texas school districts to defy Governor Abbott’s prohibition of mask mandates.
While a majority of parents agreed with the mandate, a loud minority of parents (20%) began a campaign of threats and harassment that led to the resignation of Dr. Stone and Mrs. Clardy. The losers in this situation will be the students, long after the worst of the pandemic is over.
My children attend school in a neighboring district and we have had the same issues at our school board meetings. A student stood to testify that his grandmother had a pre-existing condition and he wanted to protect her from COVID-19. Anti-mask parents stood behind him and laughed, mocking the child for his compassion.
These anti-mask parents haven’t stopped there. Emboldened by their surging numbers and media attention, they’ve now gone after Critical Race Theory. Next, they’re demanding to ban books with any references to sexual activity or transgender individuals being presented in a positive light.
The saying goes “give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile.” The 24/7 right-wing outrage media has expanded its local operation, folks, and Texas is in the thick of it. As an active, engaged, mom – I can tell you that very few people oppose masks, racially accurate curriculum, or support banning books. Those of us that desire reason over manufactured outrage have to start showing up in numbers that rival the angry crowd.
I think that’s true everywhere. Our district’s (where I teach and not where I live) is also majority minority. In fact, the numbers are closer to 80/20. However, most of the 80 is silent. Our protocols are non-existent and we certainly wouldn’t dream of doing CRT. Most school administrators don’t rock the boat. We completely capitulated on cell phones and we will do it again when a conflict arises. I can’t blame the administrators I guess. Who wants to spend their time antagonizing an angry mob? Jet is right. We need to step up and be heard.
1This happened recently in Klein ISD. But, a group of angry (for the right reasons!) educators, parents and citizens organized and soundly defeated the RWers. A candidate campaigned on returning integrity to the board. This did not sit well with all that knew the current members. We did not allow the extremists to get anywhere near the reins of power. But, these folks have stated they will be back the next election cycle. We musty be diligent and vote. Truth, compassion, integrity, et al, are meaningless concepts to these candidates.
2Donald Trump may not have created this bunch of mean, uncaring, obnoxious people we seem to be stuck with right now, but he played a huge part in turning them loose on society. He, and they, have a lot to answer for. Still, I’d be happy if they just crawled back under their rocks and let the decent people who want to make things better for people get on with their lives.
3I wonder sometimes if this is how it started in Germany after WWI and then took the country over.
4The deception runs top to bottom, and sideways too, in the GQP.
Recently at a Republican governor forum the 5 Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidates were asked if Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Not one said yes. Instead their answers could “…only be described as a game of verbal Twister.” Also Known As lies.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/watch-stunning-debate-moment-when-hugh-hewitt-asks-5-gop-candidates-if-joe-biden-won-2020-election/ar-AARSMOF
5We have a group of these folks trying to take over the local school board and county government here. I’ve never seen any of them active in the community before, but they were ostentatiously NOT masked in a public building where masks are required, so you know what their aim is. Wish us luck defeating them!
6Rumor has it that a group of Oligarchs and Corporatists are behind all of this. They are funding groups who are stirring up the ignorati through social media and specifically going after school boards.
It’s not just a spontaneous uprising that’s happening all across the country. They are terrified that every eligible voter might actually vote for their own interests.
7I graduated Richardson High School and hate to hear this. Someone needs to publish a list of these parent/terrorists so they can face justice.
8Koch Bros and John Birch boyz.
9I need some help y’all. Where do these 57% economically disadvantaged people live? I lived in the Richardson IDS twice. Once in the 80s and then again when we moved back to Texas in 95. My son lives in Richardson now. I would moved back to Dallas tomorrow if I could afford it. There’s not a house in Richardson ISD for less than 300K. A 2bedroom apartment is 150 000. Any house for sale goes in a few days at more than asking.
10When someone uses a slur like “woke” to denote someone who has decent manners, the rest of the world must expect them to have bad manners. This stuff has been building since at least the Reagan administration. Combover Crime Lord showed them it was OK to finally take off the mask.
11Someday, we will have 2 school systems. One for regular people and one for knuckle-draggers.
12That’s the ultimate goal Cheryl. They want to get rid of public school and they have for years. I’ve seen all sorts of videos that “prove” that private schools are better because they have better scores. Sure they do. When I can handpick my students I’m going to have better scores.
That’s what the voucher people have never really understood (some of them do, but I think the majority are well meaning). It doesn’t matter how much money you give everyone to pick their school. The school still has to choose to accept them. If I know a kid has behavioral issues, learning disabilities, or physical challenges I don’t have to accept them. If you start forcing private schools to take all comers then they cease to be private schools. At least, their built in advantage goes away.
No one has really quite explained that part of the voucher system. Those kids have to go SOMEWHERE. Then again, maybe they don’t and that is the whole point. We create a permanent two-tiered society between those that can be educated and those that can’t.
13From afar, it seems that the majority espouses these extreme right-wing views while it’s only a very loud minority, They should be confronted by the majority of parents who haven’t drank the Kool-aid.
Great post Jet Harris, Thank you.
14Nothing snacilbupeR like better than a book banning, except a book burning
15