By M.H. Cavanaugh
Christian Action League
January 29, 2021
The State Board of Education has scheduled a meeting to discuss and vote on changes to the North Carolina social studies standards curriculum at the same time Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is slated to preside over the state Senate. Robinson, a voting member of the Board, tried to work out a time that would have included him in the meeting, but he says that he was stonewalled.
“I am extremely disappointed that the Board knowingly scheduled a meeting that prevents me from being able to carry out the duties that the people of North Carolina elected me to do,” Robinson reportedly told the North State Journal.
During his campaign, the Lieutenant Governor often expressed his concerns about what he called the “indoctrination” of students in public schools. He contends he’s been excluded because he is a critic of the proposed changes to the social studies standards.
The North State Journal reports, “The changes in the standards include social and racial justice themes, such as gender identity and systemic racism. Critical Race Theory, a perspective that has caused controversy in schools across the country, is found in the eighth-grade standards on U.S. and North Carolina history and in other grade levels.”
Robinson said in a press release on Wednesday:
“As I have said many times, we need to teach our children how to think and not what to think. Unfortunately, the standards as they are currently written do not accomplish this goal. Instead, they have been crafted by those on the radical left with an explicit agenda of being divisive, promoting left-wing ideology, and indoctrinating our students within public schools.
“One such standard can be found in the objectives for the Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy. The (CL.B.1) standard states: “Explain how individual values and societal norms contribute to institutional discrimination and the marginalization of minority groups living under the American system of government.” The message here is clear. America is a racist nation with systems in place designed to discriminate against minority groups. The implication? That you should hate our great nation. Unfortunately, this example is not an outlier but instead reflects the broader sentiment that is pervasive throughout the standards, from first grade, through high school.
“I am opposed to these standards because of the divisive language and the clear radical agenda being pushed on our students. Our children deserve better, and I will continue to fight to ensure that all students in North Carolina receive a quality education.”
Eleanor Krasne, the manager for Public Programs, Events and Programing at the Heritage Foundation, notes in her commentary, How Leftists’ Critical Race Theory Poisons Our Discussion of Racism:
“Critical race theory is a theoretical framework, rooted in Marxism, that posits individuals as oppressed or oppressor based on their skin color.”
She adds that such theories have “permeated higher education, the mainstream media, and, most recently,” the response to George Floyd’s death during a Minneapolis police arrest. Krasne continues:
“In college humanities classes, critical theory and its grievance studies accouterments (critical race theory, feminist theory, and postcolonialism, to name a few) are presented as the only and correct way to understand the world…If you disagree with that philosophical framework, then you are ipso facto against fighting racism or deny that racism even exists. And if you push back on the use of terms such as “power structure” or “systemic racism,” you are likewise accused… That’s particularly damaging on two levels. First, it precludes any meaningful conversation about racism and race. Second, it creates a chasm between two presumably well-meaning people who most likely agree racism is bad, but disagree on the best way to address it… Critical race theory does not seek equality or justice. Instead, it categorizes people. One’s gender, race, or sexual orientation posits you as the oppressed or an oppressor—a status from which you are freed only when all existing societal structures, which are inherently racist, are overthrown. However, history shows us that authoritarianism, not utopia, follows revolution. We need only look to Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela as examples. Those once-prosperous countries, albeit not without problems, were captivated by the revolutionary narrative of leftism only to find out the hard way that revolution serves only those in power. Leftism does not seek enduring notions of truth, the good, or justice. It seeks only to subjugate the other as a means of overthrowing an existing structure. Once that structure is overthrown, the leaders of the revolution will find someone new to subjugate. If we succeed in fighting racism through authoritarian means, then what did we truly gain?…. If we want to fight prejudice, then let’s shape the conversation around our better angels; namely, freedom, the inherent dignity of every single person, truth, and the good.”
Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said that if our children are brought up on CRT theories, it will undermine what Martin Luther King and other great civil rights leaders accomplished by their movement. “Because it’s based in Marxism, it argues that if power is to be shifted from the ‘haves’ to the ‘have nots,’ then it’s necessary to be biased and show favor for minority or identity groups,” he said. “That’s not rightly judging people by their character and not the color of their skin. And, that’s not consistent with our heritage as Americans or the American way.”
The New Hanover County GOP has posted the names and contact information for all State Board of Education members, urging concerned citizens to express their opposition to the social studies standards’ changes. You can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/nhcgop/photos/a.1422425954655207/2998175133746940/
The State School Board meeting and vote is scheduled for February 4.