TO THE EDITOR:
Federal and state laws abound against a plethora of types of discrimination. Yet, among the 2021 statutes from the Minnesota Legislature, we find 122A.70. Subdivision 1.b.1: “additional stipends as incentives to mentors of color or who are American Indian.” In the Mankato school district, the school board unanimously passed a policy (#466) on racism and segregation based on said statute. They pay non-white mentors more than white educators and allow minorities to share sites based on race. Discrimination? Segregation? The real message here is that persons of color are NOT able to compete in a system of meritocracy. Except in sports—they are assumed superior. But this statute in practice indicates they are in need of special consideration in our schools. Moment, please. This is CRT in action…in our schools. CRT divides us based upon race—oppressor and oppressed. But yet, that is the policy implemented in schools to support the woke agenda. It behooves all Minnesotans to determine the extent to which this discrimination/segregation policy is in practice in our local communities. Find out if your school board and administrators follow this statute/policy. Stand for equality, not condescending patronization.
Dr. Phyllis E. VanBuren
Clearwater, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
This is a reminder that comments to the third draft of the proposed social studies standards are due no later than 4:30 pm on January 14, 2022. Comments must be submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings’ (https://mn.gov/oah/assets/ecomments-instructions_tcm19-319278.pdf, and Discussion 37919: https://minnesotaoah.granicusideas.com/discussions). It would also be helpful to submit them to our legislators, Representative. Shane Mekeland (District 15B: rep.shane.mekeland@house.mn) and Senator Andrew Matthews (District 15: use form at this address, https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1222, for his email). A discussion of the proposed standards can be found in my Patriot article of December 16, 2021 (https://patriotnewsmn.com/news/part-iii-proposed-revised-mn-social-studies-standards) and also the excellent article of December 6, 2021, by Katherine Kersten of American Experiment (https://www.americanexperiment.org/third-draft-social-studies-standards-critical-race-theory/). Critical Race Theory is alive and well in the new Ethnic Studies strand of the proposed standards. It is important that our kids be protected from the dangers of CRT and the degraded social studies education that the standards would create. Basic historical facts such as the significance of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, are missing. Students would be encouraged to engage in social justice activities and to identify themselves, not as Americans, but as members of a specific group, whether by race, gender, or some other status. These standards seek to divide us. What we need is to unite in support of the fundamental principles upon which this country was founded. Our students need education, not indoctrination. We cannot afford 10 years of dumbed down social studies. Make your voice heard by submitting comments now.
Betsy Armstrong
Becker, MN
