I sort of see this as a nothing burger but- is there seriously a Jewish Affinity Group at NT? I have more of a problem with that. Not really in practice, but where does it stop? Can we form a White Irish Catholic affinity group? (Because, if St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago tells us anything, it’s that we need a safe space 🙄). I’m just not into the whole vibe of affinity groups in public schools on the whole. But- even this doesn’t bother me terribly. One thing I can vehemently state- with all the draconian cuts d65 will be making soon, I expect a wholesale SLASH to the budget for ANY more consulting nonsense. If teachers don’t get contracts renewed, no consultant should, either. Download the materials and offer them as SSR to teachers and staff. This consulting racket has got to be reigned in. Of course, try telling that to this BoA.
Thank you for writing & sharing this, particularly since it is bound to be a sticky issue. As a teacher I find this as inappropriate as the Nabors convocation (given by his daughter) at d65. Government - in this instance schools - have no business allowing those in positions of power to proselytize to teachers and staff.
Really failing to see the controversy here. You don’t talk anywhere about Jewishness as a culture or Jewishness as a identity. If you don’t understand how writers and thinkers are guided by moral and ethical backgrounds of their own heritage, look up: Naomi Shihab Nye, Ghandi, Dr King Jr, Malcolm X, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and sooo many others. For goodness sake Mr Rogers, a Methodist minster, used his spiritual guidance to drive all of his work. Where’s the outcry??
Being a paid consultant doesn’t prevent Corrie Wallace from her freedom of speech. I’d say by virtue of being an LLC, that her perspective, experiences, and stances are specifically part of her brand and work.
Side note: I also thought the districts apology for Rev Nabors was a total caving to white power in town. Apologize for wishing peace and a positive school year? Make it make sense. Any person who comes in peace to wish peace upon others should not be shamed or forced to make an apology for sharing their truths, wishes and moral guidance. Truly not what separation of church and state is about.
Finally, the perpetual elephant in the room: The North Shore needs to stop trying to silence or nitpick Black cultural leaders. It feels witchhunty and a true true true infringement on citizens rights of free speech.
I think this is good feedback and I agree with some, but not all of what you’re saying. I am gonna reach out so we can chat about this in person. I think there is a middle ground that we (as a town) can get to and I want to explore this idea with you.
Good grief, Max. Inviting a Christian cleric to give a Christian invocation at a secular school district just weeks after the Trump court endorsed teacher-led prayer in the Kennedy V. Bremerton case was incredibly bad judgment by Horton.
One egregious part of the apology was Horton throwing Nabors' daughter under the bus: "We had no intention of offering official prayer calling for the presence of a deity. We had planned for Pastor Nabors, president of the NAACP, to give the invocation, but he was unable to attend due to difficulties with airline travel. Pastor Nabors is well known in our community and typically gives greetings and invocations that are secular and non-denominational. We were grateful that he was able to send Minister Spencer Nabors in his place. "
The other egregious part of his apology was when he also apologized for Nabors mentioning J.K. Rowling: "Finally, it has come to our intention that a reference was made during the invocation of an author who is known to not support LGBTQ+ individuals. " The quote she used was from one of her Harry Potter books.
So we can't mention the work of most famous children's book author of all time. Got it.
I think there's a lot to unpack here in this discussion and the disagreement (thank you both for commenting). Hopefully we can all agree that Harry Potter sucks.
Hold off on this discussion for now, I've got more coming that I think can better set the stage for how we as a community can talk about this dynamic.
Ok, although I don't like Harry Potter, the fact that both of my elementary aged kids are willing to sit down and read 500+ page books is a plus in my book.
Particularly since the school doesn't appear to have them read actual books. They seemed to have jettisoned literature in favor of mind-numbing apps.
The most important thing here is that schools must diversify curriculums and meet the needs of underrepresented student populations. We need to teach about race in school, and we need to make sure all students are heard inclusively. But I have to ask what does that prayer have to do with teaching children? Why are teachers and admins being made to go through activist training?
Just to be clear, there is a boring purely pedagogical and academic definition of critical theories (plural) that is separate from the social/political topics of race etc. CRT and other critical theories are also not being taught in our schools, but curriculums and teacher training are rooted in the praxis of these theories. (Very pithy stuff I know!!!)
There needs to be a clear debate on academic grounds about this subject. Again, it is a must that subjects like race, among other difficult topics, are taught in schools. I wish we could discuss this topic openly without fear of reprisal through misunderstanding of the core concepts.
Some of my readers get mad at me for this but I am 100% entirely in favor of CRT and a CRT critique of our institutions. In fact, I even think addressing some topics through the CRT lens can help everyone understand the historical inequities at play and make us better people and strengthen multicultural support for our institutions.
I think there are some good examples of anti-racist and CRT stuff out there. This is not one of them. None of this is CRT at all - it's just piling onto teacher professional development for like absolutely no good reason and has absolutely nothing to do with public education except in the very abstract we're-all-citizens sense.
That is an interesting take that is worth talking about openly. I am no CRT expert to be sure and there is no reason to get mad at all. Inquiry is important and no theory is all good or all bad. It is just the lack of debate and the fundamental misunderstandings that are upsetting, especially in education.
Kind of related to the general topic, have you seen the "Change.org" petition being circulated by the D65 Facebook Equity Army?
Apparently there are "parents in our community" who "have been weaponizing their Jewish identity to attempt to speak on behalf of all Jews and silence any staff member who expresses support for Palestinian people in any way."
Of course zero examples are given of this "weaponization." And in this appeal to the D65 & 202 school boards they are "asking that you, our school leaders, continue to keep your teaching staff and all employees safe from attacks."
It is a really strange petition and seems it's only purpose is to silence someone who upset the Equity Army.
Huh this is interesting and the first I've heard of anyone being silenced. I'll have to poke around see what I can find. 474 people signed this petition/open letter/whatever, so it's certainly got some attention.
I highly doubt that anyone has actually been silenced. Probably someone said something on Facebook that they did not agree with and the Equity Army went on the attack.
At least three lieutenants have posted links to the petition on the D65 Facebook group. I'm sure some of the sergeants and corporals are circulating it as well, which may account for the 474 signatures.
“Weaponozing their Jewish identity”….What a gross accusation. And yet, it sounds about right when it comes to the way the Army you reference likes to talk about Jews in Evanston these days. Just look at some of the social media accounts for the Lieutenants. I’ll just say this: the districts are a total sh*t show right now, having no ability to handle the dynamics post 10/7–this applies to the city as well. I’m talking possible Title VI violation type of stuff. I view this petition as a response from folks that aren’t used to being challenged and they clearly don’t like it. 🙄
Did you see this one? A few weeks ago a Brigade of the Facebook Equity Army (organized by a former D202 candidate) was raising funds for an anonymous "friend" who supposedly "has lost their job due to privately posting support for Palestinians."
Of course, zero detail is given about the circumstances of the alleged job loss and the "person" affected is not named. Yet these folks got 89 people to fork over $4300! Amazing!
That's more than I've made the entire time running this blog - turns out all I needed to do this whole time was support the Palestinians and get fired for it.
I sort of see this as a nothing burger but- is there seriously a Jewish Affinity Group at NT? I have more of a problem with that. Not really in practice, but where does it stop? Can we form a White Irish Catholic affinity group? (Because, if St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago tells us anything, it’s that we need a safe space 🙄). I’m just not into the whole vibe of affinity groups in public schools on the whole. But- even this doesn’t bother me terribly. One thing I can vehemently state- with all the draconian cuts d65 will be making soon, I expect a wholesale SLASH to the budget for ANY more consulting nonsense. If teachers don’t get contracts renewed, no consultant should, either. Download the materials and offer them as SSR to teachers and staff. This consulting racket has got to be reigned in. Of course, try telling that to this BoA.
Eventually we will just have an affinity group for Karls
There is definitely already one, from what I hear. We all need one. Even if it’s just ourselves in it.
Thank you for writing & sharing this, particularly since it is bound to be a sticky issue. As a teacher I find this as inappropriate as the Nabors convocation (given by his daughter) at d65. Government - in this instance schools - have no business allowing those in positions of power to proselytize to teachers and staff.
Really failing to see the controversy here. You don’t talk anywhere about Jewishness as a culture or Jewishness as a identity. If you don’t understand how writers and thinkers are guided by moral and ethical backgrounds of their own heritage, look up: Naomi Shihab Nye, Ghandi, Dr King Jr, Malcolm X, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and sooo many others. For goodness sake Mr Rogers, a Methodist minster, used his spiritual guidance to drive all of his work. Where’s the outcry??
Being a paid consultant doesn’t prevent Corrie Wallace from her freedom of speech. I’d say by virtue of being an LLC, that her perspective, experiences, and stances are specifically part of her brand and work.
Side note: I also thought the districts apology for Rev Nabors was a total caving to white power in town. Apologize for wishing peace and a positive school year? Make it make sense. Any person who comes in peace to wish peace upon others should not be shamed or forced to make an apology for sharing their truths, wishes and moral guidance. Truly not what separation of church and state is about.
Finally, the perpetual elephant in the room: The North Shore needs to stop trying to silence or nitpick Black cultural leaders. It feels witchhunty and a true true true infringement on citizens rights of free speech.
I think this is good feedback and I agree with some, but not all of what you’re saying. I am gonna reach out so we can chat about this in person. I think there is a middle ground that we (as a town) can get to and I want to explore this idea with you.
Good grief, Max. Inviting a Christian cleric to give a Christian invocation at a secular school district just weeks after the Trump court endorsed teacher-led prayer in the Kennedy V. Bremerton case was incredibly bad judgment by Horton.
One egregious part of the apology was Horton throwing Nabors' daughter under the bus: "We had no intention of offering official prayer calling for the presence of a deity. We had planned for Pastor Nabors, president of the NAACP, to give the invocation, but he was unable to attend due to difficulties with airline travel. Pastor Nabors is well known in our community and typically gives greetings and invocations that are secular and non-denominational. We were grateful that he was able to send Minister Spencer Nabors in his place. "
The other egregious part of his apology was when he also apologized for Nabors mentioning J.K. Rowling: "Finally, it has come to our intention that a reference was made during the invocation of an author who is known to not support LGBTQ+ individuals. " The quote she used was from one of her Harry Potter books.
So we can't mention the work of most famous children's book author of all time. Got it.
I think there's a lot to unpack here in this discussion and the disagreement (thank you both for commenting). Hopefully we can all agree that Harry Potter sucks.
Hold off on this discussion for now, I've got more coming that I think can better set the stage for how we as a community can talk about this dynamic.
Ok, although I don't like Harry Potter, the fact that both of my elementary aged kids are willing to sit down and read 500+ page books is a plus in my book.
Particularly since the school doesn't appear to have them read actual books. They seemed to have jettisoned literature in favor of mind-numbing apps.
Can we just agree that JK Rowling sucks?
The most important thing here is that schools must diversify curriculums and meet the needs of underrepresented student populations. We need to teach about race in school, and we need to make sure all students are heard inclusively. But I have to ask what does that prayer have to do with teaching children? Why are teachers and admins being made to go through activist training?
Just to be clear, there is a boring purely pedagogical and academic definition of critical theories (plural) that is separate from the social/political topics of race etc. CRT and other critical theories are also not being taught in our schools, but curriculums and teacher training are rooted in the praxis of these theories. (Very pithy stuff I know!!!)
There needs to be a clear debate on academic grounds about this subject. Again, it is a must that subjects like race, among other difficult topics, are taught in schools. I wish we could discuss this topic openly without fear of reprisal through misunderstanding of the core concepts.
I'm with you..
Some of my readers get mad at me for this but I am 100% entirely in favor of CRT and a CRT critique of our institutions. In fact, I even think addressing some topics through the CRT lens can help everyone understand the historical inequities at play and make us better people and strengthen multicultural support for our institutions.
I think there are some good examples of anti-racist and CRT stuff out there. This is not one of them. None of this is CRT at all - it's just piling onto teacher professional development for like absolutely no good reason and has absolutely nothing to do with public education except in the very abstract we're-all-citizens sense.
That is an interesting take that is worth talking about openly. I am no CRT expert to be sure and there is no reason to get mad at all. Inquiry is important and no theory is all good or all bad. It is just the lack of debate and the fundamental misunderstandings that are upsetting, especially in education.
Kind of related to the general topic, have you seen the "Change.org" petition being circulated by the D65 Facebook Equity Army?
Apparently there are "parents in our community" who "have been weaponizing their Jewish identity to attempt to speak on behalf of all Jews and silence any staff member who expresses support for Palestinian people in any way."
Of course zero examples are given of this "weaponization." And in this appeal to the D65 & 202 school boards they are "asking that you, our school leaders, continue to keep your teaching staff and all employees safe from attacks."
It is a really strange petition and seems it's only purpose is to silence someone who upset the Equity Army.
https://www.change.org/p/protect-evanston-teachers-from-parent-harassment
Huh this is interesting and the first I've heard of anyone being silenced. I'll have to poke around see what I can find. 474 people signed this petition/open letter/whatever, so it's certainly got some attention.
I highly doubt that anyone has actually been silenced. Probably someone said something on Facebook that they did not agree with and the Equity Army went on the attack.
At least three lieutenants have posted links to the petition on the D65 Facebook group. I'm sure some of the sergeants and corporals are circulating it as well, which may account for the 474 signatures.
“Weaponozing their Jewish identity”….What a gross accusation. And yet, it sounds about right when it comes to the way the Army you reference likes to talk about Jews in Evanston these days. Just look at some of the social media accounts for the Lieutenants. I’ll just say this: the districts are a total sh*t show right now, having no ability to handle the dynamics post 10/7–this applies to the city as well. I’m talking possible Title VI violation type of stuff. I view this petition as a response from folks that aren’t used to being challenged and they clearly don’t like it. 🙄
Did you see this one? A few weeks ago a Brigade of the Facebook Equity Army (organized by a former D202 candidate) was raising funds for an anonymous "friend" who supposedly "has lost their job due to privately posting support for Palestinians."
Of course, zero detail is given about the circumstances of the alleged job loss and the "person" affected is not named. Yet these folks got 89 people to fork over $4300! Amazing!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/k6brjw-supporting-a-silent-champion-help-a-single-parent
That's more than I've made the entire time running this blog - turns out all I needed to do this whole time was support the Palestinians and get fired for it.