My Head Hurts.
I am tired of butting my head against the wall, scraping my knees from trying to climb over it, getting filthy dirty if I try to dig under it, or being pushed back hard if I try to go around it.
The solution has been staring me in the face all along. FORGET Culture Wars! I refuse to be part of the crazy, deliberate polarization any more.
I do not dismiss those who fear Critical Race Theory. I do not ignore those who want the complete story of slavery, racism, and their place in American history revealed. But it is not acceptable for political extremists to distort, exaggerate, skew, or deny the truth to further an agenda.
The extreme right calls out any uncomfortable remark from the left as anti-white, un-American, labels it Critical Race Theory, and uses these claims as an excuse to reject traditional public school curriculum and pursue their preferred education criteria. The extreme left sabotages its cause when they accuse current and potential supporters of racism if they raise a question, voice a disagreement, use the “wrong” words, or in some way fail the litmus test for being an anti-racist activist.
We do not have to submit to proselytizing! So what is the answer? Where do we go from here?
We have to let go of the extremists from both sides and refuse to be pulled into their politically charged rhetoric. We will not change them. We must not succumb to their will. We cannot be distracted from our priority: Our children.
We can do better. Between the extremes, we are a majority of people who stand on the vast middle ground. Whether we lean right or left is not as important as the fact that we are reasonable. We stand for truth, equal opportunity, democracy, unity, and the American dream for all of our children. We are willing to listen to each other, to build trust and consensus, to find solutions to our problems together.
To my colleagues, the teachers: Even if you fall victim to the culture wars and quit or are fired, other schools will respect your voice and encourage fact-based, multiple perspectives on issues. In the coming months, some of these schools will be featured on this website in my Blog Schools That Work. Also, the August issue of my newsletter, Unpacking Education, will highlight educators from across the country who, unfettered, make positive and memorable differences for their students. (Go to Other Media, Unpacking Education, to subscribe.)
These schools and educators – and others like them - are successful because they do not participate in culture wars. They are too busy helping kids find the joy of living and learning. They embrace a culture on higher ground, one built on the core values of Acceptance, Belonging, and Community that are practiced and lived every day, in every way. These are the ABCs that nurture happy, healthy, confident, and successful young citizens who can handle the truth.
When we unclench our fists long enough to see and appreciate our common humanity, we can share truths, understanding, and laughter. Laughter is good. If we connect and laugh together, we will be on our way to putting the headaches behind us.
Answer to Unpacking Education, No. 9, Question of the Day:
The correct answer is d) Sir Ken Robinson who made this comment during his April, 2013, Ted Talk, How to Escape Education’s Death Valley. His remarks are rooted in common sense, experience, and the optimism for which he was well-known. Sir Ken is definitely worth hearing. You will come away uplifted and energized.