This story reminds me of a bizarre ritual at my rural, all-white Indiana junior/high school.
Each year, our 8th grade history classes held "slave trials." Some students argued the "pro" side of slavery, some argued the "anti," and the rest ...
kansascity.com/news/local/edu…
Each year, our 8th grade history classes held "slave trials." Some students argued the "pro" side of slavery, some argued the "anti," and the rest ...
kansascity.com/news/local/edu…
... served as jurors or witnesses. Our teacher was well-intentioned, not at all a Confederate sympathizer, and one of the better teachers at the school. His aim was to facilitate critical thinking. It worked. It got us all interested. We couldn't wait for our ...
... own turn to hold a slave trial, and we talked about it for years afterward.
But the trials typically involved a lot of Lost Cause-ism, and could degenerate into some ugly stuff. A common tactic on the pro side, for example, was to call "Charles Darwin" as an expert witness.
But the trials typically involved a lot of Lost Cause-ism, and could degenerate into some ugly stuff. A common tactic on the pro side, for example, was to call "Charles Darwin" as an expert witness.
The student playing Darwin would then argue that black people aren't fully evolved, and therefore not fully human beings, and therefore not deserving of human rights.
I do recall that our teacher himself had mixed feelings about the trials. He'd preface them by conceding he probably wouldn't have held them if there had been any black students at the school, and that it bothered him that the "pro" side often won.
But the trials were such an ingrained part of my school's culture, it took years for me to realize what a weird and f***ed up thing they were.
I disagree with some (thought certainly not all) of what I've read that could properly classified as Critical Race Theory.
I disagree with some (thought certainly not all) of what I've read that could properly classified as Critical Race Theory.
And of course, teaching kids about Jim Crow and slavery isn't CRT, and CRT isn't really taught outside of college and law school.
But as other have pointed out, this whole debate should begin with the acknowledgment that a lot of U.S. kids have been getting some pretty ...
But as other have pointed out, this whole debate should begin with the acknowledgment that a lot of U.S. kids have been getting some pretty ...
... warped lessons about U.S. history for a long time.
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