Delegate Trent Kittleman - District 9A |
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Week 6
February 21 - 25, 2022
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Contents
- It didn't used to be like this. . .
- FOCUS ON EDUCATION:
- What Is Critical Race Theory (CRT)
- Black Lives Matter in Howard County
- CRT in Montgomery County
- In Defense of the Second Amendment
- Worldwide comparison of education outcomes
- Legislative Scholarship Application
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It didn't used to be like this |
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This week, I want to take you into the ‘belly of beast’ – right down on the floor of the House where we pretend to debate bills, fein interest in Republican amendments prior to rejecting every one of them (that's a 100% Reject Rate), and pass every bill Democrats bring to the floor -- (that's 100% of the bills and a 100% pass rate.)
It's Wednesday, February 23rd and on this day, nine bills are up on "second reader," which is when members offer amendments. 99.99% of amendments offered are brought by Republicans; Democrats are not allowed to.
The video below is our Del. Arikan supporting Delegate Szeliga's amendment to HB 194. The amendment (have schools post the curriculum on their websites, which should be the rule for all courses), is a transparency amendment and a parents' rights' amendment. But listen to Del. Arikan's prescient plea -- right before the amendment is defeated:
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The seven bills on which we offered amendments are listed below along with a brief description of the amendments. You can click on any of the bills and/or amendments if you want more detail. |
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Special Orders No. 6
HB 213 - Health Information Exchanges – Definition and Privacy Regulations
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HB 213 – Grammer Amendment. Protects an employee from being required to be vaccinated to retain their job |
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Special Orders No. 7
HB 250 - Private Well Safety Act of 2022
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HB 250 – Mautz Amendment. Would allow counties to recognize and accept the results of water quality testing conducted by state-certified private laboratories. It also prohibits counties from requiring periodic testing of private wells. |
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Special Orders No. 8
HB 253 - Federal Extended Benefits for Long–Term Unemployment
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HB253 – Morgan Amendment. Requires the Department of Labor to monitor and ensure that the limiting language in the bill - “average total rate of unemployment is under 6.5%” - is followed |
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Special Orders No. 5
HB 194 - Education - Family Life and Human Sexuality Curriculum - Sexting
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HB 194 – Szeliga Amendment. Each county will prominently post on the school’s website the curriculum for the Family Life and Human Sexuality Curriculum – Sexting for each grade in which it is taught |
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Special Orders No. 3
HB 1 Constitutional Amendment - Cannabis - Adult Use and Possession
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HB 01 –
- Buckel Amendment: Allows each county to decide for itself whether to legalize Cannabis.
- Rose Amendment: The language presented to the public for voting will inform voters that cannabis will not be legal until the following July -- not immediately upon the adoption of the amendment.
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HB 837 –
- Buckel Amendment makes the penalty for smoking marijuana the same as the penalty for smoking cigarettes, rather than less severe.
- Griffith Amendment creates a “probable cause” standard for searching a vehicle based on the odor of cannabis, just as there is probable cause to search based on the odor of cigarette smoke.
- Kipke Amendment requires any food made or sold containing cannabis (e.g., brownies) be packaged in a childproof container, not look like candy or snack food, and not be marketed to children.
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Special Orders No. 10
HB 459 - Juvenile Justice Reform
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HB 459 – Szeliga Amendment adds “assault of a law enforcement officer” to the list of crimes for which a juvenile may still be accountable. |
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What is "CRT" and why do we care? |
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The first half of this video features one of the best and most balanced descriptions of Critical Race Theory as you will find and is well worth watching. |
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"Equity" is NOT "Equality" |
The most relevant concern about teaching CRT values is the underlying premise that race is determinative; that being born white makes you an oppressor and being born black makes you oppressed. |
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"To the parents fighting against CRT: You are on the right side of history. The pushback against CRT is an organic extension of the Civil Rights Movement, and falls directly in line with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Dream." Those pushing CRT, who now teach that color-blindness is "racist," are the ones who have lost their way. History will expose their cynicism, polarization, and vindictiveness, and reveal that using an identity-0based approach focusing on skin color -- as opposed to a principle-based approach focusing on the content of character - was wrong-headed and counterproductive."
from "A Parent's Guide\ to Critical Race Theory,
by Christopher Paslay' published in 2021.
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. . .but our schools say they don't TEACH CRT!? |
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This refrain is heard everywhere, "We DO NOT teach Critical Race Theory. Just look at our lesson plans!" But the principles of CRT are taught indirectly in every course. Here are some of the genteelisms that have become inherently CRT: |
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- "equity"
- "social justice"
- "white fragility"
- "intersectionality"
- "tackling systemic justice"
- "unconscious bias or "implicit bias"
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- "interrupting racism
- "cultural proficiency/relevance"
- "critical ethnic studies"
- "diversity and inclusion"
- "1619 Project"
- "social/emotional learning"(often referred to as "SEL")
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Indeed, Howard County spent six months creating a new County School Policy that enshrines much of CRT. |
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POLICY 1080 - HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
EDUCATIONAL EQUITY
(below are a very few examples of the Policy, with strike-throughs and highlights showing changes from first draft to final draft, and my concerns)
Policy Value Statement:
"The Board acknowledges systemic racism, implicit and explicit bias, institutional barriers, and other discriminatory practices that have caused opportunity gaps, resulting in inequitable outcomes for students. As such the Board is committed to providing all students with a dynamic and relevant educational program that nurtures their social/emotional well-being, and affirms their identity and experience in order to maximize each student's individual potential.
(Why remove "relevant" programs?)
Purpose: "...The purpose of this policy is to establish expectations related to the reduction identification and elimination of disparities in education outcomes.
(it is humanly impossible to "eliminate" disparities in outcomes)
Standards:
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Academic achievement and growth is a high priority for each and every student. "Access to a culturally responsive and relevant curriculum that provides meaningful and dynamic school experiences are essential to postsecondary success.
(THIS change encapsulates the issue; academic achievement now takes a backseat to equity)
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Work collaboratively with parents, community, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Howard County Executive, the Howard County Council,
local law enforcement agencies, and other county agencies, community groups, business organizations, bargaining units, and other stakeholders to increase equity and inclusion for students and staff.
(`The progressive majority in the legislature also continues to try to remove School Resource Officers )
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Black Lives Matter at School |
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There has been a practical merger between K-12 CRT and the "Black Lives Matter at School," movement. BLM at school has pursued its agenda aggressively in efforts such as the BLM Week of Action, and the Action & Activities planned for one day each month. Praise for this book is included in the forward pages and includes the following:
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"We need this book right now. The shadow-loving fungus of white supremacy won't continue to send its spores to infect our children if we act now to bring the curative light of antiracist knowledge, compassion, and justice into their lives. "
If words matter -- and they do -- why would the author choose to include such a hateful statement? Interestingly, the book devotes one whole chapter to Howard County, Maryland.
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Chapter 9: Success and Challenges Garnering State and Local Union Support in Howard County, Maryland
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Chapter 9 is an interview with a Howard County educator who teaches Spanish in one of Howard County's high schools, and who has held senior positions in both the Maryland State Education Association (teachers union) and the National Education Association. She fought -- successfully -- to get Howard County to participate in the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action.
"By far, the most debated and controversial part of the week of action in terms of the demands is the "fund counselors, not cops" demand," she noted. "There are still many educators who do not understand that police do not represent safety for many Black and Brown communities or students." She predicates her belief in the existence of racism on the "disparities in the severity of discipline, suspensions, and expulsions of Black and Brown students versus their white peers for the same offenses."
And finally, she takes a swing at the County: "I wanted to note that in my particular county, racism is hidden under a veil of utopianism and "diversity."'
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ABC News, The National Desk
Thursday, June 3rd, 2021
WASHINGTON (SBG) - The largest school district in Maryland is under criticism this week for allegedly teaching Critical Race Theory in the classroom. Watchdog group Judicial Watch obtained 685 pages of redacted records from Montgomery County public schools in Maryland in regards to their anti-racist audit and Critical Race Theory classes.
Included in the records is a pyramid that details “overt white supremacy,” such as racial slurs and hate crimes, and “covert white supremacy,” such as tokenism and racial profiling. READ MORE
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Maryland students told there’s a ‘double pandemic’ of COVID and racism
New York Post, Nov. 4, 2021
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According to new documents received by Judicial Watch and exclusively provided to Fox News, Maryland’s most populous county, Montgomery County, launched a “psychoeducational lesson” teaching children in schools that there is a “dual pandemic” involving COVID-19 and “systemic racism.” Materials recommended that teachers buy the Ibram X. Kendi book “Antiracist Baby” as “the perfect gift” for “ages baby to age 3.” READ MORE
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"If you want a close look at the madness of critical race theory, look at what’s going on in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Maryland’s largest school system. Little of this is connected to reality, and it’s no wonder parents everywhere are objecting.
"We received two sets of records related to the teaching of critical race theory, including a training course with information about a book titled “Antiracist Baby” that introduces the youngest readers to “the concept and power of antiracism,” and says it’s the “perfect gift” for “ages baby to age 3.”" READ MORE
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The documents also include information from a course titled, “Digital Literacy 3” at Thomas Pyle Middle School, Quarter 2: When Justice Isn’t Served” and features the following slides:
“Scenarios of Injustice” describes a group activity where the students, “Work together with your group to determine how you would address your scenario of injustice.” “Everyone must prepare to present your ideas to the class.”
- In this scenario, students are told that they witnessed two men – one black and one white – fighting in a parking lot. Police arrive and separate the men -forcing the black man to the ground, handcuffing and putting him in the police car. The police question the white man who, “shakes hands with the policemen and walks away.”
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Under the heading “Common Task, Gender Roles Reflection Graphic Organizer,” is a draft slide titled, “Reflecting on Gender Roles in My Life,” in which students are asked to “Describe when and how you first recognized your gender as part of your identity. It could have been in a positive, negative or neutral way.” It further asks the children to “Briefly describe how you felt about being a member of your gender group(s) in different aspects and stages of your life.”
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Under the heading “Race Reflection Graphic Organizer” is draft slide titled, “Reflecting on Race In My Life” that asks students to, “Describe when and how you first recognized race. It could have been in a positive, negative or neutral way.” Students are further asked about the race of their family members: “Are your parents the same race? Are your brothers and sisters? What about your extended family-uncles, aunts, etc?”
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The “Religion Reflection Graphic Organizer” features a draft slide titled, “Reflecting on Religion in My Life,” and asks students to “Describe when and how you first recognized your religion. It could have been in a positive, negative or neutral way.” It further asks “Did you feel threatened, minoritized or privileged in this moment? Why?” and “Where do you go to worship?” and “Did your belief become stronger as you became older?”
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A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,
shall not be infringed.
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The Ukranian people's incredible resistance to the Russian invasion is due to their bravery, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, courageous leadership, and to a great extent, to having armed citizens willing to fight for their freedom. |
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Ukrainian mother, 52, buys a huge sniper rifle to fight Russian invasion and warns:
'if there's a need for the shooting to start, I'll start shooting' as Putin's special forces are already inside Ukraine
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- Mother-of-three Mariana Zhaglo, 52, is far from a typical Ukrainian soldier but is prepared for war
- She is one of thousands of Ukrainian civilians joining a voluntary defence force amid tensions with Russia
- Volunteer units would reinforce the 255,000-strong Ukrainian army in the event of an armed conflict
The Daily Mail
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Program for International Student Assessment -- PISA Rankings
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The map below compares the scholastic performance in 78 nations of 15-year-old students. The United States come in 25th place. . .behind countries such as Slovenia, Estonia, Macao, Poland, New Zealand -- and China which comes in Number One! |
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Kittleman Legislative Scholarship |
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High school seniors, current undergraduate students at a 4-year college, a community college, or a private career school are eligible to apply for a Legislative Scholarship.
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Please MAIL your applications to Delegate Trent Kittleman, Rm. 202, 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. For questions regarding the application process, call my Annapolis office and speak with Chelsea Leigh Murphy, my Chief of Statt, at 410-841-3556.
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Authorized, Friends of Trent Kittleman, William Oliver, Treasurer |
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