WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL?

by: Amy Kern 

         For over two years, our children have borne the brunt of pandemic-related restrictions,

and their related effects, despite consistently being the group least severely impacted by COVID-19. This school year, most children in New York State have finally been permitted to return to their classrooms for full-time, in-person instruction. However, the choice to breathe freely while learning was only restored to our children two months ago. Additionally, the list of proposed, harmful NYS education bills continues to grow by the day. Beyond the pending, unconscionable vaccine-related bills, NYS politicians are attempting to exert undue influence over classroom instruction.

          Senator Liu’s Bill S8924 would require NYS public schools to completely restructure their instruction to align with NYSED’s Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework (the “NYSED Framework”). The stated justification for Bill S8924 is to remedy “the historic inequities in existing structures and institutions in New York.” This Bill, as well as NYSED’s call to action for the creation and implementation of the NYSED Framework last April, and the Framework itself, are divisive and damaging.  

         While we must be inclusive of newer cultures and customs as they gain prevalence in our country, we must do so by expanding upon/building our knowledge, rather than by removing/replacing any mention of the traditions and customs that we have long held as Americans. Unfortunately, that is not what is happening in our schools today. Instead, the initiatives that are being implemented in our schools, purportedly in the name of equity, diversity and inclusion, are placing greater emphasis upon certain groups than others. Our children are being taught to focus upon physical differences, rather than recognizing their friends and teachers as just that, regardless of their physical differences. This forced hyper-focus upon our differences will undoubtedly yield resentment and divide where there has been none. Choosing a different group to minimize is simply not an acceptable way to right historical policies, wrongs and injustices.

         Earlier this year, my 12-year-old daughter was asked by a teacher for an example of something that we celebrate. She asked whether holidays could be used as an example, to which the teacher responded, “yes.” My daughter offered “Memorial Day” and the “Fourth of July” for her answer. Her teacher then advised that she had been thinking of a different federal holiday and proceeded to write only a more newly observed holiday on the board. Undoubtedly, the teacher sought to educate unknowing students as to the new holiday. However, my daughter was left confused as to why the federal holidays she named were not deemed acceptable to include on the board as well. 

         Students go to school to be educated and to be taught how to think. Lessons that instead purport to teach students what to think and, further, that there is only one way of thinking, are damaging, divisive and are a great disservice to our youth. Many children continue to struggle with depression and mental distress stemming from their extensive isolation during lockdown and remote learning.

         No child deserves to be made to feel undervalued or guilty about who they are at any time, and especially now. The attacks upon our children simply must end. Please contact your NYS representatives today and implore them to vote against Bill S8924.