A Summary of our Concerns
School is such a central part of our culture that it is difficult to believe that our local public school (EWSD) would ever engage in some of these practices and ideologies. Yet it seems to be happening--not just here in Essex, VT, but all over the country. We try to summarize our concerns here, but invite all to look for yourselves. Please let us know what you find!
Parental Exclusion
Students, with EWSD's encouragement, keep secrets from parents. Schools keep separate records of children who want different names and pronouns without parents' knowledge. Parents are being excluded, devalued and undermined by EWSD.
All Through the Lens of "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" (DEI)
"Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion" are nice sounding words, but they have become a mask for what is essentially racist policy. The words have been twisted into meaning nearly the opposite of our common understanding.
DEI in our Essex Westford School District (EWSD) teaches students and staff that white persons are "oppressors" because of their skin color. Those who do not consent to this belief are chastised and shamed.
The definition for "Who is oppressed?" is left to the sole discretion of the DEI director.
Students are being separated into "affinity groups", creating an atmosphere of division rather than inclusion.
Students and teachers are pressured to engage in a ritual of stating preferred pronouns in class. If you decline, you are likely to be called out.
DEI really is a communist plot!
No, that's not just hyperbole. That's Joseph Stalin.
Here's an in-depth analysis from James Lindsay.
DEI teaches that "sex" and "gender" are separate and "female" and "male" stereotypes are toxic. This ideology is being inserted in every area of our children's education without question, and free thought is being suppressed.
Books with dubious sexual content are being introduced in classrooms and libraries that don't belong in our schools.
This while books espousing traditional values are quietly excluded...
Academics and Cost
About half of the students are testing below an "adequate understanding", even as spending per student is the 2nd highest in the nation.
Essex Reporter article on EWSD Math Proficiency
EWSD Policy
These educational practices flow directly from the vigorous implementation of official policy:
"The Essex Westford School District approaches equity through recognizing and redressing the impact of racism in the United States. This nation would not have evolved as it has without the genocide of the indigenous people, nor would the economic infrastructure exist as it does without the enslavement of native African people and their descendants. In an effort to recognize and undo the harm of centuries of systemic inequities and oppression, we begin with this lens and framework..."
SEL (Social & Emotional Learning)
SEL is actually a valid teaching tool, but it can also be turned into a form of coercion to implement the ideologies mentioned above.
EWSD has spent an enormous amount of money, time, and staffing to propagate SEL throughout the district and incorporate SEL into assessments for both students and staff.