The Background.
At the DCS board meeting on Monday night, the Department of Academics and Student Learning introduced a handful of proposed High School Social Studies courses for review.
The list includes a class entitled “The History of Feminism.”
Included in the content statement: “The Fourth Wave of Feminism is an emerging movement born largely on social media and online activism. In response to a growing radical-conservative movement in the United States, fourth wave feminists focus on combating sexual harassment, increasing the political and economic power of women, embracing the growing LGBTQ+ movement, and advocating for legislature that sustains equality for all.”
The list also includes a class entitled “Social Movements and Historical Figures: We Can Move Society.”
Included in the content statement: “Investigate how ethnic or racial group(s) and society address systematic oppressions through social movements, local, community, national, global advocacy, and individual champions.”
The Question.
Do either of these classes involve an attempt at political indoctrination at DCS?
A. The Definitional Approach.
Indoctrination, as opposed to education, is the inculcation of doctrines in authoritative ways that expect the indoctrinated person not to question or critically reflect on the underlying subject.
Are the classes to be taught in an authoritative way?
Yes. They are to be taught to students between the ages of 14 and 18 by trusted adult professionals.
Do the classes expect the student to not question or critically reflect on an underlying subject?
Yes. Each class presents a progressive dogma as uncontested truth.
Example 1: the existence of a “growing radical-conservative movement” that encourages sexual harassment and rejects political and economic power for women, the LGBTQ+ movement, and equality in general.
Example 2: the existence of ongoing “systematic oppressions” in the United States AKA systemic racism AKA Critical-Race-Theory-which-purportedly-does-not-exist-in-DCS-except-in-the-minds-of-those-in-the-throes-of-a-moral-panic. See November 15, 2021 Dublin BOE meeting.
Congratulations, dear Reader. You spotted the indoctrination!
B. The Other Approach.
But what if you didn’t spot the indoctrination? What if you are so ensconced in your chamber of echoes that you are unable to consider the possibility of a reality beyond the one that reflects your “truth?”
Do not worry. There is another approach that is guaranteed to work.
Substitute the words you like with words you imagine the other side likes and then reconsider.
Example 1: “In response to a growing radical-liberal movement in the United States, patriots focus on combating attacks on women’s rights by the exploding trans movement and on advocating for legislative acts that protect children from sexual grooming.”
Example 2: “Investigate how the far left attempts to blame unconscious white supremacy and amorphous systematic oppressions for all inequitable outcomes instead of examining the existence of multifaceted causes and reaching workable solutions.”
You spotted it that time, didn’t you?
DISCUSS.