Do you know any children who are in a public school? Are you aware of any problems in the school system, where you live?

Those are dangerous questions.

Critical Race Theory, or other expressions of concern, are with us, whether we see them or not. The argument about modern racism is that there are two sides, and one side is privileged, and the other is the victims. Also, “race” is usually pictured as light European skin and darker African skin.

So, we have “white privilege” and “black oppression.”

This model is often taught to students, in public education, and parents can become concerned, even alarmed. It’s easy to imagine the arguments if we haven’t witnessed them.

Here is an example:

Should we be concerned? Is the fight against white-on-black racism, and privileged-versus-victim racism something we should include in the education of our children, in school?

Let me pause for a disclaimer: I hate this topic, and probably you do too. I don’t feel privileged, my family was poor, in my childhood, and I was sent to inner-city schools filled with tough kids.

We had one field trip to the local museum, and our school was banned from returning, for several years. We were just too rowdy and uncontrollable, and the museum didn’t want to see us again.

I remember one boy who had darker skin than most of us. My best friend Larry called him “Sweeny” as a nickname, and refused to stop. In an art class, the oppressed boy threw scissors at my friend’s face, until he ran out of scissors. He kept saying “Don’t call me Sweeny!” and he won that argument. We all dropped that name.

I never felt privileged.

On the other side of the argument, some good people are concerned about issues like racism in public schools. If their concerns are correct, we have a problem that must be repaired.

We should be aware. My experience was in a different time and place.

I am writing as a Christian, and I believe I have a responsibility here. A person like me can’t dodge the uncomfortable issues. Whoever reads this, I hope you find the truth that helps you in your place. I can live with some discomfort if something good comes from it.

Christians have these instructions: “But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.” (Ephesians 4: 15) Speaking the truth in love might be uncomfortable, but it is the way to grow.

I have other instructions: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3: 23) and “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53: 6)

There are marching orders for those who follow Jesus.

So, from that point of view, do we have racism in public schools? Yes, but the real problem is corruption in each one of us. When I was a young man, I spent several months in Africa. In that place, I was the visiting stranger, and racism was called “tribalism.” I witnessed ugly racism between groups of people with the same skin color, and I was just a spectator, with my pale skin.

On the other side, can we criticize activists who want to fight racism? is it possible that activists might hijack our tax-funded school systems? They could capture resources, including tax dollars, and they would gain an untouchable reputation, as people who help our children. They could also teach their ideas to the next generation.

Should we be concerned about the contrary arguments? Yes.

Our personal corruption can grow like weeds in a garden, and any reasonable possibility will probably happen somewhere.

The problem with arguments about racism is the temptation to believe that this one problem is the only concern. ‘Fix this, and everything will be OK.’ In my experience, any weed that can be pulled out can be easily replaced. Our human failure is a large garden.

I hope we find real problems, and find ways to fix those problems. Also, in my experience, I hope we can honestly see ourselves, and our personal failures.

That was a life-changing lesson for me, and that is how we find God.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53: 4 to 6)

Racism at school? What is it and where is it?

Do you know any children who are in a public school? Are you aware of any problems in the school system, where you live?

Those are dangerous questions.

Critical Race Theory, or other expressions of concern are with us, whether we see them or not. The argument about modern racism is that there are two sides, and one side is privileged, and the other is the victims. Also, “race” is usually pictured as light European skin, and darker African skin.

So, we have “white privilege” and “black oppression.”

This model is often taught to students, in public education, and parents can become concerned, even alarmed. It’s easy to imagine the arguments, of we haven’t witnessed them.

Here is an example: https://youtu.be/m_9Bmyej5XA

Should we be concerned? Is the fight against white-on-black racism, privileged-versus-victims racism something we should include in the education of our children, in school?

Let me pause for a disclaimer: I hate this topic, and probably you do too. I don’t feel privileged, my family was poor, in my childhood, and I was sent to inner city schools filled with tough kids. We had one field trip to the local museum, and our school was banned from returning, for several years. We were just too rowdy and uncontrollable, and the museum didn’t want to see us again.

I remember one boy who had darker skin than most of us. My best friend Larry called him “Sweeny” as a nickname, and refused to stop. In an art class, the oppressed boy threw scissors at my friend’s face, until he ran out of scissors. He kept saying “Don’t call me Sweeny!” and he won that argument. We all dropped that name.

I never felt privileged.

On the other side of the argument, some good people are concerned about issues like racism in public schools. If their concerns are correct, we have a problem that must be repaired.

We should be aware. My experience was in a different time and place.

I am writing as a Christian, and I believe I have a responsibility here. A person like me can’t dodge the uncomfortable issues. Whoever reads this, I hope you find truth that helps you in your place. I can live with some discomfort, if something good comes from it.

Christians have these instructions: “But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.” (Ephesians 4: 15) Speaking the truth in love might be uncomfortable, but it is the way to grow.

I have other instructions: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3: 23) and “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53: 6)

There are marching orders for those who follow Jesus.

So, from that point of view, do we have racism in public schools? Yes, but the real problem is corruption in each one of us. When I was a young man, I spent several months in Africa. In that place, I was the visiting stranger, and racism was called “tribalism.” I witnessed ugly racism between groups of people with the same skin color, and I was just a spectator, with my pale skin.

On the other side, can we criticize activists who want to fight racism? is it possible that activists might hijack our tax funded school systems? They could capture resources, including tax dollars, and they would gain an untouchable reputation, as people who help our children. They could also teach their ideas to our next generation.

Should we be concerned about the contrary arguments? Yes.

Our personal corruption can grow likes weeds in a garden, and any reasonable possibility will probably happen somewhere.

The problem with arguments about racism is the temptation to believe that this one problem is the only concern. ‘Fix this, and everything will be OK.’ In my experience, any weed that can be pulled out, can be easily replaced. Our human failure is a large garden.

I hope we find real problems, and find ways to fix those problems. Also, in my experience, I hope we can honestly see ourselves, and our personal failures.

That was a life changing lesson for me, and that is how we find God.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53: 4 to 6)

Do you know any children who are in a public school? Are you aware of any problems in the school system, where you live?

Those are dangerous questions.

Critical Race Theory, or other expressions of concern are with us, whether we see them or not. The argument about modern racism is that there are two sides, and one side is privileged, and the other is the victims. Also, “race” is usually pictured as light European skin, and darker African skin.

So, we have “white privilege” and “black oppression.”

This model is often taught to students, in public education, and parents can become concerned, even alarmed. It’s easy to imagine the arguments, of we haven’t witnessed them.

Here is an example: https://youtu.be/m_9Bmyej5XA

Should we be concerned? Is the fight against white-on-black racism, privileged-versus-victims racism something we should include in the education of our children, in school?

Let me pause for a disclaimer: I hate this topic, and probably you do too. I don’t feel privileged, my family was poor, in my childhood, and I was sent to inner city schools filled with tough kids. We had one field trip to the local museum, and our school was banned from returning, for several years. We were just too rowdy and uncontrollable, and the museum didn’t want to see us again.

I remember one boy who had darker skin than most of us. My best friend Larry called him “Sweeny” as a nickname, and refused to stop. In an art class, the oppressed boy threw scissors at my friend’s face, until he ran out of scissors. He kept saying “Don’t call me Sweeny!” and he won that argument. We all dropped that name.

I never felt privileged.

On the other side of the argument, some good people are concerned about issues like racism in public schools. If their concerns are correct, we have a problem that must be repaired.

We should be aware. My experience was in a different time and place.

I am writing as a Christian, and I believe I have a responsibility here. A person like me can’t dodge the uncomfortable issues. Whoever reads this, I hope you find truth that helps you in your place. I can live with some discomfort, if something good comes from it.

Christians have these instructions: “But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.” (Ephesians 4: 15) Speaking the truth in love might be uncomfortable, but it is the way to grow.

I have other instructions: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3: 23) and “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53: 6)

There are marching orders for those who follow Jesus.

So, from that point of view, do we have racism in public schools? Yes, but the real problem is corruption in each one of us. When I was a young man, I spent several months in Africa. In that place, I was the visiting stranger, and racism was called “tribalism.” I witnessed ugly racism between groups of people with the same skin color, and I was just a spectator, with my pale skin.

On the other side, can we criticize activists who want to fight racism? is it possible that activists might hijack our tax funded school systems? They could capture resources, including tax dollars, and they would gain an untouchable reputation, as people who help our children. They could also teach their ideas to our next generation.

Should we be concerned about the contrary arguments? Yes.

Our personal corruption can grow likes weeds in a garden, and any reasonable possibility will probably happen somewhere.

The problem with arguments about racism is the temptation to believe that this one problem is the only concern. ‘Fix this, and everything will be OK.’ In my experience, any weed that can be pulled out, can be easily replaced. Our human failure is a large garden.

I hope we find real problems, and find ways to fix those problems. Also, in my experience, I hope we can honestly see ourselves, and our personal failures.

That was a life changing lesson for me, and that is how we find God.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53: 4 to 6)