Just because Oregon-Davis will be teaching social and emotional skills doesn’t mean kids will be learning critical race theory. That was school officials’ response to concerns raised by parents during Monday’s school board meeting.
RaeLynn Kelin-McVicker was worried that certain parts of the planned curriculum basically amounted to “reverse racism.” “I just don’t want my kid taught that he’s different because he’s white or he’s different because he has this kind of a background,” she told board members. “I just want him to feel included. I don’t him to feel excluded, but I don’t want anybody else to feel excluded, either.”
But Superintendent Bill Bennett said the new Second Step program is designed to help students deal with things like bullying, anger management, and other emotional issues that could distract them from learning. “As far as the link to critical race theory . . . I don’t believe there is a connection between the two,” Bennett said. “We’re going to teach kids to be nice to anyone, no matter who they are. By no means are we going to make others feel guilty for their skin color or things that totally are out of their control.”
The Second Step curriculum is being added with grant funding awarded to Starke County’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. Elementary School Dean of Students Heather Quinn said that while it’s new to Oregon-Davis itself, it’s been used by the Starke County Youth Club for years.
School officials stressed that parents will have the chance to review the materials once they arrive, and if they’re still concerned, they can discuss opting their kids out of the class. Board Member Lee Nagai urged parents to spend half the amount of time that they spend online actually looking at their kids’ textbooks, so that the board can address concerns more specifically.
Something that is also not part of Second Step is sex education, although Bennett didn’t rule out the possibility that discussions of harassment could come up, especially in older grade levels.
