Tag Page WhatAreWeTeaching

he learned to say ‘white privilege’ before learning to read

Last week, my grandson Ethan—he’s in 5th grade—came home from school talking about “white privilege.” I asked him where he learned that. He said, “We had a group discussion in class. We watched a video and then shared how people are treated unfairly.” I asked him to read the ingredients on the cereal box while he was eating. He stumbled over “sugar.” Couldn’t read “preservatives.” We’re spending time teaching 10-year-olds about power systems and privilege hierarchies, but not enough time helping them read fluently? He also told me his teacher avoids red pens because “red feels too aggressive.” When I was his age, you got a big red X if you were wrong. It didn’t hurt us. It helped us. Now kids can't read, can’t do math, but they can say “systemic inequality” and “microaggression.” I’m not angry at him. He’s doing what he’s told. I’m angry that this is what school has become. #EducationCrisis #BackToBasics #RealLearningFirst #WhatAreWeTeaching #KidsDeserveBetter