The issue of how Norwin teaches students about race relations and whether some of that instruction could be categorized as a lesson in critical race theory was rehashed again at this week’s school board meeting, with conservative critics vehemently arguing against such teaching.
About 10 speakers complained about what they said were attempts to teach CRT in the classroom, despite the district maintaining that it is not part of the curriculum.
Critics latched on to a classroom lesson that Director Shawna Illagan highlighted last month. It used the story “Two Americas” published in October 2020 in Upfront, a magazine geared for use in high school classrooms. The New York Times publishes the magazine in partnership with Scholastic, Inc.
Illagan claimed the assignment was an example of CRT, giving students a biased account of racism in America.
CRT is a theory developed at the college level, that is a way of thinking about American history through the lens of racism. It centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nation’s institutions, and that they function to maintain the dominance of white persons in society.
Superintendent Jeff Taylor previously made a lengthy presentation affirming that CRT was not being taught in the district.
But retired history teacher Bruce Leonatti of North Huntingdon claimed that CRT is being taught through lesson plans and handouts.
“CRT is racism … reverse racism and Marxism as well,” said Leonatti, who taught in Dayton, Ohio.
Ryan Lynn, president of the Norwin Education Association, declined to comment on the matter.
Fran Bevan, a former school board director and former North Huntingdon commissioner, said the New York Times story is “socialist propaganda.”
Evan Blenko, a senior, said that prohibiting the discussion of racism could result in the College Board not accepting two Advanced Placement courses that delve into the issue of racism in America. The AP government and politics framework deals with affirmative action and the human geography course touches upon redlining — the practice of financial lenders not providing money for mortgages in low-income neighborhoods.
Another senior, Jake Capets, said that he is “increasingly frightened by the political divisiveness” in the Norwin community.
“Almost daily, I see yet another fight among the students,” Capets said.
