Photo Credit: TNDeptofEducation / YouTube
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
The Tennessee Department of Education has rejected a request to investigate a complaint regarding Critical Race Theory being taught in Williamson County schools.
Filed by Robin Steenman, chair of the Williamson County chapter of Moms for Liberty, the complaint (filed on June 30th), states that the county’s “Wit and Wisdom” literacy curriculum pushes a heavily biased agenda that leads children toward hatred of their country, one another and of themselves.
Steenman submits that Williamson County is in violation of state law that prohibits Critical Race Theory concepts from being taught in K-12 public schools.
She states that the classroom books and teacher manuals “reveal both explicit and implicit Anti-American, Anti-White, and Anti-Mexican teaching. Additionally, it implies to second grade children that people of color continue to be oppressed by an oppressive “angry, vicious, scary, mean, loud, violent, [rude], and [hateful] white population…and teaches that the racial injustice of the 1960s exists today.”
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Moms for Liberty also expressed concerns about four books that have been “adapted for younger audiences” that are included in the Wit and Wisdom curriculum including:
- “Martin Luther King Jr and the March on Washington” by Frances E. Ruffin
- “Ruby Bridges Goes to School: My True Story” by Ruby Bridges
- “The Story of Ruby Bridges” by Robert Coles
- “Separate is Never Equal” by Duncan Tonatiuh
The Wit and Wisdom curriculum, created by the company “Great Minds,” is taught in no less than 30 other districts in Tennessee.
In a reply letter sent to Steenman on November 23rd from Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn, Schwinn cites a loophole in the state law that the department is only authorized to investigate complaints that occurred during the 2021-22 school year and successive school years.
Schwinn claims that since the complaint was filed in July, it came more than 45 days after the “alleged” incident and therefore, falls outside the timeframe outlined in a new rule enacted earlier this month (November).
To meet the criteria, set by Schwinn, for the Department of Education to investigate the Wit and Wisdom Curriculum, Moms for Liberty and Steenman will have to re-file their complaint specifically aimed at the curriculum being taught in the 2021-22 school year.
However, in her letter to Steenman, Schwinn tosses the responsibility back to parents by stating, “We encourage you to work with the Williamson County School District to resolve the issues and concerns related to your complaint and ensure compliance with state law.”
Steenman’s filing of the complaint followed a curriculum review of Williamson County public schools performed by Moms for Liberty. Sometime next month (December), it is anticipated that the Williamson County School Board will discuss the results of their own curriculum review.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
5 Responses
Keep up the good work, Moms for Liberty and don’t let this go!
This is obviously a circular game being played by the Election Commission–This paragraph is the essence of Marxist Ideology:
” Schwinn claims that since the complaint was filed in July, it came more than 45 days after the “alleged” incident and therefore, falls outside the timeframe outlined in a new rule enacted earlier this month (November).”
Does the Commissioner think that we went to her schools??? This is a tragedy in Tennessee Where is the Governor on this–Out to Lunch I presume.
This is an all too common dereliction by Governing authorities and appointees; dumping THEIR duties back on citizens. This should be grounds for termination and replacement of Schwinn. Schwinn, and/or whomever she delegated this to, are most likely ‘wolves in sheeps clothing’ like the thousands of RINO’s undermining the GOP. I wonder how many children will be forced to read this steaming pile of communist propaganda as assigned reading?! The Legislature has to amend their work to close the loophole!!!
In no manner should we teach children to hate one another because of the color of their skin. Critical Race Theory should in no way be taught in schools anywhere in the United States. C.R.T. is pushing a FALSE narrative!
The fox is guarding the henhouse and this is the result. Commissioner Schwinn has already proven she is a guardian of the CRT and its associated causes, so this is no surprise. It certainly is a negative mark for Governor Lee. Hopefully, this incident may be the point that makes him re-think her role in state government. Let’s pray it does.