["White privilege" is to be a workshop and subject of curriculum development in Ontario — spurred by the Elementary Teachers' Association of Ontario. That's 6-13 year olds! Lots of backlash on the Internet. SQE (Society for Quality Education blog) featured a post, worth reading as a teacher unionist provides a POV. http://www.societyforqualityeducation.org/index.php/blog/read/professional-undevelopment Below is my first comment.]
Polarization — A Teacher Union Agenda
When the “white privilege” topic hit me — the ETFO (Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario) PD (professional development) workshop and curriculum development project — I quickly jotted down some points which I wanted to submit, and then leave the topic for other work on my table. However, I’ve been at it all day and here are my original points:
#1 Why is it that out of 76,000 members only ONE chose to blow the whistle? Did all the others think this was OK and timely?
#2 How come the press didn’t work harder to get an ETFO member to comment? As second-best couldn’t they have asked DL who always seems to be ready and able to comment? SQE didn’t wait long to be told it’s private business. Parents and public need not worry about 13 and under youngsters being exposed to lessons and curriculum on “white privilege”. We know what's best — is the inferred refrain.
#3 Then I wanted to say how teacher unions are “creeping” further and further into policy and management and civics — far beyond trade union “bread and butter” matters. How social justice and equality of outcomes has become a teacher union issue. I wanted to mention that the bitter BC teacher strike was not just a polarizing event between government and teacher union — with both parties doing their best PR (public relations, polls, etc.) to whip up sympathy and distaste for and against.
With the strike now ended, leftover unionist activists and lefty camp-followers are whipping up more division in BC.
– between parents (you have to be for or against us) and not say conveniently that you are FOR parents and a “pox on both your houses”
– between those who belong to a business group that is intervening in an upcoming court case between government and union, and those businesses who are being canvassed to put signs in their windows that are in favor of public education
– between those who believe in choice and independent schools and those who say one-size-fits-all is best, and besides, they maintain (without proof) that private schools rob public schools of funds
– between those who insist on more public school funding and those who are pleased with BC scores despite the cry for funds
– between those who think there should be democratic elections for school boards and those who call for union locals to take up-front roles in the elections
#4 Then I was to point out that while our Independent School Act forbids SEDITION — sowing discontent to undermine government — no such restriction applies to public school workers. With this I would close with saying there should be equivalency and that both School Acts should forbid SEDITION.
I have to leave that essay unfinished. I got further into the topic, with all the mileage of reporting and comments and really started worrying. I think this “white privilege” thing goes beyond just sowing division and class war and polarization. There is something very totalitarian, tyrannical and sinister going on.
Please watch this second video (besides the one linked earlier) and note what Paige MacPherson and J J McCullough are saying. Fiery White Privilege Debate http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/3819900383001