'We Are Not Teaching Critical Race Theory': SP-F Schools

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ — Growing concerns around "critical race theory" in the nation, state, and now in public schools, have prompted Scotch Plains-Fanwood School Superintendent Dr. Joan Mast to send out a letter to the community.

"Before misinformation and misunderstanding fuel the discussion in our district and community, I want to address concerns about CRT. This is a decades-old academic concept created by legal
scholars and used by universities, lawyers, and the legal system to review federal laws and the
constitution to analyze inequity in our nation," said Mast in the letter. "Today, the term CRT is being used incorrectly as a catch-all phrase for all things related to racism. Some of the opposition around CRT revolves around fears that students will be taught divisive concepts."

While Mast said they will not be teaching Critical Race Theory in Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools. The district will be addressing race and racism.

"We believe most parents in our district, and across the nation, want their kids to understand the historic path of our nation and this includes difficult discussions about racism. We also are committed to ensuring all children thrive and learn to lead and manage in a diverse community and nation. To fulfill this commitment, we are teaching diversity, empathy, and social justice. This approach helps build character, develop compassion and ultimately creates a stronger school community," said Mast.

The school district is working with the Institute for Teaching Diversity and Social Justice, which includes Dr. Khyati Joshi, who has worked with Scotch Plains-Fanwood district administrators.

Dr. Joshi will work with the schools to achieve the following goals:

1. Identity: Each student will demonstrate self-awareness, confidence, family pride, and positive social identities;
2. Diversity: Each student will express comfort and joy with human diversity; accurate language in speaking of human differences, and deep caring for human connections;
3. Justice: Each student increasingly will recognize unfairness, acquire language to describe unfairness, and gain understanding that unfairness hurts; and,
4. Action: Each student will demonstrate empowerment and the necessary skills to act, with others, against prejudice and/or discrimination.

A public discussion will be held on Oct. 6 for parents and the community to gain a better understanding and ask questions about this work.

Mast invited anyone who has questions or concerns to call her office at 908-232-6161.

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