NYS Regents Want Schools To Discuss Diversity, Racism [POLL]

NEW YORK — In May, the Board of Regents for the state Education Department acted on measures to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in schools.

In outlining elements that should be included in DEI policies, the Regents said they believe there is a moral and an economic imperative "to remove the inequities that stand in the way of success for whole segments of New York's student population."

They want the state's schools to "create an ecosystem of success that is built upon a foundation of diversity, equity, inclusion, access, opportunity, innovation, confidence, trust, respect, caring and relationship-building."

The goal, according to the Regents, is for all students to "feel that they are welcome, they belong, and they are supported."

Sounds good, right? Not so fast, according to some.

Many opponents have coupled the diversity initiative — which is not mandated by the state — with critical race theory (CRT) to make their argument against it.

Critical race theory is a decades-old legal and academic framework that looks at and critiques how race and racism shaped the laws and institutions of the United States and help perpetuate racism that continues to disadvantage people of color.

CRT, which local school districts have repeatedly said is not a part of their curriculum, has become a catchall for myriad claims about racism and race relations in the country — having nothing to do with critical race theory.

A graduate of Yorktown High School, Richard Giannasca, said at a recent School Board meeting that "DEI/CRT is trying to demonize the white race."

Other opponents of the Regents' diversity guidance have said schools shouldn't adopt values that conflict with what the parents want to instill in their children.

On Long Island, Smithtown school district Superintendent Mark Secaur told Newsday said his high school courses do not cover critical race theory, race or ethnicity.

He said classes taken by juniors and seniors include the founding of the United States, the Civil War and themes of industrialization.

Rachel Eccles, a 2019 Yorktown High School graduate, put the learning process into perspective.

"We as people are too fast to act against what we think is an attack, when really it is a reminder of how far we've come, and what we still need to accomplish," she said.

Now it's your turn to weigh in on the issue. Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us what you think in the comments.