Omaha Schools Spend $130,000 in Stimulus Money to Buy 8,000 ‘Social Justice’ Diversity Manuals
- Posted on July 12, 2011 at 9:54am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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If I told you that your tax dollars (130,000 of them) went to buying a “diversity” manual that asserts the government and other institutions create advantages that “channel wealth and power to white people” and calls on educators to “take action for social justice,” what would you do? And if I told you that such a manual was required staff reading in Omaha, NE schools, what would you say?
Don’t believe me? Read on to learn about “The Cultural Proficiency Journey: Moving Beyond Ethical Barriers Toward Profound School Change.”
The book is a manifesto on cultural awareness. But what it calls for, some might say, is quite counter-cultural. The Omaha World-Herald details some of the work’s jaw-dropping statements.
For example, the book includes a quiz that determines a teacher’s cultural proficiency.
“Only those educators who acknowledge the existence of white privilege in America, that ‘white’ is a culture in America and that race ‘is a definer for social and economic status’ can reach proficiency,” the Herald notes. And those who don’t? They’re asked what they will do “to align yourself with the values expressed.”
Oh but it gets better worse. The authors also say we must reject the idea of being “color blind:”
The book says teachers must overcome irrational fear of homosexuality and reject the “color-blind” approach to teaching in which teachers treat all children the same. Instead, the group identity of students of color should be recognized and esteemed, the authors say.
The authors ask readers to reflect on several hypothetical cases, including that of a gay “teacher of the year” afraid to post family photos of his male partner for his school’s Family Day, an African-American parent upset by a sixth-grade Early-American Day because African-Americans were enslaved in those days, and a principal whose attempt to reach out to Muslim students backfires when he announces over the intercom that students should welcome Muslims though they “might believe in violence.”
The book was approved by the Omaha school board in April, which means 8,000 copies will be distributed to all staff members, even down to the janitors. And it was paid for using $130,000 in federal stimulus money.
“The book is sort of a combination of Freud meets Marx meets Barney meets Ben Stein in his role as the teacher in ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” Herald columnist Robert Nelson writes.
And he’s not the only critic.
Paul Peterson, director of the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University, and a senior fellow at the conservative Hoover Institution at Stanford University, told the Herald that in general, cultural proficiency is part of an agenda pushed by people “who think that we should have a teaching force that has a certain political perspective.”
He also wondered if the $130,000 could have been spent on something more useful.
“I would like to know whether the teachers are proficient in the subject they’re going to be teaching,” he said. “It would be nice, if they’re going to be teaching science, to be proficient in science; or math, to be proficient in math.”
According to school board President Sandra Jensen, the district doesn’t necessarily endorse everything in the book. And she told the Herald she doesn‘t expect employees to adopt the authors’ positions. Instead, the book is intended to open a dialogue.
One of the book's authors, Franklin CampbellJones
“The purpose of providing this resource is to help staff see that people come from a multitude of different backgrounds which cause them to respond differently to the same set of facts, depending on their personal perspectives,” she said. “Recognition that one might have a certain perspective is critical to treating all people equally.”
That was echoed by Janice Garnett, OPS assistant superintendent of human resources.
“We’re not saying that every idea in that book you have to accept,” she told the Herald. “Not at all. What we‘re saying is let’s explore this whole concept and see where we want to be as a school district when it relates to the diverse student population we now serve.”
But considering the content, and Peterson’s point that material such as this fits into a broader agenda, parents in Omaha might want to be worried.
In fact, parents in Atlanta, San Diego, and districts in Maryland and Canada might also want to be worried. In an interview with the Herald, one of the books authors, Franklin CampbellJones, said the book is also being used in those areas. A list on his company’s website, CampbellJones & Associates, may offer a glimpse into its reach:
That means the authors’ message has traveled coast-to-coast. A message the columnist Peterson calls “derivative, intellectually muddled, extraordinarily arrogant in its presumptions and so riddled with gobbledygook language stuffed into endless graphs, ‘continuums,’ charts and end-of-chapter quizzes that I found myself longing to read an advanced calculus book instead.”
And your tax dollars paid for it.
Read the full story from the Omaha World-Herald.
(H/T: FARK)
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Comments (196)
UlyssesP
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:28amWhite is a culture? These people are fokt up in the head.
Report Post »IAMMADDOG
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:50am“loser”
Report Post »freeus
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:14amTax payer funded indoctrination.
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:49am@MONICNE
Report Post »I think I will start calling you the gRammer er I mean grammar nazi.
streetrodder
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:52am@Monicne. Why are you doing spell check when you have your handle spelled backwards, Encinom?
Report Post »mwieczorek43
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:54amI‘m from Omaha and i haven’t heard anything about this. Thank you theBlaze.com for bringing this forward.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 12:02pmHOME SCHOOL if you don’t want YOUR kids to be COMMIES!!!!!
Report Post »Vixvenom
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 1:18pmThis is nothing new….I am a current education major, taking a multicultural education class right now. The “textbooks” for this course would have been considered treason just a few decades ago. You guys have no clue what they are teaching the teachers and would freak out if you knew. And I go to school in THE most consistently conservative state in the union. All teacher education is now based on what is called the Frankfurt school of critical thought, centered around critical pedagogy. Critical pedagogy is founded on the principles of “a need for a more democratic and just society” a.k.a., social justice…socialism. It requires acknowledgement of the failures of republican government and free market capitalism and dedication to overthrowing that system through activism and low level coalitions of workers and citizens (unions). It is so far gone you can’t even see where it started…..the truly sad part is, teachers are signing on to this thought like it’s free candy…..prepare for socialism….it’s closer than you think.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 3:03pmWhen one ‘moves beyond ethical barriers,’ where do you end up? With no ethics? Is it just because this turd named ‘Campbell’ came up with his ‘social justice’ (communist) ideas and put them in writing that his program MUST be adopted? Man, if I had kids in the Omaha NE school system I‘d start kickin’ some school board butee! Hey Campbell! It’s equal justice, not social justice, creep …
Report Post »UH60L13
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 5:36pmI guess we need to have an award for “The Best Heterosexual White Teacher”!!!!
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:07pmAllow your offspring to stay home and teach the basics of reading, writing, math, and science, and you won’t have to worry about them being subjected to all this taxpayer-funded indocrination from those politically-correct government schools.
Report Post »UPSETVET
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:29am“Social Justice Diversity Manuals” should be put on the shelf next to the “Gay Marriage Sex Manuals”. Oh, you don’t see the connection ? EXACTLY there is no connection. Both “manuals” are absolutely offensive to anyone who has morals.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:28amEnjoy it while you can, loony leftists. The gravy train is slowly coming to a halt.
I can’t wait until all you sniveling bottom feeders are left to your own devices.
Losers.
Report Post »LibertyGoddess
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:42amI wish every time an article is written to expose trash like this, there was a link or email in which people can respond to the offenders. This kind of trash needs to be addressed!
Don’t you just love how people channel their lives into victimhood rather than channel their energy into taking advantage of our great freedoms to overcome and build a life of self-sufficiency and respect all on their own. Name one group, just one group that isn’t discriminated against? Everyone feels it. There is no conspiracy to hold anyone back. Move on liberals.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:42amSo what exactly is beyond ethical barriers? would it be unethical areas. Nice to know they are coming out and saying they are unethical.
Report Post »snakeyes4liberty
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:08amJust change 2 letters in Omaha & you have Obama, weird. It is Warren Buffett that controls Nebraska & he is one of Obama’s henchmen. Contact the Omaha Board of Education president, Sandra Jensen at (402) 493-7546 or sandra.jensen@ops.org. The Omaha Public School District number is (402) 557-2222. You can also contact the Nebraska Dept. of Education at 402-471-2295. You do not have to live in Omaha to voice your disgust with the wasting of your tax dollars!
Report Post »jhrusky
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:21amWhy are we allowing this to continue? Why are there not thousands of people in Omaha demanding the crazy progressives that ordered this crap step down and be replaced? Until WE THE PEOPLE begin making demands in numbers, this crap will continue. Do we have the guts and will we take the time to do it?
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:28amI am so sick and tired of this blatant propaganda!! This is indoctrination 101! “HEY! Teachers! Leave them kids ALONE!!”
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:42amThis is stupid, once again the leftists and those that follow them are pushing our school aged children further into the brainwashed coma of liberal progressive stupidity. NO ETHNIC GROUP SHOULD EVER BE PUT IN FRONT OF ANOTHER. Every single one of us should have to work just as hard as the other to achieve our goals in life. Handouts never help, they turn people into morons.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:29amWhen we grew up and went to school, there were certain teachers who would hurt the children anyway they could
by pouring their derision upon anything we did
exposing every weakness however carefully hidden by the kids.
But in the town it was well known that when they got home at night
Report Post »their fat and psychopathic wives
Would thrash them within inches of their lives!
FedupinFlorida2
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:28amCut them off from future money! Sorry, spend OUR money stupidly then you’re on your own. Just like the debt limit, when it is raised don’t do it for a trillion or more give them enough for couple of months worth of bills. Oh hear them wail. We have to go through this again and again. Yes, until you can be trusted with more than a month or two of ALLOWANCE. Before the next couple months of allowance is issued let them justify that they spent the last one correctly. What a concept.
Report Post »Junter
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:27amYet another waste of tax dollars… This required nonsense will lead to a race war.
Report Post »USAMama
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:40amI‘m afraid that’s exactly what they want! They want anger and chaos, that’s why they keep pushing us and pushing us. Bottom up, top down, inside out!
Report Post »Michael
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:27amWhen is all this crap going to stop? I have had it with the preaching of socialism. Are the children supposed to read this also? If not and what will happen if they do? God has been deleted from school and now this. We have to stop all this crap that our schools are teaching and go back to the basics. This is going against what the majority of the country believe in. God help us!
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:34amOn this stuff, we need to help ourselves!!!!! School systems have mandates from federal government, DOE, NEA, etc; but in the end, they are local government. OUR property tax dollars support them, we elect the people on the school board, we can go to the meetings of their boards, it is our children they need in school to even have a schoool! WE CAN REACH THEM. You want something changed locally, organize parents and local people to change it!! Become a squeaky wheel!
Report Post »Ksera Sugarmail
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:25amMaking sure teachers are “culturally sensative” enough is code for “liberal” enough.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:30am“sensitive”
Report Post »DCM12
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 7:32pmTroll
Report Post »57states
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:24amfunny how liberal elite jews use blacks for their marxist agenda
Report Post »In The Right
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:50pmAmericans that disregarded the line in the movie “Blues Brothers” are at fault, it’s true that “… the (Liberal) Jew is using the Black against YOU, Whitey”. Ignore the DemoFascists, ********, Progressives, Leftists, Homosexuals, and Anarchists at your own risk!
Report Post »In The Right
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:53pmWhat we can’t say “LybTahard” (excuse the spelling) here or it is censored with ******** ?
Report Post »In The Right
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:55pmLet me try this again so I don’t offend the sensibilities of the moderator:
Naive Americans that disregarded the line in the movie “Blues Brothers” are at fault, it’s true that, “… the (Liberal) Jew is using the Black against YOU, Whitey”. Ignore the DemoFascists, Lybturds, Progressives, Leftists, Homosexuals, and Anarchists at your own risk!
Report Post »candcantiques
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:24amYou know I am tired of all this BS going on in our country. YOU KNOW WHAT i AM MORE TIRED OF. NOBODY DOES ANYTHING TO STOP IT. NOBODY. EVERYONE SITS THERE AT THERE COMPUTERS IN THEIR AIR CONDITIONING AND COMPLAINS BUT NOBODY DOES ANYTHING. Americans today make me sick.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:40amYour statement is incorrect. Not “everyone” sits at their computers complaining and doing nothing. Many, many, many Americans are actively doing everything they can to stop the BS.
Just because you don’t see pitchfork & torch mobs doesn’t mean nobody is doing anything.
Report Post »One Man One Voice
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 1:47pmAnyone, but the hypocritical, liberal sycophants can easily determine that this book is another attempt by the progressive, (communist) leftists to infiltrate our schools and force their left wing propaganda onto our children. What irritates me the most is the obvious irony and blatant racist overtones of it’s content. It didn‘t surprise me to see that one of the book’s authors is a black man since he made it a point to emphasize his obvious racist views toward whites. As a white man I’m offended by the blatant, in-your-face racism within the black and hispanic communities. No one holds them accountable for being overtly racist! Apparently, racism only applies to whites.
Report Post »Vixvenom
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 2:58pm@oneman
Report Post »If you read enough socialist literature, you’ll find that they have very different and specific definitions for racism, oppression and discrimination. These definitions justify the racism you are talking about. Since you are white and thus part of the white power structure in America, you cannot be oppressed or discriminated against. You are the oppressor and so anything said to or about you regarding race is done by those you oppress in their attempts to regain the power you’ve taken from them. They’ve had the answer to your complaint nailed down for some time….by the way, since you weren’t already aware of that, you are stupid in their eyes. If you did know it but disagree with them…..you’re a racist anyway, and unworthy of even voicing an opinion. Lovely aren’t they.
BoiseBaked
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 6:01pmLiterature for bird lovers.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:23amMore proof that the stimulus failed.
Report Post »cntrlfrk
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:22amTurning every teacher into a divisive social preacher.
The Stimulus just keeps on giving!
.
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on July 13, 2011 at 12:16ammost of our teachers are social investigaters as it is now!
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:22amSoros wants to see his NWO in action before he croaks!
Report Post »thegodfather
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:21amHow about required reading on the subject of “Flash mobs” of blacks that randomly rob and beat white people.
We need “social justice ” for white people
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:27amYeah, moving beyond ethics, for years, a huge percentage of law school time has been spent on getting around morality and ethics so lawyers can justify in their mind screwing their society and often their own clients for their own self interests. It‘s heart warming to see this garbage making it’s way into main stream public anti education.
Report Post »shimauma
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:20amInternational Baccalaureate is the SAME system. It was built by the UN and is being used to indoctrinate our kids into a SOCIALIST dogma, funded by YOUR TAX MONEY!! http://www.truthaboutib.com
Report Post »honestynow
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 11:58amYou are so right on this! It came to the schools here, but fortunately, it got ditched- too bloody expensive and had very few takers after a few years. Also, it did not, as was preached, get those students into the elite colleges as promised. It was divisive and not inclusive as promoted. In researching it, it is very UN oriented and more values than fact driven.
Report Post »Lisa
Posted on July 13, 2011 at 4:20pmHey Shimauma!
Thank you for linking Truth About IB here ar The Blaze. I’ve been trying to get Glenn to pay attention to this issue for years now but he just seems to go with the pocket change stuff.
For the record, there was over $10 BILLION in the 2009 ARRA (porkulus bill) allocated for Title I schools which implement “innovative programs”. For a school to qualify as a “Title I School” and be able to use Fed money for schoolwide programs, there has to be a 40% Free & Reduced Lunch Rate. But what districts around the country are doing is using Targeted Assistance Title I money to buy IB. It’s disgusting!
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:17amI love liberals. I love when they spread their manure to the masses they use many words which mean nothing but nonsense to boost their warm and fuzzy educated elitism. Just look at the title of the book.
Report Post »boca_chica
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:14amMore indoctrination under the “feel good” educational premis that children need to know how to be friends in the soup kitchen line. If you educate for jobs and everyone knows good from evil-well…there’s you full integration. But few teachers these days know how to teach(crtitical/reflective thinking were college courses around 1900 maybe they should come back). Public schools started out teaching the basics needed to move through life(reading, writing, math) and those with money and sometimes talent went to college/university. Those that had talant could also read their way to an equivalent degree( see A. Lincoln). Without the basics, it’s hard to advance. I doubt the kids can even read-with-understanding of this book.
Report Post »DCM12
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 7:34pmAgain, troll.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:12amGod help us indeed, this matter needs to come to an ending as soon as possible; those idiots of the Progressives Socialists need to be out of office and tried for their crimes against the nation.
Report Post »http://artinphoenix.com/gallery/girmm
MONICNE
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:37am“grimm”
Report Post »DCM12
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 7:35pmI see you, troll.
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:07amWhat do you call a socialist/communist that has figured out how to beat capitalists at their own game?
Warren Buffett/ George Soros
Report Post »CantStandaLib
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:17amI have made the decision that I will not have my children in Public Schools especially not here in NC, I have a goal to move to Texas as soon as I finish my Degree Program. I will not have my children indoctrinated with this filth at all.
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:31amCANTSTAND — I’m a Texan and have raised 5 children — sorry to tell you that they are here too. However, it’s a lot BETTER but you still have to be careful about “where” you live and probably best still if you homeschool. There are certain cities, like Austin & Houston that are largely liberals. There was a Middle School near Houston that let CAIR (Islamic activist group) send some Muslims there, who called a mandatory assembly (didn’t notify parents) & “preached” about Islam, had the children chant, etc. Parents were outraged, sued – the ACLJ took the case. They’re trying to indoctrinate, use “multiculturism” as their excuse. Great site re Islamic agenda: http://www.actforamerica.com
Report Post »jeffyfreezone
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:07amOMG! This has to stop!
Report Post »sobeit
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:06amOur government is a waste to spend money on something like this!
Report Post »BrianCK
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:02amWOW! at only $16.25 ea…that’s a bargain. What a racists waste of our $$$.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 12:14pmMan Encinom, you must lead a pretty pathetic life if you get a thrill out of correcting the spelling of other posters. What a prog loser you truely are. LOL
Report Post »psst
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:02amGeez. What a waste. Does Soetoro knows about this?
Report Post »130K could have bought a lot more guns for Mexican and Honduran drug gangs.
Now that’s real diversity.It teaches ameriKans not to discriminate agin people from other cultures/countries.
Richard Boone (American)should not be the only one to “Have Gun Will Travel” just because he was white.
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:15amChannel some of that wealth and power to me! I could use it, and so could a lot of other white people I know. There has to be a lot of white people in Omaha, NE that are offended by this.
Report Post »Reparation seems to be on Obama’s bucket list.
Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:01amCOMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, vCOMMUNISM, communism,COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism,
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:00amThis is plain dumb.
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 9:55amMoney for garbage; return every one of them. UnAmerican crap.
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:02amCOMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism, COMMUNISM, communism,
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:04amAfter they replace the word “teachers” with Citizens this will be in every mailbox in the country.
Report Post »