A pair of Republican congressmen are calling on the Department of Education to reconsider spending federal dollars to promote critical race theory in civics and history classes across the country.
In a letter (below and here) to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Reps. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) and Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) said they have “deep concern” about a newly proposed priority criteria for a $5.3 million American History and Civics Education grant. Under the new rule (below and here), the grant will prioritize education programs that incorporate the ideas of the New York Times’ 1619 Project and critical race theorist Ibram X. Kendi into their teaching.
“Students should learn about the uniqueness and greatness of the American systems and the challenges we have overcome as a nation,” the letter reads in part. “It is therefore counterproductive and even dangerous to allow our vulnerable school children to be taught the falsehoods prevalent in the 1619 Project or in Ibram X. Kendi’s ‘How to Be an Anti-Racist.’”
Kendi’s work, according to the congressmen, is antithetical to the American Dream, which has “drawn millions of individuals to America’s shores and created the most prosperous nation in human history.” They also pointed out that the 1619 Project is “a racially divisive, revisionist account of history” that, as its name suggests, is in fundamental opposition to the true founding date of the United States in 1776.
The congressmen added that while they believe students should be taught about the negative consequences of slavery and the significant contributions of the black community in U.S. history, schools should not promote critical race theory, an ideology that undermines America’s founding ideals.
“Simply put, the teachings of Critical Race Theory want to reject the principles established in our Constitution and our individual God-given rights, and instead divide individuals into competing racial identity groups while doing little to help minority students advance,” they warned in the letter.
BY GQ PAN
Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com
Congressman Lamborn Opposes Critical Race Theory
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Lamborn and Congressman Duncan led a letter to Secretary Cardona, at the United States Department of Education opposing the American History and Civics Education grant program and “Proposed Priority 1 – Projects That Incorporate Racially, Ethnically, Culturally, and Linguistically Diverse Perspectives into Teaching and Learning.” This Program is attempting to further the anti-American ideas prevalent in the 1619 Project and Ibram Kendi’s book How to Be an Antiracist.
Congressman Lamborn issued the following statement:
“Critical race theory is antithetical to the fundamental values and beliefs of America and the American dream. The 1619 Project is historically inaccurate, racially divisive, and argues that the entire American system is corrupted from top to bottom. Our schools obviously have a crucial role to play in helping make students aware of the negative consequences of slavery and the significant contributions of Black Americans. However, we should never prioritize educational grants for schools that promote attacks on the principles enshrined in our Constitution. I am grateful for the support of Congressman Duncan on this crucial issue.”
