Read Our Identity-Based Content Resolution Proposal to Combat Antisemitism, Prejudice, and Racism in NATICK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Our resolution is based on evidence that biased, ideological, and prejudicial "white privilege" and systemic racism materials are being used in NPS classrooms.

Last week, Parental Rights Natick submitted the following statement to the Natick School Committee along with a proposed Resolution for Using Identity-Based (Race/Ethnicity) Course Materials (and supporting evidence) to help combat antisemitism, prejudice, and racism in Natick Public Schools:

In a recent article published in the Jewish Journal, David Bernstein, Founder and CEO of the North American Values Institute, astutely points out that “we must stop pretending all diversity initiatives are benign.” His caution underscores the importance of ensuring that efforts promoting diversity do not stereotype any group or prioritize difference over unity by elevating ethnic identity and grievance over common civic ideals.

As a follow-up to the MTA materials resolution the Natick School Committee passed on June 16 to help combat antisemitism, members of the School Committee should also review and vote on the attached resolution that casts a wider net around problematic “identity” biased materials/instruction; that helps provide all NPS students with an education and classroom experience free from bias, prejudice, and ideological conformity; and that restores rigor, pluralism, and true diversity to the classroom.

Most parents agree that K-12 education should be age appropriate, teach truthful information, and foster critical thinking. However, in Natick Public Schools, there is evidence that some educators in K-12 classrooms use biased curriculum and course materials to teach a world view that divides people into “oppressors” and “victims” based on an individual’s race, ethnicity, and other identity traits. 

• Why is Natick Public Schools spending time and resources on ideological, prejudicial, and divisive “social justice” instruction when we know our children need fact-based, rigorous, high-quality curriculum and education to succeed? 

• Why is Natick High School teaching students they may be an oppressor (“white privilege”) or oppressed based on the color of their skin/racial group? 

• Why is Natick High School presenting a monolithic view of race relations and systemic racism to students instead of pluralistic views through rigorous curriculum and materials?

• Why is Natick Public Schools fostering ideological conformity and eroding critical thinking for quasi diversity and inclusion?

• How can Natick High School include books by black authors and scholars such as Shelby Steele, Coleman Hughes, and Thomas Sowell in its 12th grade "Identity in America" lesson plans, so students can engage with broader perspectives and facts on race relations, racism, and so-called privilege?

All NPS students are unique individuals and learners with individual needs. All students deserve an education that is free from ideological or political agendas. No student should be excluded from meaningful inclusion based on perceived power or privilege or subjected to reinforced prejudice by using reductive ideological labels.

Approaching identity and race-based topics from a singular ideological perspective risks fostering misunderstanding, prejudice, and division. It can also foster harmful stereotyping affecting white students, students perceived as “white adjacent” (including Jewish and Asian students), and students of color.

Natick Public Schools should abolish all identity-based, ideological curriculum and course materials that promote biased, divisive and prejudicial views to students. We look forward to your timely follow-up about this proposed resolution as an agenda item for this calendar year so NPS can urgently continue to minimize the risk of students being subjected to bias, prejudice, antisemitism, racism, and radicalism. 

Thank you for committing to your Code of Ethics duties as Natick School Committee members to represent the entire community at all times along with each and every student in Natick Public Schools regardless of their background (File: BCA); and to vote and act in Committee without bias for the good of the students (File: BBAA).

Contact the Natick School Committee at schoolcommittee@natickps.org to voice your support for our Resolution for Using Identity-Based (Race/Ethnicity) Course Materials.

Will you also forward this email to other concerned Natick parents with children in Natick Public Schools?