by Helen Sabin, Corvallis
Trust but verify! On August 17, my husband and I met with Jon Konen, the Superintendent of Corvallis Schools. We were concerned about Critical Race Theory tenets (CRT) being taught through the vehicle of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) that will be a focus of the schools this fall.
The Superintendent stated firmly, “…Critical Race Theory (CRT) will not be taught through the vehicle of SEL in the Corvallis Schools.” However, using Reagan’s maxim, we decided to “verify” what Konen told us. What we found was shocking.
As part of that verification, we reviewed an OPI document entitled Montana Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Competencies that a school board member had given to my husband. The name of CASEL, The Collaborative for Academic Social Emotional Learning, is at the top of the first page. Five CASEL core competencies for what educators and students will be required to do and learn throughout their K-12 experience form the basis for the Montana SEL program. We counted at least 10 of those learning objectives that are clearly CRT wording.
In an article in The Federalist, February 8, 2021, “How Socio-Emotional Learning Became Another Vehicle for Anti-White Racism in Schools,” respected author and education researcher, Jane Robbins wrote about a June 2020 CASEL webinar, entitled, “SEL as a Lever for Equity and Social Justice.” In that webinar, CASEL’s CEO, Karen Niemi and two colleagues proclaimed “That SEL should be used to elevate ‘favored’ students, based primarily on ‘RACE’, over ‘disfavored’ students.”
Continuing the theme, one presenter stated, “A color-blind approach, ignores the humanity of the people you’re interacting with. Doing so makes us ‘reproductive’ of the inequities that we are experiencing in our schools, in our communities, in our healthcare systems, etc., etc.” Reaffirming this thinking, CEO Niemi, declared that “social-emotional learning must actively contribute to anti-racism.” ANTI? when she and her cohorts specifically state that they will “favor” students based primarily on RACE?
NOTE: Anytime you see the words, Equity and Social Justice, you should recognize the racist tone and main idea of what will be presented: White Supremacy, White Oppression, White Privilege.
Robbins continues, “…The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is now brazenly trumpeting a troubling aspect of SEL – the opportunity to turn impressionable students into leftist activists.”
There is another troubling aspect to SEL. As further described by Jane Robbins: “More and more time is being redirected from academic instruction to “social-emotional learning” (SEL)—but not the cultivation of knowledge.” Instead, they learn the “correct” attitudes, beliefs, opinions, and behaviors for left wing activism. Perhaps this is the reason that Corvallis had low scores on the state tests last year for reading and math.
CASEL is promoting reverse racism and is “gaslighting” people to cover their tracks. Gaslighting, defined by Psychology Today, “…is an insidious form of manipulation and psychological control. Victims of gaslighting are deliberately and systematically fed false information that leads them to question what they know to be true, often about themselves. They may end up doubting their memory, their perception, and even their sanity. Over time, …it’s increasingly difficult for the victim to see the truth.”
Does Corvallis Superintendent Konen fully understand CASEL and its insidious racist effect on our children? Is he being pressured by Arntzen, the Biden Administration or the Corvallis School Board to ignore CASEL’s racist performance goals to instead take money from the statewide funding source called the Montana State Plan for the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ARP-ESSER)?
The nearly $122 billion of federal funding in ARP-ESSER is designed to support the Nation’s schools in safely reopening and sustaining safe operations of schools while meeting the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of students resulting from the coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic. This money however comes with strings, many of which are evident in the Montana Plan. Corvallis is required to submit their flow down of the state plan before the end of August and they are supposed to make it public.
Parents and Grandparents, request this plan and study it. Ask if the ARP-ESSER plan can be modified. Ask what flexibility local education leaders have to write their own performance goals? It’s up to you now…. Ask lots of questions and demand answers. Do your own research on CASEL. Find out with whom Arntzen aligns – the children or CASEL and the Feds? What will YOU do about CASEL to minimize their grip on Corvallis’ children?
Cameron Criddle says
Fortunately, the one comment is about as uninformed as the letter to the editor. Remember, not all information you read is good information to make a judgment from. Before you comment or make any rash decisions regarding whether or not to send your children to the Corvallis School District, verify what the SEL program is. Speak with Superintendent Konen, a school board member, or member of the staff. We have worked really hard to create and present a curriculum that helps our students academically, but also raises awareness of their mental health. If you don’t think this is important, it might be time to start asking some questions to those around you. There are many students who have expressed or exhibited an increase in signs of emotional and mental stress. Last year was difficult on so many of the students, even as resilient as they are. With the suicide rate of those ages 15-24 in MT already being almost twice the national average, don’t you think that mental and emotional health is something that we should not only be aware of, but actively seeking to strengthen where strengthening is needed? Unfortunately, the “Suck it up” mentality doesn’t always work.
Before insulting the school board or school administration of any school, go check out the SEL programs in your schools and find out what is being done for the mental and emotional health of your children, grandchildren, or students. Look to see the curriculum. If there are not signs of CRT or other political agendas, trust those curricula. Don’t always trust those who assign conspiracy theory/political agendas to well-meaning and vetted curriculum.
Let’s be a little kinder and assume good intent. Have you tried walking a mile in their shoes? It’s already hard enough to find and keep staff in the Bitterroot and all around the state and nation. Let’s work to keep good administrators, teachers, and school staff happy with where they work. It’s frequently a thankless job and might be nice for them to feel some appreciation. Being mean and ugly is easy. Well done, Superintendent Konen and the Corvallis School District! Thank you for thinking of our students first!
Richard Clark says
Obviously, John Konen lied to the Sabins, As Superintendent of Corvallis schools he should fully understand exactly what is in the school curriculum. Why would he try to disguise CRT under some other banner. Can you now trust anything he says. Are the parents of school aged children going to sit on their thumbs or are they going to demand honest answers. Do our legislators and the Governor know what’s going on? As the recent election showed, Montana is a conservative state and the progressive’s don’t like it. I’m not surprised at their deception.