Our Take On

Critical Race Theory

You’ve heard a lot about Critical Race Theory, right here in Avon, and seen it in political races and education board meetings across our country. CRT is not new. It is a field of study developed by legal scholars in the 1970s and is one of the many theories that is used in the legal and collegiate arenas to explain why racial inequities still exist despite the progress made in the civil rights era.

The manufactured controversy around CRT, however, is new. It is a deliberate plan to silence discussions on race, racial history, equity, and social justice in our country. This controversy was designed to counter the increased awareness of racial inequities and the gains made around diversity, equity, and inclusivity in our society since the murder of George Floyd.

Teaching CRT in K-12 education is not being proposed in our state or town. Nonetheless, there will be a fight against it. Here’s what we need to pay attention to: CRT opposers will be vehemently equating CRT with general efforts to achieve an equitable learning environment and growth opportunities for all students. They will say speaking of race is divisive, that it’s liberal indoctrination, that teaching history with racial context will make white children feel bad.

This is why equity groups like ours here in Avon, the Farmington Valley, and across the country are so important. They provide a forum where we can come together, educate ourselves, and have a dialogue that includes diverse and opposing opinions. However, this dialogue is based on facts guided by history, law, economics, psychology, sociology and other disciplines. This way we grow to better understand where we have been as a society and, learning from the past, how we can help build a better future for all of our children.

Equity groups such as ours provide a voice of support for our school and community leaders to build a culture of belonging. It is not about making any of us feel bad. It's about building connections, understanding, and bridges to a richer set of life experiences and greater opportunity where EVERYONE benefits.