I have noticed a few things with these “news publications” sites that have popped up over the last few year. I haven’t said much about it, it’s not my place (or is it?). But when I see residents say that they sent a Letter to the Editor and the editor told them that they were not going to share their opinion for whatever reason (its not like they have a space issue, plates, ink, paper and a hot dealine to worry about). It’s wrong and disrespectful to readers and advertisers to turn away public thoughts and opinions – especially from a site that claims to be a community leader. This is also proving my point about local journalism, it’s lacking in Westport. I am not looking to be a news site, but if anyone feels that’s their voices are not being heard from these sites, or they are told that they will not share their submissions then they are free to send them to me. I will post them. I believe the public should have a place to share their opinion. Finding Westport has always been about finding the little things that go on in the Westport Community.
Here is the letter was written by Andy Frankel that Westport Journal refused to share.
Andy Frankel
Westport, CT 06880
October 29, 2021
I am responding to the recent editorial in the Westport Journal by Jaret Liotta, “I
defend your right to be racist,” which maligned countless Westport neighbors, parents,
and citizens by its patronizing suggestion that they are “racists,” “proliferators of Red
Scare propaganda,” “renegades,” or “journalist-hating, jackboot-wearing oppositionists”
for expressing legitimate concerns about the Westport school district’s partnership with
the NYU Metropolitan Center Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools. Unfortunately, this type of divisive rhetoric is in line with comments by our local politicians who have been campaigning on the basis that anyone who asks for transparency by our schools are using euphemisms for racism and intolerance. Perhaps if readers had a better understanding of the NYU Metro Center and the manner in which the school’s work with NYU has been handled there would be less name calling and a
more adult conversation about the direction of Westport’s schools. I requested that Mr.
Liotta publish this response, but he has not agreed to do so before the upcoming election
and would only agree to publish a highly edited 300-word version, despite the multiple
lengthy opinions he has published in the Westport Journal and the fact that these issues
do not lend themselves to short soundbites.
I am not part of the wp06880 website, however I am one of many Westport
parents who support diversity and inclusion, supported the goals of the equity study as
they were originally described, and want my kids to learn about racism and history –
warts and all – but questioned the school’s decision to contract with NYU Metro to run
the equity study. What is it about the NYU Metro Center’s views that Westport parents
might find concerning? Here are some specific examples. NYU Metro is very open
about its goal of fundamentally “transforming” and “dismantling” educational policies,
practices, and curriculum based on its belief that, among other things, schools such as
Westport public schools are inherently based on white supremacy and oppression. The
NYU Metro Center and its leaders believe that STEM subjects are not objective pursuits,
but that subjects such as math are intended “to advance certain groups of people for
profit and power” and are “racialized.” They developed “scorecards” used to review K-12
curriculum that assesses, among other things, whether “issues of social justice” and
“equity” “are reflected in [STEM] homework/classroom assignments and assessment
NYU Metro claims that “[a]ll levels of teaching mathematics are imbued with the same
racism and violence that permeates all schooling.”
In other school districts, the NYU Metro Center has encouraged teachers to
integrate its concepts of anti-capitalism, “social justice,” “systems of oppression” and
race in all school curriculum, including math, English, physical education, language,
geography, and health. It has recommended that teachers “eliminate homework from
grades,” and otherwise alter how children are graded. To achieve “equity” and social
justice, the NYU Metro Center was one of the leading advocates in favor of New York
City’s recent decision to eliminate the gifted and talented program, which NYU Metro
employees have referred to as the “spoils of Whiteness.”
They believe that capitalism is a root cause of white supremacy, and that
capitalism is on par with xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and white supremacy.
The NYU Metro Center’s executive director, while he appears to be a very impassioned
leader who genuinely seeks to improve student outcomes, has publicly stated that he
would like to see “a world absent of capitalism and all that it regards.”
The NYU Metro Center’s website and public comments by those hired to run the
Westport study is full of statements to the effect that all white individuals are imbued
with privilege and indoctrinated to be racists from the moment of their birth. The
former director initially responsible for the Westport equity study has taken the position
that if a teacher happens to be white, they are “ill suited” to teach children of color
unless they acknowledge that when they walk into the classroom they represent a
history of colonizing and enslavement.
The NYU Metro Center looks at all outcomes, policies, and practices through the
lens of race, gender, and sexual orientation, and that unless outcomes are equal when
viewed in those terms, that must be evidence of white supremacy, concepts of
“whiteness,” power, and privilege. It evaluates school policies, practices, and curriculum
based on whether they perpetuate “white norms,” which it defines as such
characteristics as objectivity, individualism, “problems and solutions,” and
perfectionism. According to NYU Metro, those characteristics are hallmarks of a white
supremacy culture and should be “dismantled.”
This is not “misinformation” but rather are facts taken directly from the NYU
Metro Center’s many publications and public statements. They raise a host of obvious questions. Why, for example, would the district contract with an organization with views as extreme and controversial as these? What does that say about the direction of. the “multi-year action plan” and strategic plan being developed by the school district? Why did no one think to involve those having more balanced perspectives? And yes Mr. Steinberg and Ms. Savin-why the lack of transparency? While committee meetings were open to the public, unlike every other Board of Education committee, the DEI committee and its work with NYU Metro never published a single substantive agenda, never made NYU Metro’s written materials available to the public, never made the results of its “disproportionality” study available
until after the committee had completed its review, never recorded its meetings for
public view, and never held meetings after business hours. Even the Superintendent has
since acknowledged that there should have been better communication about the study
and NYU Metro’s role, yet according to Mr. Steinberg and Ms. Savin, anyone who
questions this lack of transparency are actually motivated by racism and outside influences.
It may be that when the Superintendent refers to the need to adopt a “culturally responsive” curriculum it will not be one that reflects these rather extreme views. And while it’s an interesting debate whether these points of view reflect “critical race theory,” ultimately that is a distraction. Whatever the label, one of the most notable aspects of the recent discussions about these issues has been the complete absence of any support voiced by anyone in the community for the core tenets held by the NYU Metro Center such as those summarized above. In fact, many have claimed it is “fear mongering” to discuss the NYU Metro’s positions because the Westport Board and administration would never do or support what the NYU Metro Center in fact regularly espouses. Thus, despite universal support for diversity and inclusion, there appears to be near universal agreement in Westport that the NYU Metro Center’s core beliefs and the way it assesses school districts’ “cultural responsiveness” are not aligned with the approach most parents would like to see taken in our schools.
Complaints about anonymity are also a distraction from the real issues. Notably, TEAM Westport, which was well represented in the DEI committee’s exercise, has published its own recommendations to the school district that includes among them the need to encourage students, teachers, and parents to “speak up” with the option of doing so anonymously. Presumably TEAM Westport believed anonymity would encourage frank dialogue without fear of reprisals. Yet the chair of the same TEAM Westport has now stated that anonymity harkens to the tactics of the KKK. Nothing that I’ve seen in the wp06880 website comes close to that kind of accusatory rhetoric. The accusations of racism and intolerance reflected in Mr. Liotta’s editorial and those on the local campaign trail vividly illustrate why so many people presumably wished to avoid stepping into this fray and subjecting themselves or their children to these kinds of attacks.
I hope some good will come from the equity study and the proposed strategic plan. The recently released data suggests there is plenty of room for improvement, particularly given the underperformance of students with IEPs. Though apparently not addressed by the equity study, the ubiquity of social media and the resulting peer and academic pressures experienced by students have led to unprecedented levels of depression and anxiety. And hopefully, issues around race can be addressed openly and honestly in a more balanced way, without trying to inject racial issues and politics into science and math or grouping people into oppressors and victims based on the color of their skin.
Fortunately, despite the political opportunism and heated rhetoric, I suspect Westporters across the political spectrum have more in common than differences when it comes to fostering the kind of meaningful education that lifts and prepares all students regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or other immutable characteristics.
Respectfully,
Andy Frankel
Note: I have been on the fence about writing about this CRT issue going on, one group says its being taught in the Westport School district, while the other says its not. I really dont’ know, nor do I have an opinion about it. I noticed it is a hot topic in online groups. I do encourage anyone who doubts either side to get involved with the school system directly and find out for themselves. Instead of relying on hearsay.
We only accept tips and submissions for events regarding Westport, Connecticut.
Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook
While you’re here why not shop.