OPINION: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Laudable Words, Until They are Politicized

The following opinion article represents the views of the authors and not necessarily those of Westwood Minute.

Submitted by Ken Mackin, Nicole Moses, Jacquie Garcia, Adrian Webb-Johnson, Chris Hancock and Carl D'Angio on behalf of One Westwood

Who is One Westwood? In the summer of 2021, a group of parents, grandparents, and other residents of Westwood gathered in a conference room on a warm summer night. We were united by a concern for our children in the Westwood schools. We came from all corners of town, with children in kindergarten through high school; some of us meeting for the first time. We were all witnessing significant changes in the priorities of our Westwood schools. We shared many stories and experiences from the last two years. We found comfort that we were not alone yet frustrated at how omnipresent these changes had become.

Instead of striving for academic rigor, excellence, and civic virtue, our schools were now laser-focused on a highly politicized version of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. While the words themselves are laudable, the real-life implications for our kids have been disastrous. We learned this effort is coordinated, strategic, and was planned well in advance. Many of the new initiatives were implemented while we were sheltering in our homes during 2020. Parents were waking up, paying attention, and not liking what they saw.

What exactly changed that had our group so concerned? Here are two examples illustrating how the dramatic changes are impacting every grade level and every area of study.

• In June of 2021, a parent of a first-grader discovered his child's class read a book on the topic of gender dysphoria (or transgenderism), along with a discussion of the Pride parade in Boston. The school principal, assistant superintendent, and school committee chair supported this particular lesson. Unfortunately, this was not the work of a rogue teacher.

• In January of 2021, while learning remotely, a parent listened in to a high school Piano Lab class. The class is intended to teach students to learn an instrument. The teacher asked, "can anyone give me an example of how the music industry is racist?" The printout for the class lists out sexism, homophobia, ableism, classism, racism, antisemitism, and other forms of oppression in the music industry. (Please view the printout on our website)

The same parent conversed with the school nurse at the kindergarten orientation only two years earlier and was assured that human sexuality and/or "gender identity" was not discussed at the elementary school level. Only in the 5th grade, the "my changing body" lesson is introduced. An opt-out notice always precedes this lesson. Why did our schools change this policy?

Who decided 6- and 7-year old's are mature enough for books on gender dysphoria? Do these same decision-makers think it is appropriate for our children to watch R-rated movies in elementary school? Has the idea of "age-appropriate" been thrown out of the window? What is suitable at the high school is not necessarily appropriate at Sheehan.

Why are teachers obsessing over racial discrimination in a Piano Lab class?

We think we know why. The new ideology that has taken over the Westwood schools has permeated all grade levels and academic subjects. This highly politicized DEI worldview is the lens for which all learning and teaching is to be viewed. If this seems like hyperbole, please ask your children. (see: Allison Borchers “DEI update -curriculum changes” 4/1/2021 on our website) The remaking of the Westwood schools is happening in plain sight.

Each parent in our group had their list of examples. From the renaming of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day, obsession with "anti-racism," insistence on using "preferred pronouns," hyper-focus on our children's sexuality at the middle school, and an overall climate of indoctrination, intolerance and intimidation. The list of specific examples is long, impacting each grade level and every classroom.

One Westwood seeks to avoid separating groups into oppressors and victims. Our group identity is not fundamental to who we are as people. We should celebrate our students as individuals, with the agency to achieve great things, regardless of their color, sexual preference, or religion. Westwood schools used to believe in these bedrock principles.

For those hearing this for the first time, we implore you to research the district's Professional Development on the district's website. Our tax dollars paid for overtly political professional development over the last two years. Politically radical activists are instructing our teachers. Many of our teachers have themselves become victims of the new ideology in Westwood. Speaking out in the face of this movement comes with consequences. Most stay quiet.

We implore parents and teachers to see past the flowery language of anti-racism and equity. Anti-racism is the fraternal twin of racism, exchanging one form of discrimination for another (see Asian-Americans v. Harvard). Equity isn't even a distant relative of equality. One idea has led to prosperity and freedom unparalleled in world history, and the other to the gulags. This vague and feel-good language is used intentionally to shut down discussion and intimidate dissent. One Westwood stands firmly against racism and hate in any form and supports a society that promotes equality of opportunity for all of our students. We believe these ideals are at the heart of western civilization. Anti-racism activists do not seek a colorblind future, and they do not seek equality of opportunity. They seek to redefine our schools and our society in a way that is unrecognizable to the world we grew up in.

For many of us, it has already gone too far. Some of the families in our group have left the Westwood schools in the last year for Catholic, independent private, or home school options. This reality has saddened families who moved to Westwood for the schools. Families feel forced to take on a significant financial burden for the benefit of their children. Ironically, our families do not feel "included" in the new Westwood school district. It has not always been this way in Westwood. We have gone in the wrong direction, and parents are finally waking up to this reality. While we are not looking to return to the 1950s, we would not mind returning to the 2010s.

One Westwood aims to be a positive voice and force in our town. In the face of the radical new priorities in our schools and the hostile environment that has ensued, we do not feel animosity towards the administrators, school committee members, and parent activists who ushered in these changes. While we believe they are terribly misguided and their initiatives are destructive, we think they're well-intentioned. We will continue to love our neighbors as ourselves, regardless of color, religion, special learning needs, or sexual preference, and remain open to healthy dialogue. We love our kids as they love theirs. We hope for a bright future in Westwood.

Thanks to Mr. Ken Mackin, Ms. Nicole Moses, Ms. Jacquie Garcia, Mr. Adrian Webb-Johnson, Mr. Chris Hancock and Mr. Carl D'Angio for contributing this opinion article on behalf of One Westwood to Westwood Minute.  

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- LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM MEGAN DEWEY: Response to One Westwood Opinion Article

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