Even teachers are concerned about what is going on in schools. Are your children learning to build a foundation of knowledge so they can develop their own worldviews, or are they learning to advance someone else’s worldview? Does looking at everything through the lens of race and gender advance excellence?
Chris Burr, Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, Paul Rossi, and Bonnie Snyder tackle complicated subjects — epistemology, knowledge, the impoverishment of intellectual curiosity, and whether our society is fit for education.
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by Chris Burr
New Group Launching!
TERRA FIRMA is building a national support network of teachers to counter critical social justice programming in their schools in ways big and small.
Our motto is: "Pedagogy, Not Ideology."
Our first of many "Teacher's Lounge" workshops are starting up this Saturday, Jan 21, at 2pm ET, and will be held twice a week thereafter. Our main contact email is: contact@tfteach.org.
Sessions are free but to maintain confidentiality and trust in the network, we meet one-on-one with all attendees in advance. Anyone who wants to join should either send an email to contact@tfteach.org or schedule an appointment with us directly here: https://calendly.com/tfteach/introductions?month=2023-01&date=2023-01-20.
Our meetings are primarily focused on workshopping solutions to specific problems teachers in our network are facing in their schools.
In every situation we consider, students are our primary and ultimate concern. How can we, as committed teachers, best disrupt the one-sided, moral intimidation of critical social justice programming that students face daily, while staying at our posts within the system? Because if we leave, it's likely an ideologue will take our place.
Types of issues include:
How best to add broader perspectives to the one-sided programming schools are pushing on our students?
Coping with/resisting ideological/identity-focused bullying in DEI or critical social justice training, on ourselves, colleagues, and students.
Union issues, local and state laws that protect or hamper our mission
Contesting inappropriate material, filing a grievance
When — and how — to speak up at faculty meetings
Handling pressure to conform to critical social justice from superintendents, admin or department heads
Difficulties interacting with colleagues who are promoting a critical social justice agenda
How to be most effective working with like-minded parents and others in the community
We welcome all teachers eager to contribute to this work, by sharing their experience and generating positive solutions for network members. Join us!
Bonnie Snyder is an educator with 20+ years of experience in both K-12 and higher ed, certified in elementary education, secondary English, and secondary guidance. She was the Director of K-12 Outreach at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education and wrote Undoctrinate: How Politicized Classrooms Harm Kids and Ruin Our Schools. Bonnie is connected with concerned teachers throughout the country who have reached out to her in recent years for help.
Paul Rossi is a veteran mathematics and philosophy teacher who blew the whistle on woke indoctrination at Grace Church School in Manhattan in 2021. He has researched and written extensively about the politicization of education for The Wall Street Journal, The Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, Parents Unite, and Legal Insurrection Foundation. He has also presented his findings for The Manhattan Institute, Parents Defending Education, Moms for Liberty, and Education Veritas. Paul is a trusted resource for dozens of K-12 teachers nationally.