Norwin debate continues in regards to systemic racism, critical race theory

The disagreement over whether a Norwin High School lesson on racism in the United States was an example of critical race theory laid bare a split over what to teach about race relations in 21st-century America — including whether systemic racism exists in a country that has laws intended to ban such actions.

The most recent round of verbal sparring among Norwin School Board members portends a bitter debate at future meetings, when a conservative faction proposes to ban critical race theory instruction even though Superintendent Jeff Taylor said it is not being taught nor is it part of the high school curriculum.

Monday night’s meeting featured a shouting match about the segregated military in World War II, how Jim Crow laws suppressed Blacks, an acknowledgement of 400 years of racism in America and a description of the U.S. Civil War as the Union army fighting against slavery-supporting Southern Democrats.

Director Alex Detschelt, a leader of the conservative school board group, said he will propose that any discussion of systemic racism occurring after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 be prohibited in Norwin because “systemic racism post-1965 is a myth.”

Norwin School Board Director Alex Detschelt explains his view that claims of systemic racism after 1965 passage of Voting Right Act and 1964 passage of Civil Rights Act is just a “myth.” pic.twitter.com/bqnZiNO9GK

— Joseph Napsha (@joseph_napsha) March 15, 2022

This week’s discussion — the latest in a series of divisive issues aired out at Norwin School Board meetings — was prompted by Director Shawna Illagan’s claim last month that a high school social studies assignment using a 2020 magazine story on racism in the nation was an example that critical race theory was being taught in schools.

The story headlined “Two Americas” by Upfront, a magazine geared for use in high school classrooms that The New York Times publishes in partnership with Scholastic Inc., was about inequality in five areas of American life.

Illagan defended her stance, saying the assignment she referenced was “all about systemic racism now.”

“This current systemic thing is poisonous ideology. … It needs to stop,” Illagan said.

While acknowledging that some people are racist, “there is no evidence whatsoever that our social order or our American system are racist against anybody of color,” Illagan said, prompting a round of applause.

Norwin School Director Shawna Illagan says the systemic racism is a “poisonous ideology that needs to stop.” pic.twitter.com/2aUEgO4VfJ

— Joseph Napsha (@joseph_napsha) March 15, 2022

As an example, Illagan said a Pittsburgh courtroom can have a Black criminal on trial, a Black lawyer and a Black judge.

”So what was the difference? Their life choices,” said Illagan, who is white but has said previously she has mixed-race children.

The clash over what Norwin students should be taught about racism in the country — both past and present — mirrors what is occurring nationwide in states such as Mississippi, Florida and Texas, which have passed legislation limiting what public schools are permitted to teach about the controversial subject.

‘Difficult, painful topics’

“CRT evolved out of legal scholarship some 40 years ago as a recognition at the time as to how society and law are systemically impacted by race,” said Melissa Marks, an education professor at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg who teaches a course in diversity in America.

The issues of past discrimination and enslavement are “difficult and painful topics” to discuss in public schools, said Marks, who will be speaking at a community education event, “White Privilege/Implicit Bias” at 6:30 p.m. March 23 at the Greensburg YWCA, 424 N. Main St.

“We are willing, once again, to ignore history and shut down discussion because they make us uncomfortable,” Marks said. “This is the politicization of teaching American history.”

While Detschelt and Illagan claimed systemic racism ended in 1965, Marks said that “the research has shown it is alive and kicking,” regardless of the laws passed six decades ago.

Norwin School Board Director Alex Detschelt on who he represents in the Norwin community. pic.twitter.com/mtCEAUoJHM

— Joseph Napsha (@joseph_napsha) March 15, 2022

The social studies lesson on racism was taken out of context, was shocking and was not representative of Norwin nor the respect the teachers deserve, said senior Evan Blenko.

“In the past few months, the board has created an environment of mistrust. Teachers don’t feel like their own district supports them anymore,” Blenko said.

When the board drafts its policy banning critical race theory, Blenko suggested directors “consult the teachers … to prove that this is more than political theater.”

If the school district were to censor required topics from an Advanced Placement course, the College Board — which operates the AP program — has said it will remove that AP designation, said Jason Davis of Irwin. The state Department of Education partially grades schools on the number of AP course and students enrolled in those courses.

By attacking the teachers and threatening the creation of an anonymous hotline to complain about teachers, “fosters an environment of distrust and fear,” Davis said, adding that the board should step back from “its political hackery and extreme positions.”

Director Bob Wayman, a Republican Party official in the Norwin area, pointed out that it was the Democratic power structure in the South that instituted systemic racism in the United States. He said both of his male ancestors fought in the Civil War and killed Democrats.

At one point, as Davis was shouting about segregation as Wayman spoke, Jeff Pritts, the school board resource officer and former Greensburg police officer, walked over to him to calm him down.