Controversy over how to teach racial history draws many people to the Manhattan-Ogden School Board meeting

MANHATTAN, Kan. (KSNT) – Over forty members of the public came to a regularly scheduled meeting of the School Committee for USD 383 to share their thoughts on the use of Racial Critical Theory in teacher training.

Critical Racial Theory is an academic framework that studies the enduring social effects of racism and discrimination. The move to include the topics in advanced training events for teachers in the district turned out to be controversial.

“I don’t support the critical theory of race because it really divides people into categories – white, black, talks about white being an oppressor and all others being oppressed and things of that kind that I don’t think have any constructive effect,” said former Manhattan City Commissioner John Matta.

In some states, Republicans have tried to block the use of Critical Racial Theory in schools. In May, the state of Texas banned the topic from public schools altogether.

But even if teacher training doesn’t stop all acts of racism, supporters say the matter should be taken up by local school authorities.

“A three-day teacher training course won’t solve all of our problems, but it’s a step in the right direction,” said Shana Bender of the Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice. “Just when we know that districts are, there are signs of systemic racism due to underrepresentation, especially in our district.”

The $ 282 school board took no action on Wednesday but is due to meet again on June 30th.