BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – Amid nationwide controversy over its learning curriculum, the superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools defended its intents and said the criticism is a result of information being taken out of context.
“That content in the national headlines was taken out of context,” Buffalo Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash told WBEN. “Significantly out of context. Nothing in our work is intended to vilify. We intend to edify, not vilify. We are very pleased and honored to be leading this work in the Emancipation Curriculum.”
Fox News and other outlets this week put Buffalo Schools in the spotlight over its curriculum that they wrote pushed the idea that all white people perpetuate systemic racism. They cited Christopher Rufo, the contributing editor of City Journal, who appeared with Laura Ingraham to highlight the curriculum.
"Woke academics and educators are transforming schools away from academics and education and into politics," Rufo said on Fox News after reporting on a whistleblower’s comment.
The whistleblower claimed Dr. Fatima Morell, the associate superintendent for Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Initiatives, has been pushing “radical politics”.
Morell told WKBW the quote was from a four-page reading from “The Definition of Systemic Racism in Sociology”, which was given to middle schoolers
“While all White people and even many POC play a part in perpetuating systemic racism, it is important to recognize the powerful role played by White elites in maintaining this system,” the article reads. “White elites, often unconsciously, work to perpetuate systemic racism via politics, law, educational institutions, the economy, and racist representations and the underrepresentation of people of color in mass media.”
The article also discusses much about systemic racism, including how the enslavement of Black people created a long-term disparity in the United States.
Buffalo Schools introduced the Emancipation Curriculum in December with the goal of addressing equity, anti-racism, social emotional learning, and culturally responsive opportunities that lift Black and Brown voices in daily instruction. The district said they are using the National Black Lives Matter guiding principles to provide the framework.
The curriculum is divided into six segments based on grade.
Each segment features 20 to 25 lessons to focus on literacy, criticality, and ethnicities represented in the school community.
“We’re very pleased, actually, and honored to be leading this work in the Emancipation Curriculum,” Cash said. “The real thing should be (to) let’s focus on what we are doing and what we are teaching. What the response is and who’s developing the curriculum and why it’s so needed.”
Cash said the Emancipation Curriculum is needed in today’s age.
He said he’s not worried about the national reputation but said it would affect the reputation of the news outlets that promoted it.
“If they give us the proper time, they could invite us onto the news outlet and we’ll set the record straight,” Cash said. “It’s very easy to do. The publishings are all over our website and it’s something that is, again, inaccurate. We will correct that at any time.”
Cash said the curriculum is intended to “free one’s mind from misinformation and teach the truth.”
“I stand by it and we stand by our work here at Buffalo Public Schools,” Cash said. “We think we are leading the country and we don’t have to defend anything we’re doing. Others ought to join us and emulate what we’re doing.”