Wake gets complaints over school assignments that asked about religion, showed profanity
The Wake County school system received complaints about two different high school assignments this week which critics are using to accuse teachers of pushing a social justice agenda.
One assignment brought up religion and privilege and another showed students Black Lives Matter photos that displayed profanity.
Students in a World History class at Wakefield High School in Raleigh were given an assignment this week in which they were asked to analyze photos documenting COVID-19 or the Black Lives Matter movement. The goal of the assignment was to strengthen the historical analysis skills of the ninth-grade students, according to Lisa Luten, a Wake County school spokeswoman.
“The students were provided with links to photo galleries about both topics,” Luten said in an email. “The teacher did hear from several parents with concerns. After reviewing the link again, she agreed that it had not been vetted properly and was inappropriate because some images contain profanity.”
Also this week, as part of a diversity exercise, a teacher at Middle Creek High School in Apex asked students to fill out a survey that included questions asking students to identify their religion and list two privileges they have.
The survey comes despite Wake teachers being warned last September that federal law prevents educators from asking students questions about their sexual behavior, religious practices and family income.
Luten said Middle Creek hadn’t heard concerns from its parents or students. But after a tweet and photo was posted about the assignment, Luten said people in the community complained and the teacher discontinued the activity.
“I am aware that the district received concerns from community members who saw the screenshot on Twitter,” Luten said.
Neither teacher is facing disciplinary action, according to Luten.
Critics allege ‘social justice’ agenda
Both incidents are being cited by critics who say they’re concerned about a “social justice” agenda.
“The kids haven’t been back a week, stuff keeps breaking down, but #ncschools have enough time to break out the social justice assignments?” North Carolina-based conservative talk show radio host KC O’Dea tweeted Thursday. “This whole virtual experiment’s going to be very eye-opening for parents.”
Wake County students started the school year Monday with online classes instead of in-person instruction due to COVID-19 concerns.
Some conservative Wake County school board candidates have also weighed in on the assignments. All nine school board seats are on the Nov. 3 ballot.
“When these socially and politically charged issues keep coming up day after day, it stops being an isolated/rogue event,” school board candidate Steve Bergstrom tweeted Thursday. “We need a change at WCPSS!! Time for unbiased, quality education.”
School board candidate Greg Hahn echoed Bergstrom, tweeting Thursday that the assignments are “just another example of division and poor leadership in our Wake County schools.”
Black Lives Matter message questioned
Donna Williams, chairwoman of the Wake County Republican Party, said that in addition to the political and anti-police messages that she personally disagrees with, she was shocked to see the Wakefield teacher using profanity in course materials. She has grandchildren in the school district and can’t believe that school leaders would approve of that, she said.
“This is not about politics, in my opinion,” she said. “This about raising young people to be moral. Why would you show young people that word?”
Williams said she has also petitioned the school board to stop promoting Black Lives Matter because she thinks it has a negative effect on students of other races.
“I’m not saying Black lives don’t matter,” Williams said. “But you’re going to tell a high school student your life doesn’t matter if you’re not Black? .... I’m sorry, but we send our children to school to get educated, and not on a liberal agenda which is what this is.”
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 1:12 PM.
