A Wisconsin school district has been criticized for offering a whites-only racism class that encourages participants to explore their “privilege, whiteness and racism.”
In a email shared on social mediaDirector of Student, Family and Staff Engagement at Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District, Mr. Tony R. Dugas, invited the community to participate in a “powerful” 10-week “Witnessing Whiteness” series “carefully created for white individuals committed to anti-racism work.”
Parents Defending Education is now filing a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights against the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District for offering the course.
The complaint alleges that the class violates Title VI and the 14th Amendment because it uses federal funding to discriminate on the basis of race and national origin.
Parents defend education Vice President Caroline Moore told DailyMail.com: ‘Specifically targeting students based on race or gender is blatant discrimination and has no place in public schools.’
Parents Defending Education has filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights against the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District for offering a “Witnessing Whiteness” course
Middleton’s Director of Student, Family and Staff Engagement, Mr. Tony R. Dugas (pictured), invited the community to participate in a ten-week series “carefully curated for white individuals committed to anti-racism work”
‘All students, regardless of background, country of origin, gender or race, are eligible to participate in all educational programs. Any school that does not meet this low bar must submit paperwork to open a private school,” she added.
DailyMail.com has reached out to the school district and principals for comment.
Dugas said in the invitation that the class will use Shelly Tochluk’s Witnessing Whiteness book and curriculum to lead a discussion with a group of twenty or fewer white people.
“In this affinity space, we foster an environment of deep exploration for white attendees through experiential activities, group discussions, breakout rooms and interactive learning,” Dugas said.
“The series aims to build a community with a shared understanding of privilege, whiteness and racism, expanding your ability to initiate, support and deepen racial justice efforts.”
“Additionally, it is designed to cultivate leadership capabilities across diversity, inclusion and race.”
Tochluk’s website describes the book as “a comprehensive, nuanced, step-by-step path to a deeper understanding of race and anti-racist action.”
Parents Defending Education argued that the program divides the community because it discriminates based on race.
“The invitation claims that the affinity space ‘cultivates leadership capacities in diversity, inclusion, and race,’ but by dividing students and parents based on skin color and ethnicity, it actually does the exact opposite,” the complaint states.
‘Affinity groups have been created where students can bond around a common interest or hobby. Unfortunately, in recent years, affinity groups have fractured into groups that deliberately segregate students based on their race or gender,” Moore added.
The class uses Shelly Tochluk’s book Witnessing Whiteness (pictured) and curriculum to lead a discussion with a group of twenty or fewer white people
Tochluk’s website describes the book as “a comprehensive, nuanced, step-by-step path to a deeper understanding of race and anti-racist action.”
The complaint is based on an earlier ruling by the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, which found that the Oak Park River Forest High School District in Illinois discriminated against students on the basis of race by hosting a Black Lives Matter rally in 2015 for only African American students.
a user on Xformerly known as Twitter, said they contacted Middleton-Cross Plains Area School Board President Sheila Hibner about the Witnessing Whiteness group.
“This is an optional professional learning opportunity that is not facilitated by MCPASD staff,” Hibner said in the response posted to social media.
“It was shared because we received requests from our staff for learning opportunities like this,” she added.
“As our district becomes increasingly racially diverse, we want to provide our staff with tools and resources that are helpful in their work with students and families.”
Webster University has been offering a free Witnessing Whiteness program to faculty and staff in the St. Louis area for the past three years in partnership with the Young Women’s Christian Association.
“My motivation for joining the Witnessing Whiteness program was because I want to be a part of living and working in communities that are intentionally working toward racial equality,” said Hannah Verity, director of Global Program Development at Webster University.
“As a white person in today’s America, you don’t necessarily understand the full history of what Black people have experienced in this country and why,” added Director of Parent Engagement Billy Ratz.
“Witnessing Whiteness opens your eyes to that, and it makes you really understand the full historical significance of the laws that were passed, and the institutional racism across the country.”
Young Women’s Christian Association teachers lead ten two-hour sessions over fifteen weeks, teaching each chapter of Tochluk’s book.
According to Webster University, the Young Women’s Christian Association has sponsored Witnessing Whiteness groups since 2011.
Adrian E. Bracy, CEO of YWCA Metropolitan St. Louis said in The Kansas City star“Our program has created many committed allies in the fight for racial justice through education. Participants then carried the message of equality and justice back to their dinner tables, churches, neighborhoods and workplaces.”
‘The fact that the conversation starts in a separate room does not mean that it ends there.’
‘YWCA asks participants in Witnessing Whiteness to change their thinking. Instead of the idea that race only affects others, we challenge them to recognize that race affects white people, too,” Bracy said.