So, the New Jersey Education Association has some guidelines for parents on how to assist help their children and how to work with their children’s teachers. There’s one called “a parent’s resource” which is — presumably– for all parents. There’s another version called the “spanish version” which is –presumably– in Spanish. And then there’s a third version called the “African-American version” which is — presumably — one of the more racist things I’ve seen in a long, long time. And I live in Texas.
Want proof?
Parent’s Resource Version
WHY DO TEACHERS NEED MY HELP?
Today, there is an increasing emphasis on individualized instruction–fitting the curriculum to the child. Teachers want to employ new methods and materials to give each child personal guidance. When you assist teachers with growing paperwork, make instructional materials, or conduct a science experiment, you give them more time for planning activities, for trying new teaching strategies, and for working directly with children. As a parent volunteer, you allow them to be more effective teachers–and the school obtains your skills and services that might be unavailable due to financial limitations.
African-American Version
WHY DO TEACHERS NEED MY HELP?
Today, teachers want to use new methods and materials to give each child personal guidance. When you assist teachers, you give them more time to work with children. You allow them to be more effective teachers.
They have taken down some of the links (presumably because someone asked them to), but the page in question is still available from Google’s archives here –>New Jersey Education Association [NJEA – For Parents]
That definitely seems racist. Blech. But you know… I think the “African American” version is how it should be written for everyone. I didn’t read all of both versions, but if they say the same thing, and one has 2-3 times more words, then there’s something wrong with the one that has more words.
For all I know, the regular one was produced first and then they wanted to make another one with pictures of black kids on it to target to the African Americans (which I don’t necessarily think is racist…just targeted). But someone decided to edit it before they printed it because the first one was too darn wordy. So the African American one might seem dumbed down under the circumstances, but maybe it’s just written better.