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JERSEY SHORE -- Labeling it "indoctrination" and "Marxism," several members of the Jersey Shore community called on the school board to pass a resolution rejecting a mandate from the state Department of Education for educators to be trained in culturally relevant and sustaining education (CR-SE).
"I'm preparing to take a stand to speak against what is coming against our children, what is coming against our teachers. Thank you for being proactive," said Don Peters, of Cummings Township.
The CR-SE program identifies eight competencies that must be integrated in continuing professional development programs no later than the 2023-24 academic year.
Peters asserted that the CR-SE program was partisan and politically driven by what he called, "higher ranking officials in one of the political parties of the United States."
He also credited California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton with playing a part in crafting the program as part of the "New America" group.
"These are the people that are putting this nonpartisan program together. There's so many things that I could say about it, but I won't take the time to do that. I just want to thank you board members for looking at these types of things," Peters said.
One of the competencies in the CR-SE program calls on educators to "identify, deepen understanding of and take steps to address bias in the system," according to state guidelines.
"We would agree that there's no place for racism in our community -- we all would all agree on that. Neither does Marxism, which this program pushes forward. There's also no place for partisan politics," Peters said.
Another competency deals with providing "all learners with equitable and differentiated opportunities to learn and succeed."
The lone speaker questioning the impetus for the resolution, Raye Bierly, of Piatt Township, who is an educator, asked that the vote be tabled.
"What are the legal implications, if any, for the district of adopting this resolution?" Bierly asked the board.
Bierly also requested the board strike a portion of the resolution which states that CR-SE is "contrary to the beliefs and expectations of the local community."
"This is not true. I'm a member of the local community. Others like me are members of the local community, and we don't find this type of resolution appropriate for our district. So, please don't suggest in your resolution that all members of the community support it," Bierly said.
In contrast to the applause all the speakers who spoke in support of the resolution received, only one person clapped when Bierly finished speaking.
The word "woke" was used by many of those who commented in support of the resolution.
Woke is defined as being "aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues" especially issues of racial and social justice, according to Merriam-Webster.com.
"A level of woke that has come upon public education has become intolerable to many parents. Your action tonight will be one step to assure parents that their children are and will continue to be protected from such indoctrination," Peters said.
Bierly's perspective of the program was markedly different.
"We're not talking about Critical Race Theory or anything like that. We're making sure that everything we do is fair and equal for everyone," Bierly said.
The board did vote unanimously in favor of the resolution, but not before board solicitor Christopher Kenyon said, "I just want to be clear that this resolution is not a directive by the administration, not by any legislative or legal requirements mandated by the state."
"What it is, is a resolution showing the lack of concern relative to local control and not supporting the measure as it's currently being presented," Kenyon said.
Speaking the day after the meeting, Dr. Brian Ulmer, superintendent, clarified the district's stance on the mandate.
"We're not going to not comply with the law, but we don't like it," Ulmer said.
During the meeting, one resident stated it in plain terms.
"I don't think that the state should tell our teachers what kind of continuing education that they need," she said. "They don't know what our teachers need."