A Response to the Proposed “Glossary” for the Supporting Documents for the 2021 K-12 NCBOE/NCDPI Social Studies Standards
By Nancy Andersen, MD
The NCDPI/BOE social studies standards supporting documents are an exercise in progressive indoctrination. The proposed definitions are purposeful; that is structured to achieve a desired outcome or objective. They are highly manipulative to the point of being dishonest. For example, economics is much more than the study of “scarcity”, which would imply the need for redistribution of resources. Economics is the study of the production, consumption and transfer of wealth, the constructive pursuit of which should be beneficial to all parties by expanding the wealth available for distribution.
The NCDPI/BOE re-defines terms to force political agendas into classrooms. Who is the NC Board of Education and NCDPI to define American Identity? Furthermore, why would the NCDPI leave out the communist context behind “social justice”? The BOE/NCDPI are appointed individuals and bureaucrats, therefore political entities. Political re-definitions of American Identity and diversity and other concepts were done behind closed doors without accountability to “We the People.”
In addition, these definitions are vague and generalized, inviting abuse. For example, equity is defined as the ability to compensate various people or groups for perceived deficiencies, but who is to define what constitutes a deficiency, its cause, or the remedy? The solution is likely to be completely arbitrary and totally unrelated to the actual cause of the inequity. Yet this problematic aspect of the definition is not addressed by the NCDPI.
Finally, many of these definitions are illegal, even racist in nature. For example, the definition of diversity only concerns race, gender, and sexual preference, with no reference to ideas, skillset, or contribution to society. Is one who questions the NCDPI definition of “diversity” considered to be Un-American? Not at all. This is just one more example of the manipulative effect of these highly selective definitions.
Here are some selected NCBOE/DPI-dictated definitions. Underneath the NCDPI proposals, are definitions we feel are without implicit and explicit Progressive political bias, more accurately representing the good, the bad, and the ugly of these concepts:
American Identity: An American is commonly understood to be a citizen of the United States of America. Americans are known for their belief in independence and individual liberties as
expressed in the founding documents of the country, commonly known as the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution of the Unites States, and for their highly valued freedoms as articulated in the Bill of Rights. Americans have no state sponsored ideology or religion but
subscribe to a Republican form of government with a President and a bi-cameral Legislature,
called the Congress, directly elected by the people.
Diverse: Diversity is variety. When applied to a society, diversity means that the society is
made up of individuals, groups, and institutions with differences in personal experience,
education, religion, race, thought, ideas, wealth other traits, all coming together freely and
willingly as one nation.
Ethnocentrism: Judging other ethnicities/cultures by the standards of one’s own
ethnicity/culture.
Equality: In a society, equality means that each member be treated equally under the law and
that the individual rights and freedoms of each person be respected and honored by every
other member of that society. Social equality does not mean that every person is equal in
station, status, wealth, education, intelligence or any other personal trait or accomplishment.
Equality means that each person is free to apply his or her personal abilities to achieve
whatever status and degree of happiness one can make for oneself.
Equity is generally regarded as a persons’ financial stake in a venture or an asset. Equity can
often be exchanged for money or other items of value. In society, equity means that individuals be treated fairly and equitably under the law. Social equity does not mean that society grant each person varying degrees of advantage or support based on perceived disadvantages or deficiencies. That is up to the individual to accomplish or to overcome, using his or her own abilities and those of whomever others he or she may convince of their value. Some intellectuals believe the modern usage of the term “equity” is political propaganda, as Shelby Steele is quoted “This equity [racial equity] is a term that has no meaning…it carries the stigma that somebody’s a bigot”. See “How equality lost to equity.” By Tunku Varadarajan in The Wall Street Journal.
Human rights are basic rights of all men to freedom of expression and equal treatment under
the law. These rights are considered to be “God given” rights or “natural rights” and must be
respected as such, as opposed to rights that can be granted by other members of society or
governments, or not granted as some may desire. The most substantive definitions of human
rights in our society are expressed in the Declaration of Independence and in the Bill of Rights,
which is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. In this as in many societies, there are
those who would expand the definition of human rights to include physical necessities, such as
a right to health care, universal income, and other needs or wants that can be used to influence various political groups. The test of a true human right is usually based on what needs to be done to guarantee it. For example, for the right to freedom of expression to be put into practice, all that is required is the effort of the individual to express himself.
Individualism: Individualism is the sum of the defining characteristics of each person in society.Individualism includes a person’s beliefs, desires and goals, and the expression of them in ways that may differentiate one from other members of the society.
Inequity: Lack of justice or equal treatment under the law.
Oppression: Unfair or unjust treatment of others which usually involves some type of coercion
to perform certain tasks or espouse specific beliefs.
Privilege: In society, privilege means a special right, advantage, or immunity granted to
a particular person or group.
Racism: Racism is the practice of assigning status or basing decisions affecting various
individuals and groups entirely upon race, taking no account of individual rights and freedoms,
or the presumption of equal status under the law.
Social Justice: This is an irrelevant term that has no specific meaning but is often used by
groups seeking power or privilege to be defined to suit whatever particular goal may be at the
time. To quote famous economist, Thomas Sowell, “If you give the government enough power
to create ‘social justice’, you have given it enough power to create despotism. Millions of
people around the world have paid with their lives for overlooking that simple fact.”
Xenophobia: Irrational fear of people who are from other countries
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