A report reveals that a San Francisco Bay-area elementary school continues to grapple with low math and reading scores despite employing “Woke Kindergarten” to train its teachers.
High Hopes, Low Scores?
The school spent $250,000 in federal funds to improve scores in some of America’s most struggling schools and hasn’t seen the desired results, as per the San Francisco Chronicle.
Alarming Academic Stats
After two years of engagement with “Woke Kindergarten,” the situation seems to have worsened, with a 4% decrease in reading and math scores. Currently, at Glassbrook Elementary in Hayward, California, under 12% of students are at their grade level in reading, and less than 4% show proficiency in math.
Money Well Spent?
Jason Reimann, Superintendent of Hayward Unified School District, shared with the Chronicle that hiring “Woke Kindergarten” was primarily to increase attendance rather than test scores, a move supported by parents and teachers and approved by the board.
He highlighted that attendance has indeed risen by nearly 20%.
Striking the Balance
Reimann said, “Helping students feel safe and whole is part and parcel of academic achievement. I get that it’s more money than we would have liked to have spent.”
Abolishing Systems of Oppression
He continued, “We are in favor 100% of abolishing systems of oppression where they hold our students back. What I do believe is we should pick providers based on their work and how effective they are.”
Mission and Ideals
Reimann further explained, “Woke Kindergarten” describes itself on its website as “supporting children, families, educators and organizations in their commitment to abolitionist early education and pro-black and queer and trans liberation.”
Controversial Curriculum
The organization also introduces daily “Woke” words like “ceasefire” and “abolish” and encourages “Woke Wonderings,” which include questioning the “legitimacy of the Supreme Court” and discussing the abolition of the police, money, and the military.
Classroom Questions
Among these wonderings, one posed the question: “If the United States defunded the Israeli military, how could this money be used to rebuild Palestine?”
A Teacher’s Alarm
A concerned teacher at Glassbrook, preferring anonymity, expressed to the Chronicle the pressing need for reading improvement at the school. The teacher pointed out that the invested funds could have been more effectively used to employ a reading interventionist.
Training Tensions
The teacher also commented on the atmosphere during the “Woke Kindergarten” training, saying, “It slowly became very apparent if you were a dissenting voice that it’s not what they wanted to hear.”
Disrupting Whiteness
Tiger Craven-Neeley, another teacher at the school, shared with the Chronicle his experience with “Woke Kindergarten” trainers. They advised him to focus on “disrupt[ing] Whiteness” in his classroom.
Seeking Clarity
Confused, Craven-Neeley questioned, “What does that mean? I just want to know, what does that mean for a third-grade classroom?”
While he is open to discussing racism in the classroom, his pursuit of further clarification on these instructions led to his temporary exclusion from the training sessions.
Controversial Remarks
Craven-Neeley also mentioned that during one of the sessions, a trainer referred to the country as the “so-called United States.”
Dismantling White Supremacy
The “Woke Kindergarten” program declares its mission as creating an ‘abolitionist early learning ecosystem,’ aiming to guide teachers in dismantling white supremacy and disrupting racism and oppression, which are viewed as barriers to learning.
Beyond Reform?
The program’s “abolitionist education” philosophy, targeted at elementary school-aged children, is built on the belief that the current education system, deeply ingrained with racism and other oppressive structures, is beyond reform.
Instead, it supports the idea of a complete overhaul.
Starting Over
As UC Berkeley education professor Zeus Leonardo described to the San Francisco Chronicle, this perspective advocates for ‘a kind of starting over.’
Politics in the Classroom
“Woke Kindergarten” openly expresses its political stance, with its social media platforms featuring content about abolishing the police, anti-Israel sentiments, and even calls for the abolition of money.
A Founder’s Far-Left Ideals
Founded by non-binary early educator Akiea ‘Ki’ Gross, who uses they/them pronouns, “Woke Kindergarten” reflects Gross’s far-left ideology, which includes envisioning a world without the U.S. empire and Israel, a state they’ve labeled a ‘made-up place.’
Read Next: What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
Former President Donald Trump’s distinctive orange skin has captivated attention, sparking curiosity about its evolution from average pale over the years:
What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
21 of the Biggest Lies in American History
Dive into the shadows of American history as we explore 21 of its biggest lies that have left an indelible mark on the nation’s narrative:
21 of the Biggest Lies in American History
32 Things We Once Highly Respected but Are a Complete Joke Now
Discover the amusing downfall of once-respected entities in our changing world:
32 Things We Once Highly Respected but Are a Complete Joke Now
23 of Donald Trump’s Most Hilarious Moments as President
Explore the lighter side of Donald Trump’s presidency with 23 hilariously memorable moments that left the nation in stitches:
23 of Donald Trump’s Most Hilarious Moments as President
27 Things MAGA Movement Ruined Forever for People
How the MAGA movement left its mark on individuals and disrupted certain aspects of our everyday life forever:
