New Trier High School, found in the suburban region of Chicago is in the spotlight after plans to have its annual seminar focus mainly on civil rights. Some parents have complained that the contents of the seminar are too politically progressive. The “Parents Of New Trier” group has called for more conservative viewpoints in the seminar. It has also asked for diversity in the speakers and workshops to be included during the seminar.
The seminar, which is to be held during Black History Month, has been termed by most parents as “radical” and divisive”. Conservative groups within the region have also supported the parents and are not in favor of most of the seminar’s contents. Petitions have been filed and circulated and heated emails have been exchanged over the topic. Later on, the school board’s meeting was packed beyond capacity.
Numerous workshops planned for the Tuesday event will cover topics such as voter suppression, police brutality, and affordable housing. Coleson Whitehead, writer of the accolade-winning, historical fiction piece “The Underground Railroad” is expected to speak.
Despite people’s complaints, the school has been adamant about its decision over the matter, claiming the event has already been set.
“The school went about this in a way that ensures it will be narrow and divisive,” Betsy Hart said. Mrs. Hart has two children enrolled at New Trier High School and is a member of the “Parents Of New Trier” group. She is a senior writer at the Conservative Heritage Foundation and says that her reasons for rallying behind the “Parents Of New Tier” group are separate from her day job. She says she expects parents to continue pushing for more conservative voices at New Trier High.
In a meeting with the school’s administration, the group provided the school with a binder full of research as well as a highlighted and edited schedule for the event. Yellow highlights represented language within the schedule that the group found objectionable while green highlights within the text represented suggestions the group considered appropriate alternatives.
All the same, most students and parents in the high school have expressed support for the day, deeming the topics to be discussed as appropriate. About 450 people signed a petition supporting a change in the day’s schedule as compared to 5000 who signed an alternative petition to have the day’s lineup remain as it is.
The school administration further said parents had the opportunity to air their concerns and that adding last-minute speakers to the seminar’s lineup would not add to its quality. “Critical thinking is about more than having two opposing views,” said Tim Hayes, an assistant superintendent.
“It’s a matter of the day being balanced. I see it as being too progressive and liberal,” she said. “You shouldn’t feel guilty for attending such a great school and having a great education. You should feel blessed.”
On the flip side, some students argue that the point of the day is being liberal. In preparation for the day, they have watched Spike Lee’s 1989 film “Do The Right”, which tells the story of racial tension within New York City before violence erupts.
