Ryan Bomberger:‘Reducing Responsibility and Accountability Never Improves an Individual’
October 11, 2021
WASHINGTON D.C. — In an effort to avoid systemic racism among students, one Minnesota middle school is getting rid of failing grades. Sunrise Park Middle School in White Bear Lake, Minnesota responded to a recent “equity audit” with the controversial decision to remove any grade below 50%. Principal Christian Pierre stated, “Our whole intent is to ensure that grades focus on the process of learning,” with the new grading system not considering behaviors, attitudes, tardiness to class, turning in on time/late, neatness, or extra credit regarding a student’s overall grade in a class. Students will also have ten days after a grade is posted to retake or revise tests, quizzes, papers, and projects.
This controversial educational decision was made as a response to a recent “equity audit” designed to “develop and implement both meaningful and actionable equity strategies for the district.” According to the audit, “Grading can be one of the largest areas in which systemic racism and inequities are perpetuated.”
Ryan Bomberger, chief creative officer and co-founder of The Radiance Foundation (Radiance, www.theradiancefoundation.org), responded to this progressive learning strategy, arguing that the new model actually hinders children perceived as “oppressed” rather than levels the playing field. Bomberger commented, “This is the blatant racism of lowered expectations. The insanity of these destructive ‘equity’ efforts doesn’t elevate minority students or erase any real or perceived inequalities. Reducing responsibility and accountability never improves an individual. This is why many parents in vulnerable communities want the option of school choice so they can pull their children out of a failing public education system. Government-run schools have become bastions of systemic racism—keeping people of my complexion in a constant state of victimhood and dependence instead of positioning them for victory and excellence.”
The Radiance Foundation is a faith-based, educational, life-affirming 501c3 nonprofit organization. Through creative ad campaigns, powerful multimedia presentations, fearless journalism, and compassionate community outreaches, The Radiance Foundation affirms that every human life has God-given purpose. The Radiance Foundation speaks to a variety of different topics, such as Critical Race Theory, the Black Lives Matter movement, the LGBTQ+ agenda, and other critical issues. Radiance has helped to lead congressional briefings and summits on Capitol Hill on abortion, adoption, and racism, as well as spoken to thousands of students on campuses around the world including Harvard, Trinity College, Princeton University, University of Notre Dame, Mizzou, Columbia Law School, Penn State University, Eureka College, and Arizona State University, among others.
For more information on The Radiance Foundation, visitwww.theradiancefoundation.org or follow Radiance on Facebook.
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