Mastodawn

OMG. A bill that’s passed the Tennessee legislature encourages students to report professors teaching “divisive concepts” (i.e., race) & requires universities to publish 3 years of course grades & to see whether divisive concepts “affected learning outcomes”give students’ entering test scores & graduating GPAs, “disaggregating underserved minority students.” In other words, if minority students’ GPAs are above their entering stats, it must be bc of biased profs #HigherEd https://www.wbir.com/article/news/education/new-bill-would-strengthen-rules-over-what-can-be-taught-in-classrooms/51-ddd267e4-3d98-4de0-bb2e-3284740b4cb7

Sarah Fackrell Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger I just...

Ozma In The Dark Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger the fuck Tennessee?! I mean I know it's because Republicans can in that state. However...WHAT THE FUCK TENNESSEE?!

loza Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger thinking with the right lawyer could make this backfire given the decades of leaving out our full history from the curriculum and take a look at the grades of non whites after entering. Lol.

Mutesplash Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger Link is 404, seems to be because the latter part isn't a tracker but an article uuid

https://www.wbir.com/article/news/education/new-bill-would-strengthen-rules-over-what-can-be-taught-in-classrooms/51-ddd267e4-3d98-4de0-bb2e-3284740b4cb7

Bethany Berger Apr 23, 2023

@Mutesplash thanks—I hope I’ve fixed it now (bless mastodon’s edit feature)

Uneek Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger Wow!

David Lewis Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/11/the-cultural-revolution-50-years-on-all-you-need-to-know-about-chinas-political-convulsion

The Cultural Revolution: all you need to know about China's political convulsion

Fifty years ago one of the bloodiest eras in history began, in which as many as two million people died. But who started it and what was it for?

The Guardian

Chris Rory Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger America is done. Time to confront fascism or run.

LAF and LOVE Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger Beyond Insane. This is 1984 Chapter 1 …the beginning of total fascist reality.

Jeff Zugale - Z Factory Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger yes, once the fascists are able to reliably pass legislation to advance their cause, you’re pretty much screwed. They’ll make whatever they want illegal and destroy it. Get out of TN asap if you’re a target.

I wish I could be encouraging, but this is what they do once they’re entrenched, every single time. They’re boringly predictable and dangerous.

Woodswalked Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger
Reminds me of the Bell Curve, where Herrnstein used excellent statistical analysis showing affects of long term discrimination affects in education, which Murray claimed demonstrated proof of inherent White intellectual superiority. These are not written in good faith, they are exactly the bold faced racist ploys that you recognize them to be.

gallaugher Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger @SRDas this is terrifying. Being vocal and outraged doesn’t seem to be working. We need working strategies on reaching and mobilizing others on the existential threat of American Fascism. We are at a historical inflection point and the consequences of losing this battle are dire and horrifying.

Lotus Blossom Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger Seems to me this would violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment bc it specifically requires schools to "disaggregate" scores for "underserved minority students". Thoughts?

WeedenKim Apr 23, 2023

@Bethanyrberger

I can't think of a faster way to encourage faculty to leave TN, for TN universities to go test optional, or for students to stop reporting their racial identities (which universities must, in turn, report to the DoE in aggregate form).

Also, this is yet another example of mandatory reporting requirements foisted on universities by Republican state legislatures that will do nothing but increase administrative costs.

Darcy Apr 24, 2023

@Bethanyrberger

Well of course the Racist think a person other than a white person can't be at the top of their class,
What it really is that they are afraid of minorities. No different than when it was illegal to teach a slave to rea and write.
Or when the south fought hard to stop Black people from going to the same "good" schools as their white kids.

Things like this make me ashamed of being a white man!!!

Darcy Apr 24, 2023

@Bethanyrberger
I'm pretty sure if I were a teacher or professor in any of these Racist Red states, I would be looking for a job in a different state.
Just sayin

Linking Dot Apr 24, 2023

@Bethanyrberger Text of the Tennessee bill:

In order to assess the extent to which a divisive concept may have been included or has otherwise affected the curriculum, each public institution of higher education shall publish a current syllabus for each course offered in the current semester at the institution on the institution's website no later than the seventh (7th) business day following the first day of class for the respective semester.

MORE…

Linking Dot Apr 24, 2023

@Bethanyrberger
…(CONTINUED)

Each syllabus published pursuant to subdivision (e)(1) must include:
(A) The title and catalog description of the course:
(B) The course instructor's name;
(C) The course's required or elective status for relevant majors or general education:
(D) A brief description of each assignment. examination, lecture, discussion, or other class activity;
(E) The title of each book that is assigned or recommended for the course, including any textbook or workbook; and
CONT…

Linking Dot Apr 24, 2023

@Bethanyrberger
…(CONTINUED)

(F) The final grades for the three (3) most recent semesters that the course was offered.

(f) In order to assess the extent to which learning outcomes may have been affected by the inclusion of a divisive concept in the student learning experience, the Tennessee higher education commission may promulgate rules to require public institutions of higher education to submit data and information requested by the commission in a standardized format…
(CONT.…)

Linking Dot Apr 24, 2023

@Bethanyrberger
…(CONT)

a standardized format to allow the commission to provide an online organized data compilation that details the following:
(1) The number of students who completed a program at the institution for the three (3) most recent academic years, disaggregated by underserved minority students: and
(2) The students, identified in subdivision (f)(1).
(MORE…)

Linking Dot Apr 24, 2023

@Bethanyrberger
(…CONT) (2) The students, identified in subdivision (f)(1), results on a nationally recognized assessment that assesses a student's readiness for postsecondary education, if available to the school, and the students' final grade point average.
(END)

Linking Dot Apr 24, 2023

@Bethanyrberger Here's the image with some lightly edited alt text;

Fish Head Apr 24, 2023

@Bethanyrberger

1933 and counting.