TOWN HALL GATHERINGS
At the Rutland Town Hall gathering, about 150 people gathered to hear speakers share their experiences with Critical Race Theory in our schools. Liz Cady spoke as a board member in Essex, about why and how she engaged to halt CRT in her school district. Tricia O’Connor, a newly elected Rutland City School Board commissioner, spoke urging more community discussion in these matters. Todd Filmore of SchoolHawk, gave a history of CRT and commented on his work to defend students’ rights to a public education free of political indoctrination and for the need of colorblindness, not CRT. John Klar, farmer, writer and former candidate for governor, spoke on numerous angles of CRT with wealth of humor mixed with insights. Rutland-2 Representative Art Peterson shared a handful of bills from the State House that embed language aligned with CRT in them.
In the media links below from this event, it is interesting to note how the media bias comes through. Both, cut in half the number of people that came out. Art's past involvements are more featured than his focus on bills that the State House has or is working on. Much of the content of the meeting was glossed over.
https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/local/rally-addresses-critical-race-theory/article_518ec8bb-fa65-56d3-8b95-980c22234067.html
https://www.wcax.com/2021/06/16/vermont-group-holding-town-hall-meeting-discuss-critical-race-theory/
In the media links below from this event, it is interesting to note how the media bias comes through. Both, cut in half the number of people that came out. Art's past involvements are more featured than his focus on bills that the State House has or is working on. Much of the content of the meeting was glossed over.
https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/local/rally-addresses-critical-race-theory/article_518ec8bb-fa65-56d3-8b95-980c22234067.html
https://www.wcax.com/2021/06/16/vermont-group-holding-town-hall-meeting-discuss-critical-race-theory/
Town Hall Gatherings have been held in Barre, Brattleboro, Bennington, Manchester and St. Albans, a couple other communities have held events including CRT and others are still being planned. Send a message to Advocates for Vermont if you'd like help organizing one.
Do you want to know more about what is happening in your school district?
Find someone local you trust who can read legalize. The bulk of the open meeting laws are found in Vermont statutes 1 VSA 310-317. 310-314 deal with actual open public meetings, executive sessions, etc., and document/email demands are addressed in 1 VSA 316. Any requests specific to curriculum are addressed in federal statute 20 USC 1232h (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/20/1232h),
Requests are limited to parents and guardians. Read up on these statutes, as they provide considerable power to the electorate, often to the shock and surprise of elected school boards, who often view themselves as above those who elected them.
A quick study of the guide to open meeting laws from the VT Sec. of State (https://sos.vermont.gov/media/vpnbxckz/a-guide-to-open-meetings-january-2019.pdf)
Find someone local you trust who can read legalize. The bulk of the open meeting laws are found in Vermont statutes 1 VSA 310-317. 310-314 deal with actual open public meetings, executive sessions, etc., and document/email demands are addressed in 1 VSA 316. Any requests specific to curriculum are addressed in federal statute 20 USC 1232h (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/20/1232h),
Requests are limited to parents and guardians. Read up on these statutes, as they provide considerable power to the electorate, often to the shock and surprise of elected school boards, who often view themselves as above those who elected them.
A quick study of the guide to open meeting laws from the VT Sec. of State (https://sos.vermont.gov/media/vpnbxckz/a-guide-to-open-meetings-january-2019.pdf)
What can I do?
Be Informed
Download a CRT toolkit link - click here
Read the Vermont Daily Chronicle - click here
Be Prayerful
This is a God sized problem. Start or meet with local prayer groups - click here
Be a Voice
Find local avenues to what's happening in your schools and community.
Sign on as an advocate - click here for information.
Sign on as an advocate - click here and indicate in the comments an interest in helping with a Town Hall event on CRT in your community.
Make plans to attend vtgrassroots.com/events
