Are You On The Bus?
In 2019 and 2020, the Albemarle County School District introduced a controversial policy and mandatory teacher training based on critical race theory.
The goal was laudable-to eliminate "all forms of racism."
But it produced the opposite result. And what happened to Emily is exhibit A.
The school district introduced this policy and training just as public schools returned to in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers and administrators were balancing a whole host of new challenges, including adhering to health and safety rules and helping students who had fallen behind during virtual learning.
Not only could the policy and training have not come at a worse time, but Emily had massive concerns with what they taught.
Emily witnessed firsthand how the training actually instructed teachers to be racist. It taught them to view each other and their students solely through the lens of race.
Emily believes that every person is made in the image of God, deserving to be treated equally and with respect.
During the teacher trainings, white staff members who wanted to participate were shut down or dismissed. In fact, all staff members were encouraged to "speak their truth." But when white staff members did speak up, they were told that they couldn't possibly understand the topic because of the color of their skin.
They were dismissed and harassed based on their race.
During the trainings, it was suggested that anyone who opposed the new policy was racist. One administrator said teachers needed to consider whether they were on the "antiracism school bus, or if you need help finding your seat and keeping your seat, or if it's time for you to just get off the bus."
Even more disturbing: When parents expressed concerns about the curriculum at a school board meeting, an assistant superintendent said in a meeting the next day that he received the parents' comments as if they were slave owners who had raped his mother and sister, beaten him, and were now telling him not to talk about it.
Emily could not believe the growing hostility of the culture within the school system. But when she made one small slip of the tongue, she found out just how nasty things could get.
When that happened, Emily turned to ADF for help. Will you stand with her by making a gift right now to help fuel her legal defense-and the defense of other Americans like her? Your gift will double in impact!
The Shaming of Emily Mais
The group discussed the racial breakdown of the school district's new hires during one training session.
Emily made a comment on the topic, intending to use the phrase "people of color." But she accidentally said "colored" instead. She immediately apologized-profusely and repeatedly-but one staff member wouldn't accept her apology and proceeded to berate her in front of the entire group.
After this, abuse rained down on Emily for months.
Again and again, she was accused of being a racist for this slip of the tongue. No apology would ever satisfy. Other employees openly cursed about her and called her vulgar names at work, including "white racist b-ch."
Some coworkers came to Emily in tears about what was happening to her. But they dared not support her in public for fear of what would happen to themselves.
When Emily had simply had enough and was not willing to endure the abuse any longer, she left her job-a job that she loved.
But before she could leave, administrators orchestrated a final apology meeting to further humiliate, shame, and traumatize Emily for her slip of the tongue.
The message was clear for other employees: This is the type of punishment you can expect if you dare question the new radical, CRT-based training program-which is racist at its core.
With a gift today, you can help defend people like Emily and empower others to stand up to speech-squelching, racist policies like the one in Albemarle County.
Make a difference for Emily today
Emily was retaliated against for her speech, discriminated against for her point of view, and subjected to a work environment bitterly divided by race.
Teachers like her don't surrender their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse doors-or when schools adopt radical, racist policies.
But this is happening to a growing number of teachers and other Americans across the country.
That's why your gift today is so important. And thanks to the matching grant, your gift of $25, $50, $75, or $150 turns into $50, $100, $150, or even $300 of impact.
Emily is taking a stand to not only correct the injustice against her, but to encourage the other teachers and parents who have been vilified for speaking the truth.
She loved her job and received glowing review after glowing review. She believed in fairness for everyone. She took great pride in serving families.
It wasn't enough.
Your gift today will take a stand against the indoctrination of our public school students in critical race theory and other divisive ideologies-and for the teachers like Emily who dissent, only wanting to do what's best for her students.
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