A Maine school district has agreed to change how it promotes “affinity groups” for students of color after receiving pushback from an anti-critical race theory activist organization.
In December, the New York-based Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR) sent a letter to Mt. Ararat High School Principal Chris Hoffman over concerns related to how the school was marketing skin-color based affinity groups.
FAIR’s complaint centered around the Topsham school’s promotion of their “Students of Color Coalition.”
The nonprofit organization cited a notice to Mt. Ararat High School students that stated “Affinity groups allow students who share any identity – usually a marginalized identity – to gather and talk in a safe space about issues related to that identity…The first group planned will be for students who identify as students of color.”
FAIR’s Managing Director of Legal Advocacy Leigh Ann O’Neill wrote in her Dec. 8 letter to Hoffman that the school organizing race-based affinity groups “will inadvertently reinforce stereotypes and contribute to division rather than unity among students.”
“It is crucial that schools adhere to anti-discrimination laws when promoting diversity and inclusion,” O’Neill wrote. “We respectfully urge you to review the formation and structure of these affinity groups to ensure that they align with the principles of equality enshrined in the Civil Rights Act.”
In her letter, O’Neill referenced Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits race-based exclusion or discrimination in any program or activity that receives federal funds, as well as the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against affirmative action in college admissions.
[RELATED: Maine Colleges Respond to Supreme Court’s Ban on Use of Affirmative Action in College Admissions…]
Maine School Administrative District No. 75 (MSAD 75) Superintendent Heidi O’Leary responded to FAIR in a Dec. 21 letter, pledging that the district would add language to its marketing material of affinity groups clarifying that they are open to all students regardless of race.
“Promoting inclusion and belonging for all students is an admirable goal that I wholeheartedly support,” O’Leary wrote. “However, we recognize that any initiative must align with applicable laws and policies.”
“To that end, the school district plans to add clarifying language to student handbooks stating that affinity groups and clubs are open to all eligible students regardless of sex and race or any other legally recognized classification,” she wrote. “Additionally, all communications and promotional materials related to these groups will clearly indicate they are available to any interested student.”
O’Leary expressed her hopes that the clarification would “alleviate any confusion or perception that certain groups are exclusive while still allowing students to gather and connect around shared interest and experiences.”
On Jan. 11, FAIR commended the response from the MSAD 75 superintendent in a post to their Facebook page.
“We applaud their willingness to make this change in accordance with civil rights law and support their renewed efforts to promote inclusion and belonging for ALL students!” FAIR wrote.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="25772 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=25772">3 Comments
I see collage influence here.
Does anyone really think that once they get rid of whites that the browns are gonna walk hand in hand and build a better America? It will be a literal blood bath.
These social justice warriors morph from one racial scam to another and the Libs just cave to them. If we’re to defund anything, we should defund the Dept. of Education and the Teachers’ Unions.