As Teachers are Laid Off, There's Still Money in Education Budgets to Send Teachers to the "White Privilege Conference"

Most taxpayers realize the country, states and localities are in severe distress when it comes to paying for government programs. Public school teachers and administrators are being laid off to balance district budgets. Teachers still employed are being asked to pay for many of the materials needed in their classrooms, such as construction paper and other supplies.

But you can't cut out white guilt in Minnesota:

The Lakeville schools are sending a delegation of teachers to the 12th annual "White Privilege Conference" at the Bloomington Sheraton from April 13-16. The district is shelling out $160 a pop -- plus $125 a day for teacher subs -- for this "white guilt" festival.

Organizers say they expect attendees from a number of other Minnesota districts.

The conference is "built on the premise that the U.S. was started by white people, for white people," according to conference materials. Its mission is to get participants to confront their biases in a "journey in understanding white supremacy, whiteness, privilege, power and oppression," and to "agree to take action in [their] own circle of power."

In the mission statement, it says "It is not a conference designed to attack, degrade or beat up on white folks." Well, if you are starting from the premise that the US was started by white people, for white people, and you believe that "White Privilege is the other side of racism", it seems to be that white people are being judged by the color of their skin versus the content of their character.

Here's the flyer giving you information on how to make your reservation. Your high school, undergraduate or graduate student can obtain Academic Credit for attending this conference. And what will your student learn? You can find out in "What is White Privilege?". Check it out and learn what teachers and students will be learning about white people, and presumably, what teachers will be teaching their students in the classroom.

You might want to determine if your school district has signed up to send teachers to the conference. Does this conference further sentiment from a June 2008 Washington Times editorial on Obama's election (Obama's Victory is Proof of Racial Healing)?:

To to the media, politicians and all the others who operate from a fear-based paradigm, I say stop it. The voters have proven you wrong. And, please take note that America is really evolving on the issue of race. Based on Obama's victory, there is strong and compelling evidence that racial attitudes are changing for the better and perhaps forever in this country. So stop stoking the racial fires that have divided this nation for so long and support the change that is occurring before our eyes. This nation is healing as it relates to race. Why not embrace and nurture it? It's good for us and good for the world.

Is a conference on "white privilege" something to embrace and nurture for racial healing or is it continuing to stoke racial fires? What do you think? Should these theories be taught in schools?