School district to use race as the basis for deciding who can return to school

How is this not racism?

Fox News reports that one Chicago school district is going to prioritize students of color when schools reopen, giving them the first opportunity to return for in-person learning. 

Combating the pandemic – not COVID-19

The decision was made by Chicago’s District 65 and was announced by Superintendent Devon Horton.

“We are in a pandemic. And we also know that everyone is affected by this differently,” Horton said. “But there was a pandemic before this. That was inequity and racism, and classism, and all of these other things.”

In Chicago, there is a possibility that when school buildings do reopen they will not be able to accommodate all of those students looking to return. Hence the decision to give “Black and Brown students” and those “marginalized” or “oppressed” preferential treatment.

“We’re trying to support every single child to the best of our ability, and we can’t allow a political cash train to take over our decision-making regarding how we return our students to school,” Horton explained. “We have to make sure that students who’ve been oppressed, that we don’t continue to oppress them and that we give them opportunity.”

Horton went on to claim that District 65, with this decision, is just giving the community what it wants.

“I’ve heard for quite some time that this is a community that’s about equity for Black and Brown students, for special education students, for LGBTQ students,” he said. “We know that this is important work, and we’re going to prioritize that.”

So, racism is being fought with . . . racism?

As Horton stated, in addition to “Black and Brown” students, those struggling academically will also be given priority when students return to school.

This includes, according to Deputy Superintendent Latarsha Green, “students receiving free or reduced lunch, “students who received an I [Incomplete] or less than 50% on their report cards, emerging bilinguals,” “students with IEPs,” “students who are not performing according to reading or math grade-level expectations,” and others.

At least here a legitimate basis is being used for giving these students preferential treatment. Whether or not this is the right basis to use is another matter.

But, giving students preferential treatment for nothing other than the color of their skin – that’s just racism. I thought that’s what we’re supposed to be trying to get rid of?