“Human Experience + Cultural Perspectives” is a semester-long elective offered for the first time this academic year at Mariemont High School.
The Course Description states: The course equips students with a critical lens to see the world – and their place in it – by supporting them in the important work of learning and reflecting about the human experience and interpersonal relationships… Students will seek out diverse perspectives.
The curriculum includes “Possible Texts to Spark Inquiry” in each Unit. As one example, the first resource listed in the “Justice” unit is a 9-minute YouTube Video as presented to a group of college professors.
Please take the time to watch this video. Picture Grade 9 to 12 students comprehending Professor West’s 9-minute sermonette.
West is a professor of theology and philosophy; he is a self-avowed “Prophet.”
His 9 minute video references
- Percy Shelley and his concept of what is a Poet
- Mamie Till of the Civil Rights movement
- Rev Reinhold Niebuhr Moral Man & Immoral Society from the 1930s
- The Old Testament Prophet Amos with West’s interpretation
- Greek Philosopher Plato
- Gospel singer and Church Bishop Walter Hawkins and a song generally considered to be about the Holy Spirit (with extra lyrics of prophecy added by the Professor as though they are part of the song)
- Karl Marx in a positive light if only not corrupted by Communists
- Gyorgy Lukacs – an avowed Marxist – from whom the Professor learned that capitalism leads to pervasive, ubiquitous commodification tied to militarization …. The Professor adds which leads to niggerization (his words, not ours)
- The Wall Street Industrial Complex, Donald Trump, Barack Obama. CIA, Pentagon, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Honduras, Libya, West Bank. Sly Stone, Thoreau, Black Lives Matter
The Professor uses terms existential, petrification, ossification, cupidity, venality, vanguard, dialectical interplays and of course ubiquitous commodification tied to militarization that leads to niggerization (his words, not ours).
Is this Teaching? Or Preaching? Professor West weaves his chosen poets, tidbits of scripture with no context, philosophers, singers, moments in history to PREACH – to PROSELYTIZE – his form of the Black Liberation Theology movement. He co-opts his interpretation of select Scripture and Old Testament prophecy to justify his Marxist principles.
It’s sophistry or preaching, not real teaching. One guy, however clever or entertaining, spews forth his leftist hot takes on 20 different political issues. This doesn’t get one any closer to thinking about justice (if that’s what we’re trying to learn about here). It just gives you a list of things you’re supposed to feel a certain way about.
Just a few issues with this material for this class.
- This is not HS-level presentation material. Even a year of college philosophy would not prepare a student for this sermonette.
- It is not OK to preach religion in public HS. Religion falls in the realm of parental direction. The Supreme Court has long established that it is impermissible for public school officials to gather an audience for religious instruction. (Establishment Clause).
- When did he actually tell us the difference between Justice and Revenge? Who knows?
- Looking through the rest of the texts to spark inquiry, there is no counterpoint, no alternative to his anti-capitalist viewpoint. Great works of thought on this topic are omitted. A simple example, what economic system provides the most opportunity for everyone? With only Professor West’s view, it is not education, it is indoctrination. Even Professor West would find that intellectually and academically fraudulent.
B4MS encourages Mariemont High School to present a diverse perspectives, just as the stated goal of the course. When it comes to Justice, this Unit seems to present a one-way street.