Dupage Policy Journal

Naperville School District 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges is standing firm in his push to bring critical race theory (CRT) training to the district.

In a Countywide Equity Institute video recently made public, The Federalist reports Bridges “quadrupled down” on the idea and more recently sent a mandatory Google survey to faculty and staff to select a book by one of the speakers to “further their learning” after the training.

“Let me be perfectly clear with our community,” Bridges said in the video. “We will not tolerate hateful comments and threats. While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, threats to the safety of our staff and presenters will never be tolerated. This is unacceptable. Naperville 203 is supporting teachers and other staff and building their capacity to create inclusive learning environments, where all students are represented, have equitable access, can meaningfully participate in all aspects of teaching and learning.”

All across the state, the issue of critical race theory learning has become a hot-button issue.

Earlier this year, faculty and staff members from Naperville 203 Community Unit School District attended the Countywide Equity Institute where Dena Simmons Ed.D, gave the keynote speech and only added to the level of controversy by asserting “our education is based on a foundation of whiteness.”

In all, there were 10 speakers that took the stage, many of them pointing out ways they feel that educators can work toward equity and inclusion for students who might otherwise feel “marginalized and/or underrepresented.”

This event took place after the state’s approval of Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards, a platform that obligates teachers “to embrace progressive viewpoints and assess how their biases might affect their own behavior.”