Bill proposes Vermonters pay reparations for slavery
A bill being considered in the House would create a task force to examine how Vermont might apologize and compensate for slavery — even though the state Constitution prohibited the practice.
U.S. Attorney, Vermont AG, and Rutland area NAACP to co-host Orange County Hate-Free Vermont forum
The United States Attorney’s Office, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, and the Rutland Area NAACP will be co-hosting a Hate-Free Vermont Forum for the Orange County community in Randolph on May 8, 2023, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Another school board in thick of a school mascot controversy
Last week the Green Mountain Unified School Board took on the controversial topic of school mascots and political correctness.
Nicholas Smith: About the April 13 vote on Vermont’s Education Quality Standards
It’s clear that the State Board of Education is looking to push these EQS updates through quickly, as is evident by the increasing frequency of meetings to finalize the proposal and the addition of this Special Meeting, with minimal notice.
Biden admin opens investigation into Shelburne Community School over alleged race-based student groups
Parents Defending Education, a group focused on parental rights, filed a civil rights complaint against Shelburne Community School in January for allegedly creating exclusive groups specifically for students and staff who were Black, Indigenous, People of Color.
Biden admin finds University of Vermont failed to investigate antisemitic cyberbullying allegations
The Department of Education Office of Civil Rights found during an investigation that the University of Vermont failed to address student’s reports of anti-semitism harassment including cyberbullying by other students and a teaching assistant, according to a Monday press release.
Union activist at center of Bernie Sanders Starbucks hearing has history of anti-Israel views: Report
Jaz Brisack, the lead organizer of the Starbucks Workers United (SWU) at the heart of an upcoming Senate hearing, was recently the subject of a new report that found a history of anti-Israel rhetoric.
Racial Equity Office says enough with all the equity task forces
The Vermont Climate Council is currently mired in controversy over accusations it is really just another embodiment of “white privilege” that only pays lip service to social justice.
John Klar: Vermont gangs rising and will get worse
If Vermont police arrest these extremely violent offenders, they are condemned as racists. No wonder crime in Burlington and Vermont is skyrocketing. It will doubtless get worse.
19 ‘freedom-loving states’ form anti-ESG alliance
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is leading the alliance, which includes Govs. Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Tate Reeves of Mississippi, Brian Kemp of Georgia, Spencer Cox of Utah, Jim Justice of West Virginia, Mark Gordon of Wyoming, and Kay Ivey of Alabama, among others.
Teachers, activists push school districts to drop calculus in the name of equity
Teachers and activists are pushing for high schools to drop their calculus courses to increase equity as many minority and low-income students don’t have access to the class, according to The 74, a nonprofit news organization covering education.
Lawmaker: Legislation that prioritizes ‘a particular group of people by name is discriminatory’
Last week, the House Committee on General Housing reviewed a report from the Vermont Land Access Opportunity Board and discussed racial disparities as a basis for allocating state resources.