Whistleblower: Texas State Department Requiring ‘Critical Race Theory’ Training for Employees

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) required training that incorporated key tenets of Critical Race Theory (CRT) for its employees, a whistleblower shared with Republican gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines. The whistleblower, who opted for anonymity, provided materials associated with a required course for DFPS employees, “Knowing Who You Are.” Upon completing the course, employees were instructed to take a survey where they were rated based on how much they agreed with statements acknowledging institutional racism and white privilege, as well as their level of commitment to being a good social justice activist. DFPS has over 13,000 employees.

{snip}

While the training materials do not explicitly say “Critical Race Theory,” they do incorporate some of its tenets. Summarily, the course pushes the idea that race and ethnicity are essential to every aspect of life. It taught that the most improper level of racial and ethnic identification (REI), “relative unawareness,” doesn’t prescribe meaning or importance to racial or ethnic differences and doesn’t identify in a particular racial or ethnic group, while the most proper level of REI, “commitment,” is keenly aware of racial and ethnic differences, identifies as a member of a particular racial or ethnic group or groups, and understands that each group has its own positive and negative aspects.

The employee training also focused on shaping the perspectives and attitudes of children. It taught that the “building blocks” for creating a healthy REI in youths are promoting racial and ethnic pride, developing multicultural competence, and preparing them for facing racism and discrimination.

The course also claims the existence of institutional or systemic racism. In making its point, the course claimed that race and gender determine everything, including wages, home loans, welfare reliance, and even length of stay in foster care.

The ongoing resources and opportunities advertised to employees included “Woke Wednesday!” and “Implicit Bias in Child Protection Webinar.”

{snip}

The training also discussed a work from the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, the Allegory of the Cave. In the allegory, men trapped in caves represent intellectual darkness. Plato posited that learning was like men making their way out of that dark cave into the light, or achieving enlightenment — the “good.” The training implied that the “good” was perfect REI awareness; in other words, a deep and abiding understanding of CRT.

{snip}