Wes Pratt is the chief diversity officer of Missouri State University, and late last week Mr. Pratt gave a presentation on black history in Springfield and his own memories growing up there. As reported by the Springfield News-Leader, Mr. Pratt discussed a wide array of issues, several of which sound very interesting. But per the article, Pratt appears to have asserted in his talk that “[critical race theory is] not being taught in the public schools, it’s not even being trained in the public schools.”
Mr. Pratt is plainly wrong on both counts.
As the Kansas City Public School District has admitted and as we’ve demonstrated repeatedly over the last few months, critical race theory (CRT) and its associated concepts are appearing in curricula and teacher trainings across the state. The Columbia Public School District can misrepresent what it is teaching all it wants. The Springfield and St. Louis Public School Districts can hide what they’re teaching all they want. But we know these materials are showing up in classrooms across the state—in both big districts and small districts—and in diversity, equity and inclusion training materials with many teachers.
It is bizarre that a Missouri State diversity official would assert that CRT is “not being taught in the public schools, it’s not even being trained in the public schools.” Like I would for anyone interested in exploring CRT issues, I would be happy to sit down with Mr. Pratt so he can see the sorts of materials we’re finding. It may not be helpful to the audience he told otherwise, but finding out the facts late is better than never.
