Sigh…if you have been following me for any length of time, then you know how much racism and White supremacy frustrate me,but something else frustrates me too. Before people jump to the conclusion that something is racist, I wish they would read and do a little research first before blasting something they may not fully understand. Below, I will list 7 myths about the CLT Exam that hopefully will help folks “rightly divide” truth from fiction:
Myth #1: DeSantis is using the CLT Exam to spread White supremacy and racism into the schools of Florida. Truth: I am NOT a fan of DeSantis (I call him Atlantis on social media), but we cannot help when a politician chooses to appropriate something for their political agenda. When they do that, it does not diminish the importance of the thing they appropriate. If we only use politics for the basis of rejecting something, then we may be causing our young people to miss out on an amazing educational experience. My hope is that this exam breaks into every single state in the USA. The CLT Exam was a group effort of Blacks, Whites, Christians, Non-Christians, Muslims, members of the LGBTQ community, Liberals, Conservatives and so many diverse humans, it simply is NOT what it seems. Some of the advisory board members (headed by the brilliant Angel Adams-Parham out of UVA) are Cornell West, me, Jessica Hooten Wilson (who is forever being called woke in the Christian community) and many more.
Myth #2: The CLT Exam is a Christian exam. Truth: I don’t know how that is possible, when people of different faiths and beliefs helped to create it. Christians were part of that process, but not the only voices. It is an exam created to be used in ALL universities and colleges, so it cannot be Christian.
Myth #3: The CLT Exam will only promote literature passages from the White canon. Truth: The canon is definitely in there, but so are Ida B. Wells, Gandhi, DuBois, Baldwin, Zora Neale Hurstone, Douglass, Augustine and many others from diverse backgrounds. These passages are so much better than the boring passages of most standardized tests and students get to read meaningful literature that they can really contemplate while taking the exam. Here’s the author bank and it is always evolving to be more inclusive (omg someone out there hates that word). Check out the author bank here: https://www.cltexam.com/tests/authors/
Myth #4: Students of color will not be able to do well on this test, because it will feel so disconnected from their human experience. Truth: I have seen students of color take this test and all of them said it was the most amazing experience. The literature they had to read, the writing prompts, etc. all connected to their human experience. It is a hard test, harder than the SAT, but more enjoyable. It is harder, because it does something that many of our schools do not teach…it makes the students think. We should ALL want this for our kids.
Myth #5: Jeremy Tate and the leaders of the CLT Exam are part of a White supremist mastermind plot to take over the world. Truth: Jeremy Tate and others from CLT are often accused of being “woke” and too friendly with chocolate folk like me and often have to defend their stance of inviting ALL of us to the Conversation. I hope everyone will consider giving the company a little grace, because they are sincerely seeking to change the quality of education for all people.
Myth #6: The CLT Exam will make it so diverse and non Christian students cannot get into college. Truth: The CLT Exam is one of several entrance exams students can choose to enter college. The SAT and ACT are still acceptable, so just use those if you do not think your child is ready for a CLT Exam. OR you can begin to expose your child to classical learning so they can have the brilliance of MLK, DuBois, Douglass, Angela Davis and James Baldwin, to really broaden their horizons…just a thought!
Myth #7: The CLT Exam is evil because Republicans support it. Truth: Republicans are not the only ones behind it. All types of HUMAN BEINGS are behind this exam because it is good. Please just get a copy of the prep manual or take a sample test to see for yourself. In this country the greatest change was made when Republicans and Democrats came together. Associating with one another should not cause people to be discounted. Do we discount the Civil Rights Act and MLK because he stood beside the racist president Lyndon B. Johnson as he signed the bill? I know a man who tried to start a classical charter school in DC called Cooper (after Anna Julia Cooper). Because one of his supporters was a known conservative organization, the DC board discounted his proposal. The assumption was that he planned to provide a Eurocentric curricula with a Conservative agenda and that was so far from truth. Some of us in classical education, regardless of how we may vote, sincerely desire to provide a robust, inclusive, racially diverse and TRUTHFUL classical curriculum where every child can see themselves in the curricula and thrive. To some of us bringing change to education is non-partisan, but will use the doors that partisan folk open for us to make sure ALL children gain access to the education that has revolutionized the lives of so many people…like Black people throughout history.
If I think of more myths, I will do a part 2! Please read and learn about the exam for your self. I was there when we discussed trying to get legislation to welcome the CLT Exam. Dr. King taught that change in America only comes through changing legislation. Well, the CLT Exam found an open door in Florida (God can use ANYTHING and ANYBODY) to bring in a test that may revolutionize how we educate ALL children across the country. Prayerfully, more states will open their doors to this exam, instead of letting a dislike for Governor Atlantis influence their thinking and understanding of the truth.
Dr. Anika T. Prather 