Is it ok for schools to ask students about “any perceived privilege they think they may have” and to play game of “Privilege Bingo” in the classroom?

[Anonymous]

Reference article: https://www.toddstarnes.com/education/virginia-public-schools-tells-military-kids-they-have-privilege/

Note: per the above reference article, “According to screenshots and curriculum information retained by the Daily Wire, the students would play “privilege bingo” where they would get privilege points depending on how many squares they marked.

Some of the squares listed: “white,” “Christian,” “heterosexual,” “cisgender,” “male,” “mentally healthy,’ — and “military kid.” “

Yes

No

Maybe

[Heartache0405]

I remember doing something like this in a college writing class. It just makes people feel bad about where they are in life vs those who are fortunate to be where they are in life. It gets people riled up and angry unnecessarily.


Why do something like that when everyone in my class doing it was fortunate enough to be in said class? Yet the questions still make them feel less fortunate than other students, and why bring that shit up in the first place? No one needs to know that I sleep on an actual bed and not a mattress in the corner. Or that my father was a part of the home when someone else wasn’t. It’s a game of, hate your classmates because of where they are in life because not everyone has the same life.

[Asker]

You asked “Why [would schools] do something [an exercise] like that…?” Well, you sorta answered your own question…

You said:
“It just makes people feel bad about where they are in life…”

“It gets people riled up and angry…”

“…the questions [make students] feel less fortunate than other students…”

“It’s a game of, hate your classmates because of where they are in life…”

My thoughts:
Schools and others in positions of influence & authority want people to feel in the discontented ways you observed above.

A society/country can’t easily “upend” or “fundamentally transform” itself (and replace it with another) unless everyone is dissatisfied and feeling that they are “less privileged” and “more disadvantaged” and “more oppressed” than others are.

[AimeeKyle]

No, it’s a bullshit question for kids. Kids (depending on their age/parents/socioeconomic status) have little to no worldly experience to draw from in order to answer the question appropriately.
From the material above it looks like it is a leading curriculum. Meaning the designers of the curriculum want certain answers / outcome and the material is leading the children there. The ultimate goal is to lift some and punish (make them feel bad) others.
One word, indoctrination.

[Asker]

Well said.

[youngmix]

Being a military kid is an honor, but I'm not sure it is really a privilege. They get certain insurance rates for specific kinds of loans, I guess. Is there any other perk? I think it's actually a life with a bit of sacrifice.

[Curmudgeon]

But see, the people pushing this HATE military people and want to induce resentment of them. Understand the agenda behind those pushing this, and it starts to make an appalling sense.

[Asker]

@youngmix
Well said.

@Curmudgeon
People are doing more than spreading “hate & resentment” for the military. They’re trying to divide and tear down the USA by race, religion, gender, financial/social status, etc.; and build another type of country in its place.

[Curmudgeon]

@Gagname Absolutely. I don't just call them Demunist Commiecrats for rhetorical pizzazz.

[Flower7]

No, this is not okay. It draws attention to racism. And for children, that’s not something they should have to think about yet.

[Asker]

It’s not just about racism, it’s dividing the country because of race, religion, gender, financial/social status, etc.; spreading “hate & discontent” along those lines, and of the military too.

[AviatorTom]

Depends what the teacher does with it. It might be a good learning experience for the students to realize that others have different opinions, or that some of these are not privileges at all. If the teacher emphasizes some as being good (Christian for example) that would not be good.

[Asker]

It’s not an open-ended question/discussion that’s going on in the classroom.

Students are given an “Identifying Your Privilege” matrix with squares marked with specific types of people & situations on it, which influences students to believe that certain things—such as…

“White”
“Male”

“Christian”
“Heterosexual”
“Cisgender”

“Military kid”
“Parents are married”
“Never been racially profiled”

Etc.

…are “privileges.”

Students then use that “Identifying Your Privilege” matrix and “play ‘privilege bingo’ where they would get privilege points depending on how many squares they marked” for the privileges that they had.

My thoughts:
1. This school exercise is NOT a “critical thinking” or “good learning” exercise, but rather an “influencing/brainwashing” exercise.

2. Schools and others in national positions of influence & authority/power want everyone to feel discontented—dissatisfied, feeling that they are “less privileged” and “more disadvantaged” and “more oppressed” than others are.



3. Question:
What’s the purpose of sowing widespread “hate & discontent” and jealousy of others in schools via a “Privilege Bingo” exercise, or via biased influencing words from “news organizations” or elected representatives?

Answer:
To make a society/country ready & willing to “fundamentally transform” (or in plain-talk: “upend” or “overthrow”) itself and replace it with another type of society/country.

[Curmudgeon]

This is the Leftist Democrat Party of today at work. Manchin, Sinema and Gabbard might be laudable exceptions, but vote against it accordingly.

[Asker]

It’s definitely at least teachers going along with some peoples’ idea of taking advantage of kids in school by influencing them in their beliefs.

Some people are trying to tear the nation apart—by dividing people because of race, religion, gender, financial/social status, etc.

[JaneDoe455320]

If you want to teach kids about diversity, racism, segregation, or privilege, conduct the Jane Elliott Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes exercise. Actually show people what racial inequality is do not do hypnotic political classrooms stunts like privilege bingo.

[Asker]

@janedoe455320
Thanks for mentioning the Jane Elliott “Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes” exercise.

All:
Read about Jane Elliott and see 2 videos of that exercise below…

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Elliott

https://youtu.be/jPZEJHJPwIw

https://youtu.be/Nqv9k3jbtYU

[JaneDoe455320]

That experiment is a legitimate unbiased way to teach kids about diversity, and not bring politics or far left liberal ideas into our children’s education.

[JaneDoe455320]

@Gagname
Their will never be another teacher like Jane Elliot again

[Asker]

In the “Motivation to teach about racism's effects” section of the Jane Elliott Wikipedia article it says the following…

“On the evening of April 4, 1968, Elliott turned on her television and learned of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. She says that she vividly remembers a scene in which a white reporter pointed his microphone toward a local black leader and asked things like "When our leader [John F. Kennedy] was killed several years ago, his widow held us together. Who's going to control your people?"

Elliott then decided to combine a lesson that she had planned about Native Americans with a lesson that she had planned about Martin Luther King Jr. for February's Hero of the Month project [and] wanted to give her small-town, all-white students the experience of walking in a "colored child's moccasins for a day".”

[TadCurious]

Of course it's not okay. It's cultural Marxism disguised as "diversity, equity and inclusion" bullshit.

[Asker]

Yeah, it’s not just “tearing down statues”…

it’s moreover an attempt to tear this country down, to “fundamentally transform this country”—by dividing people because of race, religion, gender, financial/social status, etc.; and build another type of one in its place.

And some teachers going along with some peoples’ idea of taking advantage of kids in school by influencing them in their beliefs is part of that plan.

[notwoke]

Yeah, it's Ok if you want them to grow up to be retarded. This is a great way for liberals to keep the racial tension up so they can keep getting elected

[Asker]

It’s definitely at least teachers going along with some peoples’ idea of taking advantage of kids in school by influencing them in their beliefs.

[notwoke]

ever see a genius going to college to be a teacher... No, they become doctors and engineeers

[Jersey2]

Defund the schools and give parents school vouchers.

[Asker]

How did you vote in the poll to this question?

[Jersey2]

I voted no. I don’t like the schools always saying there is privilege for white Christian males etc. There are a lot of privileges given for not being those things.

[Asker]

Ok yeah, it would be more accurate to say that nowadays whites & males & Christians have (virtual) “kick me” signs on them in society, and are at the top of a “Others are prejudiced against you” list.

[Curmudgeon]

@Jersey2 with one caveat: that there be safeguards against the government using said vouchers to compel the agenda onto schools that accept the money. What the government funds, the government can control and all that.

[joeldalton]

This whole notion of 'privilege' is utter bullshit. It needs to be removed form the culture.

[Asker]

Yes, and first removed from the schools.

[AllThatSweetJazz]

"They're not teaching critical race theory in schools you guys."

[Asker]

True, they’re teaching racism and “victim-mentality.”

[awkward_author]

In my opinion, this is inappropriate for any student below high school.

[Asker]

I don’t think it’s appropriate beyond high school either, unless maybe it’s done in a college Psychology or Sociology course that’s discussing “Modern Day Brainwashing,” and/or “How Authority Figures Abuse Their Positions.”

[awkward_author]

I was thinking since privilege is a sociological concept, it would be fine to discuss in a Sociology class, which is an optional course for high school students to take.

[UsernameXLTX]

America is broken. When being a normal human is classified as a privileged, society is fucked.

[Smokeyno1]

Correct

[Asker]

@usernamexltx
I agree, and more than that: some people are trying to tear the nation apart—by dividing people because of race, religion, gender, financial/social status, etc.

[UsernameXLTX]

Divide and conquer a classic tactic.

[Anonymous]

No, they only tell one side of things, they don't show black privilege bingo.
- Can say racist things against other races and use the N word freely.
- Can protest and burn down buildings without it being called domestic terrorism.
- Can degrade other races in pornography and claim superiority, but it's accepted.
- Can go around in the year 2022 expecting white people to be sorry for slavery even though none of us were alive back then.

[Asker]

All racism is wrong and your comments aren’t helpful.

Plus, what’s going on—evidenced by that many-squared matrix—goes beyond only racism, it’s teaching a “victim-mindset and attempting to divide people in multiple ways—because of race, religion, gender, financial/social status, etc.

[Opinion Owner]

I'm showing that it's always one-sided. Of course they should'nt draw attention to black privilege anymore than they should white privilege. Two wrongs don't make a right. They should get off their high horses and start teaching kids something useful instead of this white guilt, race shit.

[Asker]

I don’t agree with your thoughts about @black privilege.

Also, it’s wrong to stereotype any group of people—everyone’s different, and not everyone in any group thinks and acts alike.

[Asker]

* about “black privilege”

[exitseven]

Anyone ever play Wal Mart bingo?

Walmart bingo

[Anonymous]

Did anybody even read the article? I don’t think so, because if you did, you would know that this exercise isn’t even about assigning “privilege.”
It’s asking about if these different thing do have privilege, and what do THE STUDENTS think those privileges are. Now, if the teacher is directing the conversation and telling them who is and isn’t privileged, then I can understand why people would get angry. But I am all for allowing students to have the conversation among themselves.

[Asker]

I did read the article, where it says…

- - - -

“Students are asked, in the lesson, to read critically and think critically about the author’s perspective on several fronts including the author’s privilege that may or may not be present in the work,” Tyson said.

“Students are then asked independently and self reflectively to juxtapose their thoughts regarding any perceived privilege they think they may have and how they would potentially rewrite portions of the text,” he added.”

- - - -

The students are given a “Identifying Your Privilege“ matrix that identifies such “privileges” as ”White,” “Christian,” “Never been racially profiled,” “Feel safe around police officer,” “Cisgender,” “Able bodied,” and “Male.” And the students are asked to play “Privilege Bingo” looking at the matrix and reflecting on their own own privileges.

Such an exercise & “privilege suggestions” being thrust upon & fed to children are totally inappropriate and “indoctrination,” especially in school.

[Opinion Owner]

You quoted it yourself, “Students are asked, in the lesson, to read critically and think critically about the author’s perspective..” Sounds to me like they are asked to question the things the author claims are privilege.
Thinking critically and having discussions about perceived privileges is a good thing.
Assigning those privileges to students isn’t.

[Asker]

A school handing out an “Identifying Your Privilege“ matrix which identifies that being “White,” “Christian,” “Cisgender,” “Male,.” “Military kid,” etc; as being “privileges” and then having the students play “ ‘privilege bingo’ where they would get privilege points depending on how many squares they marked” are NOT “good things”; and should not be a part of anything that happens in school, or be assigned as work done out of school..

[Opinion Owner]

Are they identifying those titles as privileged? Or are they asking if they are? Unfortunately, the only sources I am finding that speak about what is actually happening inside the class is all right-wing questionable sources. It’s hard to take them seriously enough to believe their version of events are accurate.
Again, if they are telling students these things are positions of privilege, I agree that that is not okay.
But if they are asking them to discuss if these are positions of privilege, and why we believe they are or are not…. I think it’s a good conversation.

[Asker]

Two points:
1. Students aren’t asked: “think about how you might be privileged”—which I think is wrong for a school to ask; they are instead given a matrix called “Identifying Your Privilege” with different types of “privileges” identified on it, and then…
2. Students “would get privilege points depending on how many squares they marked” for the privileges they thought they had based on the “privileges” identified on the matrix.

Schools are about teaching skills & information and how to think, not about telling students what to think or subtly (or not so subtly) influencing a student to think a certain way.

[Anonymous]

You notice the only minority that has to openly argue their lives matter are blacks. You don't see Hispanics or Asians having to argue that their lives matter, because society can see how their lives matter. However, blacks around the world are seen as a hindrance to societal advancement, not as part of the process to improve society. THIS is why they are the only race that has to shout at the top of their lungs "OUR LIVES MATTER".

[Asker]

This question isn’t about “Black Lives Matter” or racism.

It’s about schools handing out a pre-defined “Identifying Your Privilege” matrix/grid to students and asking them to play “Privilege Bingo” with it, and to identify which of the “privilege” squares (identifying certain types of people & situations) on the matrix/grid that the students had.

[Opinion Owner]

Privileges come with power. He who holds the power has privileges. Whites have been the most powerful race throughout the history of the world. They have created the government in over 90% of countries around the world. And the other 10% were just countries whites didn't care to govern. So, these bingo cards in these classes need to remind the students HOW whites got their privileges by dominating the world. Privileges were earned, not just given.

[SaoirseS]

Nope, not at all. It serves no meaningful purpose.

[Dinosaursandanime65]

I just expect them to expect idiotic answers

[Asker]

It’s not an open-ended question that’s being asked…

Students are given an “Identifying Your Privilege” matrix/grid (seen in the 2nd & 3rd pics within this GAG question) which is suggesting to them—and influencing them to believe—that the types of people & circumstances listed within that matrix/grid are “privileges.”

[supercutebutt]

It's fine. Only snowflakes can't handle challenging situations. Grow spines, Trumptards. :)

[Asker]

The heart of this matter isn’t about “handl[ing] challenging situations.”

It’s about whether it’s appropriate or not for schools to influence students by handing out a pre-defined “Identifying Your Privilege” matrix/grid with predefined “privilege” squares (identifying certain types of people & situations) on it to the students.

Note: if “privilege” items identified on the matrix/grid were changed, then you could change the influence you

[Asker]

…you were making.

[supercutebutt]

OMG grow up. If I had a nickel for every time someone did or said something that made me uncomfortable, I'd be a wealthy bastard. Move on.

[Asker]

You should stop seeing the world with your “woke-colored/filtered glasses.”

Schools should be about teaching skills & information, not about influencing & indoctrinating.

[supercutebutt]

Start your own school, dude. You can teach kids that a 2,000yo magic baby died for their sins. LOL.

[Asker]

Great job going way off-topic. SMH

[supercutebutt]

Teaching kids about racism is legit. Teaching them superstition isn't. Why? Racism exists and magic babies don't. Prioritize your pet peeves. OK, friend?

[Asker]

I see it’s hard for you to stay on-topic.

The exercise was about “privileges,” and not about racism.

And my point is that that no influencing whatsoever should be done in schools, regarding what are/are not privileges.

[supercutebutt]

Sure thing dude. Now go grab your torch and march around a statue. :)
Tell the world, "Jews will not replace me! Jews will not replace me!"

[Asker]

Thanks for providing more proof that it’s hard for you to stay on-topic.

[TacosRAwesome]

Depends on whether it makes sense as part of the subject's curriculum or not. It shouldn't be used to shame people or victimise them though.

[Asker]

Did you vote in the poll to this question? (If so, how did you vote?)

I ask this because there is currently only 1 “Maybe” vote and diwira said she cast a “Maybe” vote.

[bigslab]

Privilege Bingo seems like an idiotic idea

[bigslab]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ucR-1NodAs

[EmmaMary]

No, absolutely not.