The Somers Record 01.05.2023

Vol. 11 No. 39 Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. Thursday, January 5, 2023

Tragic fire takes the life of Somers man

BY TOM WALOGORSKY nated. With assistance from Yor- life of a Heritage Hills resident in friend and neighbor,” the family Richard Michael Jordan
ktown re personnel, responders February. said. “He will be dearly missed.”
AND BRETT FREEMAN conducted a search of the home,
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER but were unable to immediately Richard Michael Jordan is survived by his de-
enter the room that was on re. Jordan voted wife, Evelyn Jordan; his
State Police and the Westches- Utilizing a pair of handlines, re- children, Sean Jordan, Jeremy Jor-
ter County Department of Emer- Richard Michael Jordan was dan and Catherine Jordan Deut-
gency Services are continuing to ghters were able to eventually a loving husband and father of meyer; his grandchildren, Aidan,
investigate a tragic house re in extinguish the blaze. three children, according to an Sarah, and Macklin Jordan, Lilian
Amawalk the day after Christmas obituary submitted by the family. Jordan and Harper and Waylon
that took the life of 72-year-old Once the volunteers were able Deutmeyer; his father Gerard
Richard Jordan. to conduct a complete search of He was born on April 30, 1950, Jordan; his brothers Dennis Jor-
the house, they discovered Jordan, in Brooklyn to Gerard Jordan and dan, Kevin Jordan, Brian Jordan
At 9:23 a.m. on Dec. 26, mem- who was deceased, in the room Eileen (Murphy) Jordan. and Gerard Jordan; and his sis-
bers of the Somers Volunteer Fire where the re orginated. Nobody ters Eileen Jordan Mulcahy and
Department were dispatched to else was home at the time of the He grew up in Brooklyn as the MaryAnne Jordan McVeigh.
a structure re on Barlow Court. oldest of seven children. He grad-
Units arrived at 9:29 a.m., imme- re. uated from Arizona State Univer- A funeral service will be held
diately seeing ames within the Approximately 60 re ghters sity and worked as a food broker for immediate family.
2-story wood-frame home. were on scene, and no injuries to for over 40 years. roughout his
responders were reported. Somers life,he served on the boards of nu- In honor of Jordan, the family
Chief Jon Mackey assumed volunteers were on the scene until merous charitable organizations. asks for donations to the Somers
control at the scene, and members about 4 p.m. Volunteer Fire Department in lieu
of the department were able to “Richard was a generous, com- of owers. Donate at somersvfd.
keep the re contained to the area e tragedy marked the second passionate, hardworking husband, com.
of the house where the re origi- fatal re in Somers during 2022. father, son, brother, grandfather,
A two-alarm blaze claimed the

Olympic heroes!

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCSD e Somers Special Olympics team was chosen as the Training Club of the
Year by the Hudson Valley Special Olympics organization. e team was rec-
ognized for its enthusiasm, dedication, participation, and support of Special
Olympics. Pioneer team members, coaches, and volunteers accepted the award
at the annual recognition ceremony.

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CLASSIFIEDS
ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 22
LEGAL NOTICES
LEISURE 2
OPINION
SPORTS 22

18 CELEBRATE!

8 Seniors Holiday Party
16 pg 12

Page 2 – The Somers Record ELEPHANT’S TRUNK Thursday, January 5, 2023

The Staff Somers Parks the Appalachian trail, or camp- velopment, teaches citizenship Somers AYSO
and Recreation ing at one of our State Parks. Ex- and responsibility, embeds useful
EDITORIAL TEAM cursions for all ages and levels of outdoor survival skills, can spark INDOOR SOCCER
TOM WALOGORSKY WINTER PROGRAMS 2023 experience. Scouts explore their career interests, and boasts excit- Jan. 14 through March 11
EDITOR: 914-302-5830 Winter programs are now personal interests through over ing activities that few outside of AYSO soccer is back with a
[email protected] 135 merit badges. Scouting have the opportunity to
WHIT ANDERSON available online. Registration be- experience. full schedule! To be held Satur-
gins on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 10 Troop 228 is sponsored by days at Somers Sports Arena:
SPORTS EDITOR a.m. Visit www.somersny.com, the Somers Volunteer Fire De- Celebrating 30 years in Somers, U5/U6 Division (10 - 11 a.m.),
[email protected] partment. We are proud citizens Troop 376 is sponsored by the U4 Playground (11 a.m. - 12

VIM WILKINSON then click on “Parks & Recre- and actively give back to Somers Somers Lions Club and proudly p.m.), U7/U8 Boys Division (12
SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR
[email protected] ation,” and scroll down to click through community service and o ers a well-balanced “Adult- - 1 p.m.), U10/12 Boys Division
on “Program Registration Site.” environmental conservation proj- Guided, Youth-Led” program (1 - 2 p.m.), VIP Division (1 - 2

ADVERTISING TEAM Available programs can be found ects. To nd out more, email us that includes activities for all skill p.m.), Teen League (2-3 p.m.),
PAUL FORHAN in the blue tab. at [email protected] levels and interests. As a slightly U7/U8 Girls Division (3 - 4
or visit our website at Troop- smaller Troop, Scouts enjoy ample p.m.), U10/12 Girls Division (4
(914) 806-3951 Somers BSA 228somers.com. opportunities for direct involve- - 5 p.m.) To register, visit www.
[email protected]

BRUCE HELLER Troop 228 Somers BSA ment and leadership, as well as AYSO95.org. For any questions,
(914) 486-7608 Troop 376 a signi cant voice in suggesting email [email protected]
[email protected] WEEKLY MEETING future troop activities. Camping
Mondays, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. WEEKLY MEETING trips, day hikes, family-friendly The Somers Library
LISA KAIN at the Amawalk Firehouse Most Tuesdays, from 7 - 8:30 activities like bowling nights and
(201) 317-1139 Give your son the tools to de- ropes courses, community service Please register using the online
[email protected] p.m. at the Somers Middle School projects, annual “high adventure” calendar at www.somerslibrary.
CORINNE STANTON velop his con dence, leadership Cafeteria. excursions, and visits to historic org or on the link included in the
(914) 760-7009 skills, and interest in community destinations like Gettysburg are description in order to have access
[email protected] service while experiencing the Embark on a journey that your just some of the activities you can to this meeting. If virtual, you will

JAY GUSSAK
(914) 299-4541

[email protected] outdoor adventures of Scouting. son will remember and bene t look forward to with Troop 376. receive an invitation prior to the

PAM Zacotinsky Discover the natural wonders of from for a lifetime! ere is no To learn more, email Somer- start of the program. Programs

845-661-0748 New York State, whether canoe- youth program quite like Scouts [email protected] and visit are supported by the Friends

[email protected] ing in the Adirondacks, hiking BSA, which o ers leadership de- www.SomersTroop376.org. of the Somers Library through

PRODUCTION TEAM patrons’ generous contributions.

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Thursday, January 5, 2023 The Somers Record – Page 3

Officials offer tips for coyote safety

Area residents attacked by rabid animal 

BY CAROL REIF “We don’t want people to be ally individually or “maybe as of North America, but they coyote prey species. Don’t leave
STAFF WRITER fearful about being outdoors,” a pair” because their prey is so were brought to the brink of pet food outside. Remove water
Goin explained. small. extinction by government- sources. Secure compost piles.
Are coyotes getting too close backed hunting programs in the
for comfort? SOME BASICS “If they hunted as a group, 19th and 20th centuries. Don’t leave pets outside unsu-
e adult eastern coyote is there’s not going to be a whole pervised. Enclosed yards create
e question is a timely one lot to share. ey’re also likely at ecological void prompted a false sense of security. Coyotes
in light of the fact that two resi- four to ve feet from snout to to scare their prey away because coyotes to expand their range can jump 6-foot fences or dig
dents of nearby  North Salem tail and weighs between 20 to they’re going to be making more eastward. Some of those pio- underneath.
recently had a scary encounter 45 pounds. Its coat can be tawny noise,” Goin explained. neers may have bred with strag-
with one of the North American brown, with some black or grey gling wolf survivors, Goin said, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
canines. fur. Its ears are large and pointy, One common misconception adding that this isn’t happening “Sighting” means a coyote has
its tail u y and carried straight is that coyotes howl when mak- any longer.
One of the women was bitten down, and its legs are long. ing a kill. been seen or heard. 
-- and her walking companion However, the eastern version “It’s just a reminder that coy-
nearly was -- by what was prob- Comparatively, house cats “Usually, when they’re howl- has retained some wolf DNA.
ably a rabid coyote. It ed after generally tip the scales at be- ing it’s them reuniting with otes are always around and we
the attack and was never found. tween eight to 10 pounds; the family. So what you’re hearing at’s why it’s the largest coyote should be aware of that,” Goin
Infected mammals usually die average Labrador Retriever is a party. Everyone’s just yelling subspecies. said.
within a week to 10 days of be- weighs between 55 to 80 pounds, ‘Hey, it’s great to see you!,’ things
coming sick. and the gray wolf between 70 to like that,” she said. A Stony Brook University An “encounter” happens when
145 if male and between 60 to study found that the 400 ani- a coyote follows or approaches a
Coyotes are not strictly noc- 100 if female. A YEAR IN THE LIFE mals sampled were genetically person with or without pets.
turnal, so if one is spotted dur- e time of year factors into 64 to 81 percent coyote, and an
ing the day, it doesn’t necessar- COYOTE CUISINE “admixture” of gray wolf (13 per- Not to worry if the coyote
ily mean that there’s something While classi ed as carnivores, coyote sightings. cent), eastern wolf (3 percent), enters your yard if no one’s pres-
wrong. ey are most active at January through March is and dog (10 percent). ent; it’s probably just passing
dawn or dusk. coyotes have a more omnivorous through. But if you’re, say, barbe-
diet. eir favorite chow consists mating season. Pups are born Scientists see no evidence of cuing with a bunch of folks and
However, it is a wild creature of mice, rats, squirrels, and rab- from March to April and reared behavior change or pack activity. Wile E. pops up “that shows a
and normally gives folks a wide bits, but they’ll munch on fruits from May to August. Born blind, little bit more boldness.”
berth. Beware if it seems to have and veggies and won’t turn up deaf, and unable to regulate body “ e reality is, it would be,
no fear of humans. Other signs their noses at human garbage. temperature, they stick like glue in terms of the ecosystem, very Types of “con ict” di er as
of rabies include appearing dis- to mom for the rst four to six helpful if coyotes were taking well.
oriented or excessively wobbly. ey do scavenge for venison weeks of life. Once they have down larger animals such as
but don’t take deer down unless teeth and can eat solid food, they white-tail deer, because in the It’s tragic when coyotes injure
Because they are explorers, they’re wounded or weak. ey start taking little jaunts outside absence of wolves there’s now a or kill pets or stray animals, but
opportunists, and can cope, if eat fawns. the den. major imbalance,” she said. not unnatural.
not thrive, in almost any envi-
ronment – including cities -- Cats are on the menu too, so “If you’re seeing them at that is doesn’t mean coywolves “Coyotes are not walking
coyotes can be found in every Goin advises keeping them in- point, they often are pretty don’t exist at all. around with wildlife identi ca-
state in America, except Hawaii. doors “where there are no coy- much about to leave the area,” tion books in their pockets. ey
otes.” Goin said. Visitors to the WCC will just see a prey-sized animal and
Coyotes may look doglike, learn about the critically endan- they are just trying to survive,”
sometimes display doglike be- COYOTE CONVERSATION October to December is “dis- gered red wolf, of which it has 10 Goin explained.
haviors, and even have a bit of ey mark their territory, or persal” season. Young adults go in its recovery program.
dog DNA in them, but they are out to search for a mate. Coy- It’s not common, but a coyote
de nitely not the domesticated advertise their mating status, by otes are territorial and don’t take A small pod of red wolves might also attack an attended
type and should be respected leaving a scent. kindly to trespassers, so it’s a has been reintroduced in North pet.
for the wild creatures they are, vulnerable time for these ado- Carolina. Hybridization is hap-
according to Dana Goin of the ey communicate through lescent lonely hearts. at’s why pening there, which can be “a Again, that’s a predatory reac-
Wolf Conservation Center in body language much like other they stick closer to areas where major challenge to the recovery tion. Big dogs aren’t good prey;
South Salem. canines. is includes hold- humans live. of the species,” Goin said. they have sharp teeth and will
ing their ears and tail in certain
e Ruth Keeler Memorial ways, making eye contact, and MYTH CONCEPTIONS KEYS TO COEXISTENCE ght back. Little pooches are
Library last week hosted Goin’s baring their teeth. e coywolf. Some folks still e big one? more vulnerable.
“Coexisting With Coyotes,” a
live webinar jam-packed with Vocalizing is their most fa- insist that coyotes here are 50 Don’t feed coyotes, intention- A “provoked” attack is when
scienti c information and myth- mous form of communication. percent wolf.  ally or unintentionally. Causing coyote bites a human that’s feed-
busting revelations. animals to congregate where ing it, approaching its pups, or
ose eerie howls, yips, and No gray wolf populations have they normally wouldn’t spreads intervening in a pet attack.
It aimed to demystify coyotes barks are just their way to touch been con rmed in New York, al- disease, increases con icts, and
and clear up common miscon- base with far-away pack mem- though one or two outliers have decreases their survivability. Some folks report being un-
ceptions. bers. been reported upstate. nerved by being “escorted” or
Clean up garbage, bird seed, followed. at just means they
When coyotes hunt, it’s usu- Once wolves roamed most and fallen fruit. ese at- got too close to something the
tract  birds, squirrels, and other coyote’s protecting, like a den.

SEE COYOTE PAGE 6

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Page 4 – The Somers Record Thursday, January 5, 2023

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Thursday, January 5, 2023 The Somers Record – Page 5

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Page 6 – The Somers Record Thursday, January 5, 2023

Beaucoup de fete!

National French Week was Paul Gauguin, and Rose-Marie

celebrated with many di erent Desruisseau.  Winning artists

activities at Somers High School. were French language students

e students in the French Club Emma Sherman, Anthony

shared their love of all-things- Fusco, Mia Matsumura-Plugh,

French with celebrations of food, and Anna Hagen and their re-

trivia, art, and more. creations are on display at the

Students in French classes high school.

competed against each other in Students also held an after-

Francophone Trivia Contests. school screening of the French

Students John Raducanu, Evan lm “Les Invités de mon Père.”

Arono , Katie Cole and Aaden e French Club invited all

Mercado won the school com- SHS students to watch the lm

petition answering questions on that had English subtitles.

French architecture, sports, cul- National French Week

ture and more. wrapped up, but the French Club

During French Week, SHS also hosted World Cup Watch

also launched the rst school- parties during community lunch

wide Art Imitates Art contest. and after school. À bientôt! 

Students were asked to re-create

art by famous French artists Article provided by Somers

Georges Seurat, Rosa Bonheur, Central School District.

COYOTE all their interactions with people pocket-sized air horns. faces con icts with resident coy- the spread of Lyme disease.
are positive – ie. they’re getting Killing coyotes doesn’t work. otes and usually dies trying to
FROM PAGE 3 food. get back home. BEST APPROACH
It actually causes population e best thing to do if you like
It’s like the critter saying: Even being neutral ain’t good. growth. If one or both members ECO STEWARDS
“Move along. Nothing to see If you’re just standing there of the breeding pair are killed, it Coyotes help clean up the en- coyotes?  Keep their fear of hu-
here.” looking at a coyote and nothing disrupts the entire pack. e fe- mans intact.
happens, they’re probably going male might mate with another vironment by scavenging. ey
HAZING RITUALS to think you’re not that scary. male and they’ll have a larger encourage biodiversity by con- e best thing you can do if
To scare coyotes away, rein- Make loud noises and BIG litter. trolling mesopredators – foxes, you don’t like coyotes? Keep
motions.  Varied hazing’s the skunks, raccoons -- that can their fear of humans intact.
force their natural wariness of most e ective: yell, clap, stamp Relocating them is not only decimate nesting bird numbers.
people. your feet, blow whistles, use illegal but inhumane. Once in “We want them to remain
unfamiliar territory, the animal eir free rodent control limits wild” Goin said.
ey start to unlearn that if

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Thursday, January 5, 2023 The Somers Record – Page 7

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Page 8 – The Somers Record Thursday, January 5, 2023

Opinion

Happily
Ever After

DEI versus academic freedom

A critique of critical race theory in our schools

PUBLISHER’S By the late 80s, of course, the lacked a certain degree of im- IMAGE FROM AMAZON.COM one another due to a shared love
MEMO kind of discrimination seen in pulse control and common sense for God.
the 1950s was ancient history – and decency – in his evaluation This book was used in an English
BRETT due to strict housing laws plus of humor. And to be clear, there lesson at Somers High School. During one session, a partici-
FREEMAN more forward-thinking views was nothing funny about it. pant spoke about the pain of be-
that had advanced over the which means “love between ing repeatedly stopped by police,
Igrew up in a community in decades. If someone drew a swas- people” in Hebrew. questioning his whereabouts just
New Jersey that would have tika today, the police would be blocks away from his home. As a
been o limits to my family Nevertheless, my presence as a called, an investigation would be e purpose of Chesed was to white person, I couldn’t fathom
back in the 1950s. Jew was somewhat of a novelty. launched and it would have been have a candid conversation about experiencing such bias, and my
When I graduated from eighth all the chatter on the local par- race among a group of people heart breaks for my friend.
Our development, called grade in 1993, my friends drew ents’ Facebook groups. Of course, who were united in their love for
Smoke Rise, which is a lake such profane doodles in my mid- the school superintendent would But one other statement made
community in the town of dle school yearbook that when I email out the obligatory letter in the “Chesed” group really
Kinnelon, did not sell homes to became an adult, I discarded it, to parents declaring that such stuck with me. at person said
Jews, Catholics and Blacks dur- as I would have been too embar- behavior wouldn’t be tolerated. he came of age in the 1970s,
ing that time period. When we rassed to show the pages to my when he remembered a progres-
moved into Smoke Rise in the children. While some of our reactions sive anti-racism TV commercial
late 1980s, we were among the to certain incidents today might where a kid learned that he was
In addition to the sexually be overkill, our heightened sen- being racist for seeing the color
rst Jewish families to live there. suggestive doodles, one of my sitivity has prompted meaningful of a friend. So, he found it jar-
We were such a minority in the friends drew a swastika. conversations. ring that today, it’s the opposite.
town that I was the rst bar Today, if you don’t see color, then
mitzvah at the new local Jewish Given my friendship with the LOCAL CHURCH MEETS TO you are failing to identify the
congregation, which rented its kid and the fact that I asked him DISCUSS RACE person’s “lived” experience, and
sanctuary from the Episcopal to sign my yearbook, I’m abso- thus you are perpetuating racism.
church. lutely certain that this person did During the height of the
not actually intend to be hateful Black Lives Matter protests So, I think it’s worth ponder-
towards me. I truly chalk it up during the summer of 2020, the ing: is it more progressive to be
to the immaturity of him being pastor at a local church created
a 13- or 14-year-old kid who a small group called “Chesed,” SEE FREEMAN PAGE 9

BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER 118 N, BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited.
TOM WALOGORSKY , EDITOR The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are
TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 not necessarily those of The Somers Record or its affiliates.
Editorial Office: 914-302-5830 ©2021 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Submissions must include a phone number and address for
[email protected]
verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be
published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are
anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions
to the editor by e-mail at [email protected].

For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830

Thursday, January 5, 2023 OPINION The Somers Record – Page 9

FREEMAN School senior Sasha Soraci, whether this is truly the goal of a rigorous interdisciplinary make it more complicated by
who was born with Williams DEI initiatives.
FROM PAGE 8 Syndrome. Williams Syndrome academic program combining deconstructing it, journalism
is a genetic condition present at CRITICAL THEORY LOGIC IS
color blind or more progressive birth, including cardiovascular CIRCULAR anthropology, economics, history, aims to take complicated topics
to acknowledge color? While it’s disease, developmental delays,
my personal inclination to side learning challenges and unique Before I explain, I would like political science, psychology and and make it easy for everyone to
in favor of being color-blind, as physical characteristics, accord- to share my own academic bona
advocated by Dr. Martin Luther ing to the Williams Syndrome sociology. University of Chicago understand.
King Jr., I can understand how Association. des, which is relevant to my
the correct approach can be up understanding of DEI. Before is globally renowned for its social During the MAPSS program,
for debate. “With the support of my launching my journalism career,
teachers and the district, these I earned my master’s degree science departments. I read more political theory and
I just worry that Diversity, Eq- conversations made a huge from the University of Chicago
uity and Inclusion (DEI) initia- impact,” said Soraci, who spoke Master of Arts Program in While I’m appreciative of philosophy than anyone should
tives, particularly in our schools, in support of the district’s DEI the Social Sciences (MAPSS),
may actually prevent that debate initiatives at a school board everything I learned during my ever be subjected to in life,
from happening. meeting on Nov. 15.
master’s program, I ultimately and this included the “criti-
DEI DISCUSSED AT SCHOOL If that is what DEI is all
BOARD MEETING about, then bravo! We should abandoned academia in favor of cal” theorists such as Herbert
applaud public awareness cam-
Certainly some of the ways paigns to educate students in a journalism, which is the op- Marcuse and Max Horkheimer.
in which schools have taught manner that help them under-
lessons of inclusivity have been stand and be more sensitive to posite. Whereas academia aims SEE FREEMAN PAGE 10
quite positive. is includes the the diversity of the world and to take a topic and purposely
results of a public awareness people around them.
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Page 10 – The Somers Record OPINION Thursday, January 5, 2023

FREEMAN being implemented throughout federal, How do you resolve a situation
state and local governments and in corpo- when equal outcomes and equal
FROM PAGE 9 rate America.
opportunities might conflict
e problem with the “critical” theorists Of course, battling racism and sexism with each other?
is that they believe the whole system is so are admirable goals, but it’s both false, ac-
tainted and broken that any attempt to ademically lazy and may breed continued conducted a review of her lesson about asks students to answer questions such
work within it and reform it is simply a discrimination to suggest that unequal white fragility. Judging by the outpouring as “How has and/or does your white
perpetuation of the system. Any attempt outcomes are always, 100% of the time, a of support she received from the com- fragility show up?” and “How have you
to critique the critical theorists is proof product of discrimination. e case before munity, I’m certain she is an e ective and weaponized your fragility against BIPOC
that the person doing the critiquing is a the U.S. Supreme Court, “Students for caring teacher. [black, indigenous and people of color]
product of that broken system. e logic Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows through, for example, calling the authori-
is totally circular and it’s impossible to of Harvard College” is a perfect example But I also have great sympathy for the ties, crying, claiming you’re being harmed
challenge. If you can’t see how things are of the pursuit of equal outcomes actually administrators who conducted the review (‘reverse racism!’, ‘I’m being shamed!’, ‘I’m
tainted, the theory goes, it’s because it’s perpetuating discrimination. e case was in this case and ultimately nixed the being attacked!’)?”
“systemic” and you’ve been tainted too. brought by several Asian students who lesson. e actions of the Somers admin-
were denied admission to Harvard even istrators were a far cry from the plot of e lesson is no di erent than the clas-
Critical theory, an extension of Marx- though they performed better academi- the 1989 Academy Award nominated sic example taught in journalism classes
ism and focused on economic class, is the cally than a number of Black students of how to NOT conduct an interview. A
foundation of “critical race theory.” who gained entrance to the school. In lm “Dead Poet’s Society.” In “Dead journalist would show extreme bias if he
Harvard’s pursuit of equal outcomes, Poet’s Society,” the antagonist, Mr. Nolan or she went up to a local politician and
‘EQUITY’ VS. ‘EQUALITY’ the plainti s argue, the university dis- (played by Normann Lloyd), red the asked him, “When did you stop beating
Over the past couple of years, critics criminated against one minority group by beloved English teacher, John Keating your wife?” It supposes a conclusion with-
favoring another minority group. (played by Robin Williams). out investigating whether the premise
have been concerned that critical race of the question is even accurate, and the
theory is being taught to students in Of course, in our schools (and other In the lm, Keating inspired his same goes for the journaling exercise ac-
Grades K-12. Meanwhile, critics of the institutions), we SHOULD battle rac- students to “seize the day” and discover companying Saad’s book.
critics have argued that it’s all one big ism and sexism and any other form of their inner “barbaric yawp.” Keating didn’t
history lesson and we shouldn’t bury past discrimination. But the bigger question draw conclusions for his students. Rather, e “lesson” taught at Somers High
injustices in American society. is how we go about battling discrimina- he encouraged his students to discover School was anti-intellectual and stripped
tion in a manner that respects academic their true selves through poetry. students of free expression. English
e reality is far more complicated than and political freedom and fosters critical
that. Critical race theory is not something thinking in our students. Meanwhile, Ferrier taught “Me and SEE FREEMAN PAGE 11
that is “taught” in Grades K-12. It is not a White Supremacy” by Layla Saad, which
history lesson. Rather, it is something that ‘WHITE FRAGILITY’ LESSON VS. contained a journaling exercise that
is implemented throughout the district, CRITICAL THINKING
and DEI seems to be the conduit. It’s a
conclusion that the entire school district I have incredible sympathy for Somers
is systemically su ering from racism and High School English teacher Allison
sexism and every other type of “ism” and Ferrier, who was recently reinstated to her
anything less than “equitable” outcomes is position in the classroom after she was
evidence of this. initially removed while district leaders

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Thursday, January 5, 2023 OPINION The Somers Record – Page 11

FREEMAN critical race theory in a 2015 essay that he But why have several teachers con- a product of discrimination, or are you
co-authored. tacted me over this past year, sharing open to analyzing other external factors?
FROM PAGE 10 their concerns about DEI initiatives, and
“Today, too many ‘remedies’ – such as terri ed for their names to be published? • Do your DEI initiatives foster aca-
students ought to be learning how to for- Critical Race eory, the increasingly demic freedom and critical thinking or do
mulate written arguments by developing fashionable post-Marxist/post-modernist at doesn’t sound like an open conversa- they inhibit them?
a thesis, presenting evidence and drawing approach that analyzes society as insti- tion to me.
conclusions. tutional group power structures rather • Do your DEI initiatives help or harm
than on a spiritual or one-to-one hu- Based on my conversations with these gifted and talented students or impact
It’s one thing if a teacher wanted to man level – are taking us in the wrong teachers and several parents over this past the existence of accelerated and honors
share his or her worldview with their stu- direction: separating even elementary year-plus, I ask these school districts and classes?
dents. Some parents may have a problem school children into explicit racial groups, other government bodies the following
with that, but preventing that teacher and emphasizing di erences instead of questions: • Do your DEI initiatives help or harm
from doing so may be an impossible similarities,” Walker co-wrote with Steve special education students or ignore their
standard to uphold and also violates that Klinsky, who wrote about the essay in his • Do your DEI initiatives remain an needs in favor of another category?
teacher’s academic freedom. article, “ e Civil Rights Legend Who open conversation where everyone feels
Opposed Critical Race eory.” e free to contribute their ideas before con- • Do your DEI initiatives treat every-
But unless it’s a subject such as math or account was also written about by Con- clusions are reached? one with respect, including those people
science, where an objective solution exists, stitutional legal scholar Mark Levin in his who may be skeptical of the whole ap-
it’s absolutely antithetical to the mission New York Times best-selling 2021 book, • Is the goal equal outcomes or equal proach?
of education to force students to adopt “American Marxism.” opportunities? And how do you resolve
the teacher’s conclusion. Some of my a situation when equal outcomes and is topic is not going away and this
best college professors were people who Of course, when it comes to Ferrier’s equal opportunities might con ict with newspaper will not shy away from ap-
vehemently disagreed with my conclu- lesson, I have no clue what she presented each other, as it does in the case against proaching it in a fair and honest way.
sions, but rewarded me with an A for to the students beyond Saad’s related Harvard at the U.S. Supreme Court?
presenting well-thought out and cogent journaling exercise, the very premise of Brett Freeman can be reached at freeman@
arguments. which prevented students from disagree- • How do your DEI initiatives identify halstonmedia.com.
ing with the author. e teacher declined discrimination? Are all unequal outcomes
However, the lesson taught at Somers to speak to our reporter when we rst
High School turned academia on its wrote about it. So, if I’m mistaken in any A person can be opposed to racism
head by forcing students to adopt some- way, I urge the teacher to reach out to us and sexism and still believe that
one else’s conclusion, and if they argued and I’d be happy to correct anything I’ve that kind of indoctrination has no
against the author, it was somehow fur- gotten wrong.
ther evidence that the author is right. place in a classroom.
SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER OPPOSES SCHOOL DISTRICTS
CRITICAL RACE THEORY
All of this brings us back to DEI. Just
A person can be opposed to racism and like the journaling exercise accompanying
sexism and still believe that that kind of Saad’s book, DEI initiatives are presented
indoctrination has no place in a class- as an open, friendly conversation in the
room. school community.

Dr. King’s own chief of sta and
con dant, Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, rejected

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