USD prof goes into "in your face" mode while explaining critical race theory and his decision to [View all]

USD prof goes into “in your face” mode while explaining critical race theory and his decision to teach it.


University of South Dakota associate professor of political science Timothy Schorn isn’t a bit intimidated by the anti-intellectual rhetoric of the political right, which has zeroed in on him by putting Schorn on a “watch list.” They’re mad at Schorn because it’s in keeping with the cottage industry they’ve built by attacking critical race theory (CRT), which Schorn includes as part of his coursework. CRT is a widely debated and discussed theory of American history that says racism has been an institutionally embedded aspect of social and political life in this country since its inception.

The theory has long been an established and intellectually debated concept that has been common to university curricula since the 1970s. Of late, it has become a bizarre rallying cry for those who are worried that it might be taught in our public schools. Our Gov. Kristi Noem has been particularly concerned, saying last summer “critical race theory has no place in South Dakota schools. These ideas are un-American.”

That she’s never provided any evidence that any elements of CRT have ever been taught in our K-12 schools hasn’t prevented her from railing against it. I doubt that Noem even understands the concept or knows that it’s been subjected to much analysis and debate within academic circles for decades.

Timothy Schorn (seen above in an image from South Dakota Public Broadcasting) has probably stimulated a lot of class discussion on the subject. Racism is an everyday issue in this country and needs to be addressed in our universities from a variety of perspectives, CRT being one of them. For doing just that, Schorn was put on a “Professor Watch List” by a group going by that name under the auspices of Turning Point USA. The organization says its mission is “to expose and document college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom.”

Read more: https://www.sdstandardnow.com/home/usd-professor-defends-sanity-against-madness-goes-in-your-face-while-explaining-critical-race-theory-and-his-decision-to-teach-it