A Tennessee state senator said Dr. Bren Elliott, Tennessee’s new State Turnaround Superintendent, and new State Education Commissioner Lizette Gonzalez Reynolds, do not reflect “the educational philosophy desired by parents and Tennesseans.”
“The hiring of Bren Elliott is the continuation of the bad decision of hiring Commissioner Reynolds. They represent the destructive direction of schools becoming ‘mental and emotional institutions’ rather than traditional educational facilities,” State Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma).
Reynolds (pictured above, right) hired Elliott (pictured above, left) last week, who was the former DC Public Schools (DCPS) Equity Officer.
In her role with DCPS, Elliott oversaw the district’s push to become a “whole-child, anti-racist school district.” Toward that goal, her Office of School Improvement and Support released a recommended Reading and Resource list. Included are books like:
- Anti-Racism Resources for White People – By people across the U.S.
- How to be an Anti-Racist – Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
- Steps Latinos Can Take to Combat Anti-Blackness – Andrew. S. Vargas
- Guide to Allyship – Amélie Lamont
Not everyone in D.C. was on board with the district initiative. Jonathan Butcher, the Will Skillman senior research fellow in Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, accused DCPS of “rewriting public school lesson plans to make them what they call “culturally responsive.”
As an example, he referenced resources D.C. officials recommend for District of Columbia public school teachers. These materials claimed “that science is said to have advanced “certain groups of people for profit and power” and must be changed to “solve social justice issues.”
While critics acknowledged that much of the district’s efforts seemed to be positive, they also saw evidence that the school district had embraced Critical Race Theory and LGBT ideology. As a result, DC is now considering legislation similar to that passed by Tennessee lawmakers in 2022 banning the teaching of “Divisive concepts.
Bowling said the Tennessee General Assembly determined that DEI is not welcome in the state. Tennessee was among the first states to pass laws regulating the teaching of race and gender in public schools.
“They create discrimination, not diversity, preference not equality of opportunity, and division, not mutual respect. These false flags, or any tenets thereof, are illegal in Tennessee public schools,” she said.
Bowling added, “The hiring of Elliott, recognized for her work in DEI begs the question…Who made the decision to hire her and what is the rationale in selecting anyone championing CRT or DEI.”
The state senator said she would appreciate a full explanation of the commissioner’s goals for our Tennessee schools in hiring Elliott.
Bowling added that she was “very concerned” when Governor Bill Lee hired Reynolds.
“[Reynolds] career-long support in Texas and DC in promoting No Child Left Behind was a huge warning sign to me. No Child Left Behind under Bush created the crisis we now see in labeling young students ADHD and in need of a pharmaceutical ‘treatment,'” the state senator said.
“The counter indicated ‘solution’ was and is much worse than the label. The explosion of Ritalin, Adderall, and Vyvanse has damaged many young children into adulthood,” Bowling added. “Addictions started by the ‘cure’ for a label have ruined many lives. Big Pharma has been the only winner.”
The state senator reminded Tennesseans that this is not the first time Governor Lee has appointed a education commissioner who doesn’t align with Tennessee’s education philosophy.
“In Tennessee, as in most other conservative states, the ‘wellness checks’ started by former Commissioner [Penny] Schwinn were immediately stopped by the correct rejection of ‘schools as wellness centers’ for children birth to 18. In Tennessee, we know that Parents have sole authority and responsibility for the well-being of their children,” she said.
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TC Weber is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. He writes the blog Dad Gone Wild. Follow TC on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]. He’s the proud parent of two public school children and the spouse of a public school teacher.
Good for State Senator Janice Bowling, the State Dept. of Education under Lee and Schwinn was a destroyer unit. When Schwinn decided to go to “greener pastures”, she recommended this new Dept. of Education Appointment, Dr. Elliot and so more destruction is coming. More Darwin, Freud and Marx atheistic poison thrown at the Public Schools. Here’s a suggestion, put God and The Bible back in Tn. Public Schools, for everyone knows that the Wicked, 1963 Supreme Court Opinion given to the atheist O’Hare started the decline of America. Almighty God “left US to our own devices” and here we are. Why don’t we agree with God, Confess our sins, God is willing to hear US and return US from “the years that the palmer worm and cankerworm have eaten up.” For God & Country
Question is: Did our State Legislators fund a position in our State Education Department to oversee Diversity, Equity & Inclusion? Or did our Governor on his own use our tax dollars in a discretionary fund to pay for this position?
The last thing we need in our schools is a program that teaches our students to be Racists, & resent one another. This crap all started under Obama, the most racist President in American History.
I’m asking our State Legislators to pass a Law that removes these positions & programs from K-12 & State Colleges & Universities.
Why the hell does the Governor want to incorporate Marxist Ideology in Tennessee Schools?
It would be much more productive to teach our students & teachers about our Founding Father’s & the sacrifices they made to create a Free Constitutional Republic. Teach them the US Constitution & why it makes our Country so exceptional. Teach them how laws are made.
Teach them Survival Skills, economics, investing, meritocracy, honesty, ethics, etc.
DEI is taking our Country backwards. Get rid of it.
Yup, lucifer’s minions of dimmercrap pubic ejikashun.
More FAIL from RINO Bill Lee.
another bill lee failure.