WEEK OF MAY 18TH, 2021 - MAY 25TH, 2021 Volume 2021, Issue 9 VISIT US AT: LANCASTER thelancasterpatriot.com COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ETHICAL • HONEST • INVESTIGATIVE RACIAL ACTIVISM ENCOURAGED IN COMMUNICATION GUIDE FOR PA SCHOOL DISTRICTS racial equality and racial justice back-and-forth on social media and to "speak more deeply to these with those who may criticize your issues than you perhaps have in the approach by not engaging, beyond past." To do this, school districts are the affirmation response. Remain instructed to "recognize that the firm in the commitments you have BY: JOHN HENRY protests taking place nationwide made and allow your statement to LANCASTER are about much more than the stand as your committed message." ast summer, the Pennsylvania death of George Floyd alone. They This callous dismissal of School Boards Association are also about systemic racism, concerned parents and the L(PSBA) put out a pamphlet social injustice and numerous other encouragement to keep pushing called "Equity Communication serious issues affecting our society." clearly ideological material is Guidance for Pennsylvania School School districts should also remind followed by a long list of keywords Districts." The pamphlet was their stakeholders that educators that the public statement should designed to instruct schools in "have a responsibility to teach focus on, such as "systematic how to "engage their communities students about important issues racism," "antiracism," "diversity," in more meaningful conversations in our society. As such, the district "inclusion," "gender identity" and around critical issues of equity, would be doing a disservice to its "intersectionality." They encourage antiracism, civil rights and social students and families if it did not using terms like "marginalized justice." Despite its clearly political speak up at this time." individuals/groups" but avoiding nature — proven by the language The next section of the pamphlet "minorities," and using "black it uses, the conclusions it draws, provides instructions about how to lives matter" but avoiding "all lives and the clear instructions it gives deal with those who will resist such matter." They also place "equity" for dismissing the inevitable declarations and changes. PSBA first in their list of approved words pushback from some parents — it This screenshot shows a large part of the suggests that "there may be some but discourage the use of "equality." content from the PSBA brochure entitled has remained a public resource on "Equity Communication Guidance for in your community who perhaps The pamphlet states that the association's website for almost Pennsylvania School Districts" believe that issues like systemic local leaders should determine a year. racism are overblown. They may for themselves how much they The pamphlet opens by guidance is to push such political feel your statement or comments should engage their communities emphasizing the impact that work even further: "Now also marks represent overreach or the taking of a on these issues, and the guidance George Floyd's death has had and an opportunity to speak to the political stance. These stakeholders from PSBA is meant to provide how it has spurred on protests work that has already taken place may speak out publicly — often on "key considerations if a district or and calls for justice. Calling his in your district related to equity, social media — and could challenge board does choose to comment on death "undoubtedly a turning antiracism, civil rights and social the school district's position on these issues publicly." Although point in our nation's history," it justice. It allows you to inform your equity and related issues." They the pamphlet is worded as gently declares that teachers should take community that these are issues advise that if this happens the as possible, the racial activism the opportunity to examine race you take seriously and offers you a school district should "reinforce the in it is clear — as is the rejection and racism with their students. chance to potentially expand your message in your original statement of anyone who might oppose the If a school district has already work in these areas." and affirm that you are acting in school system's shift into a political been doing work in these areas, The pamphlet also calls for school the best interests of all the students mindset for how education will be the underlying implication of the districts to publish a statement on the district serves. Mitigate the dealt with from now on. THE CASE FOR THE RESTORATION OF FREEDOM BY ANNE MARIE DICARLO his defiance of the health authorities’ mericans may not often think dictates that tried to restrict his of Canadian politics, but church’s gatherings to no more than Ahistorical experience shows 30 people. On May 8, Pawlowski was that Canada’s movement towards brought to his knees and handcuffed secularism and socialism has by Canadian police in the middle of a highway, arrested for the crime of pixabay via pexels.com holding church services in violation of Alberta’s health ordinances. This occurred more than a year after the initial outbreak of the virus and when vaccines had been made readily available to all who want them. foreshadowed similar radical shifts became an internet sensation Although in the U.S. we have in U.S. politics. Canadian policies when the video of his confrontation not seen quite the same level promoting abortion, enthanasia and with Canadian police over the of enforcement of COVID-19 gay rights preceded the unfolding Passover weekend went viral. restrictions, we are not as safe from of policies in our own nation by Pawlowski shouted the government such situations as we might like to about a decade. With this in mind, health representative and the think. Even now as the lockdowns the extreme Canadian response accompanying police officers off begin to ease, those restrictions are to the COVID-19 crisis — which his church property, calling them being replaced with suggestions of the mainstream media has largely fascists and communists for trying mandatory vaccination and vaccine underplayed or ignored — gives to suppress worship during the passports. us an unsettling glimpse into how holiest festival on the Christian Under the auspices of COVID-19 quickly and easily we can lose our calendar. Pawlowski, who endured mitigation, our rights to freely travel, basic human rights and freedoms. communist suppression in his birth assemble and conduct business have Canadian pastor Artur Pawlowski country of Poland, stood resolute in Continued on page 19… WEEK OF MAY 18TH, 2021 - VOLUME 2021|ISSUE 9 MAY 25TH, 2021 THE LANCASTER PATRIOT PAGE 2 LANCASTER NEWS LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Dear Readers, offer our newspaper in print rather I want to be the first to welcome than in digital format because we you to The Lancaster Patriot, a believe it is an important way for newspaper dedicated to honest Lancastrians to reconnect offline. journalism and truthful reporting We want to help you step away in Lancaster County. My name is from the computer and see what Jen Stoltzfus, the publisher here is happening off-screen. We want at The Lancaster Patriot. Just like people to have dialogue about the many of you, I have felt a sense of news again. We want you to be able loss over the recent events that to talk with your family about the have been tearing our county, state headlines they see on the kitchen and nation apart. It is my belief table. As a result, our online that the lack of fair and balanced content will not be as robust as reporting within Lancaster County our print newspaper, and we will has enhanced these problems and not charge for access to our online deepened the frustration many content. We have chosen to provide here have with our established you with the most essential news media. The Lancaster Patriot was for free to help you enjoy Lancaster born out of that conviction and County to the fullest. frustration. We exist to provide our In the pages of our newspaper, we readers with news that is current, are proud to offer our readers a faith honest and applicable to your life section as well as sections devoted — the way news used to be. to local business, local recreation, As some of you may already our seniors and our veterans. We be aware, The Lancaster Patriot also provide games, puzzles and has faced attacks from those who comics for your entertainment. We want to prevent competition and have chosen to forgo the traditional a challenge to their ideals. The editorial section after witnessing two main accusations concern our months of hateful and divisive supposed association with groups editorial commentary by local we do not condone or involve media. We know you do not need to ourselves with in any way. Last be told how we feel about an issue, fall, we worked with an unpaid, so instead of writing opinion pieces volunteer editor who was identified and publishing letters to the editor, as an “alt-right” podcaster. The we urge you to get involved in Lancaster Patriot was unaware your community. We welcome any of this individual’s connections letters you feel led to send, and we to that movement when working may occasionally publish a letter, with him, and we have since parted but only those that are respectful. ways. The Lancaster Patriot is For those of you interested in not, nor has ever been, backed who is running The Lancaster by or supportive of any white Patriot, I have been a Lancastrian supremacist, anti-semitic or racist for 13 years, making my home in group or cause. There were also southwestern Lancaster County. 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