Kankakee Times

Watseka resident Beth Burton is urging more parent to get involved in the brewing battle over Critical Race Theory, and she's far from alone.

Across the country, from school board meetings to political rhetoric, the school of thought continues to spark heated controversy.

“Parents in the area should be researching about the topic of CRT,” Burton posted on Facebook. “School districts in Illinois have been given a mandate to teach this to the students. Read up and go to your school board meetings. Get involved.”

Stacy Deemar | LinkedIn

In June, District 65 grade school drama teacher Stacy Deemar filed suit in federal court charging discrimination over educators being forced to teach CRT policies.

All across the state, Deemar’s case is attracting widespread attention, with Republican state Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) now calling on voters to take a united stand against CRT.

“It will take more than just one teacher standing up to the radical left who are pushing their agenda in our schools,” Caulkins posted on Facebook. "What are you doing?”

The Southeast Legal Foundation, formed by journalist and activist Christopher Rufo, is aiding Deemar in her legal battle. The legal coalition seeks to get CRT teachings and instruction struck down by the Supreme Court.

Deemar's complaint alleges District 65 school officials divided teachers based on their race. As part of the curriculum, teachers were told to read a book titled “Not my Idea” to their students. In the story, the devil makes a “Contract Binding you to Whiteness” where the main character will receive “stolen land,” “stolen riches,” and “special favors” in return.

The devil in the story later defines whiteness as giving people the license “to mess endlessly with the lives of your friends, neighbors, loved ones, and all fellow humans of COLOR.”

Deemar’s suit seeks a declaratory judgment and injunction on CRT teachings. She seeks only $1 in damages.

One man, Tom Kelly, is convinced the more parents come to know about the controversial teachings the more they will be opposed to them.

“If you still believe the claims that Critical Race Theory is just ‘the Republicans’ latest bogey man,’ read this legal complaint,” Kelly posted on Facebook. “Skokie District 65 in Illinois has been taken over by CRT, and you can clearly see by the complaint it is nothing more than vilification of people who are white and glorification of socialist ideals. It has little to do with actual history and nothing to do with democracy.

“This is one teacher's struggle as she attempts to stand up to the racism of ‘anti-racism,’" Kelly added, referring to Deemar.