Oregon Principal Labeled A ‘BLM Marxist’ For Saying Education Is Rooted In ‘White Supremacy’
Melissa Baran, a Black Oregon principal from Sherwood School District, has been labeled a “BLM Marxist” for claiming education is rooted in “oppression and white supremacy.” During a January 20 meeting with school board members, Baran made her remarks and stoked rage from her peers and others in the district.
Baran stated, “Historically, our under-represented students, our most vulnerable students that are experiencing a variety of different circumstances, that the system hasn’t been working for them. Education as a whole was built on the system of oppression and white supremacy, and we are trying to talk about that more. And we’re trying to really examine what is the system moving forward, and how do we make sure that what we’re doing doesn’t perpetuate those differences — doesn’t perpetuate those gaps that we have been talking about as a district for a long time”
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In a since-deleted post on the “Sherwood Community Info Group (Original)” Facebook page, someone blasted Baran, calling her a “BLM Marxist.” This then prompted a response from the district’s Superintendent Heather Cordie in defense of Baran. Cordie called the Facebook comment “unacceptable,” and a personal attack.
She wholly stated, “During that presentation to the board, Mrs. Baran shared true facts — specifically, that the system of education in general, in its current format, does not work for all students, families, or staff members; that the system of education has a historical context of oppression and white supremacy; and that there is a need to move forward in a way that no longer perpetuates systematic marginalization of under-represented student groups. Not only was she sharing what we as a leadership team know to be accurate, but she did so vulnerably — as the only black leader in our district. None of the other (white) participants in the meeting who concurred with and supported the work discussed by Mrs. Baran were singled out in this post, and this fact speaks volumes about the personal motives behind the post.”
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