The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

UVM Professor Publishes Controversial Article on Raising White Children

As part of his study of the dramatic increase in home-schooled children, UVM Education Professor Robert S. Griffin published “Rearing Honorable White Children: Instilling Racial Identity in Today’s Children. The article was published in the Oct. 2001 edition of “American Renaissance,” a monthly journal that critics charge is extremist and racist. Griffin took interest in white couples who are rearing their children in a racially conscious manner while writing his book “A Dead Man’s Deeds: An Up-Close Portrait of White Nationalist William Pierce. “It was my purpose in this article to describe, not prescribe,” Griffin explained in a written statement to the Cynic. “I wouldn’t presume to tell white parents-or black parents or Native American parents or Jewish parents or Amish parents- how they should raise their children. I believe strongly in the freedom of conscience, and I think all parents have the right to raise their children consistent with their own traditions or not. To me that is right at the core of America, in contrast to what a totalitarian society is all about. According to Griffin, an increasing number of parents, particularly conservative Christians, are home-schooling their children, because they are distressed by what they perceive to be the politicization of the schools both public and private. “As these parents see it, increasingly the schools feel mandated to reshape the hearts and minds of students to conform to their own favored ideologies, ideologies which are contrary to these families deepest convictions,” Griffin explained. The Anti-Defamation League argues that the American Renaissance journal and website is racist. “I’d say from my standpoint it’s (the article) coming out of an organization that wants to see and talk about minorities as less able than whites,” said Gail Gans, director of the Civil Rights Information Center at the Anti-Defamation League. “They’re kind of a polite racist organization. They’re really insidious. Samuel Jared Taylor, founder and editor of the journal, characterizes it as enlightening. “You’ll find very few inaccuracies on our website,” said Taylor. “I would say to call something racist is essentially name-calling. To say something is racist is essentially meaningless. Griffin also questions the notion of characterizing his work as “racist.” “Racist’ is a club used to put people on the defensive, intimidate, marginalize, and demonize them, and legitimize mistreating them,” he stated. Griffin has also published “Sports in the Lives of Children and Adolescents: Success on the Field and In Life.” His article “Rearing Honorable White Children: Instilling Racial Identity in Today’s Children,” may be found at www.amren.com.

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UVM Professor Publishes Controversial Article on Raising White Children