Roosevelt Elementary School provides lesson to fifth grade students on “white privilege”; tells students that “white people have more privilege”

On February 23, 2024, Roosevelt Elementary School of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District posted on X that fifth grade students learned about “white privilege” through the book Not My Idea. The book is known for comparing “whiteness” to the devil. The school states in the post:

Encouraging critical dialogue in our 5th grade classes as students explore white privilege through an anti-racist lens using ‘Not My Idea’ by #AnastasiaHigginbotham. Building awareness, empathy, & a commitment to equity. #SocialJustice #CourageousConvos @jclarkab @amyonyendu

The social media post includes a class of students in front of a board that states “privilege” is “an advantage” that is “given to you.” Another image in the post includes a teacher in front of a board with the underlined phrase “White people have more privilege.” An additional image of the board asks students to “find a place in the text that illuminates this idea of White privilege.”