Debate ignites as schools push DEI hiring practices amidst teacher shortage

WASHINGTON (TND) — The U.S. is getting slammed for trying to push diversity, equity and inclusion policies when making critical decisions like hiring during a massive teacher and staff shortage.

Parents Defending Education President Nicole Neily joined The National Desk’s Jan Jeffcoat to discuss the issue.

“There are districts across the country that are making decisions in hiring based on immutable characteristics such as hiring based on skin color,” she said. “We have found from coast to coast districts that face hiring-based retention, using proxies, having applicants file diversity statements, asking questions during the interview process, or even going as far as using quotas, which is really appalling.”

D.E.I. hiring practices include asking questions based on pronouns and anti-racism but many question the practice and that it could be sending the wrong message.

“In Algonquin, Illinois, which is a rural area, they ask applicants, When is the last time you shared your pronouns? Why do you think it's essential to share your pronouns in,” Neily said. “In Colorado, in the Poudre school district, they mandate that the interview team ask a minimum of two D.E.I. focused questions like, What does anti-racism mean for you mean to you?”