Farmington schools consultant sees problems with strong family structure

An audit of Farmington schools by an outside consultancy recommends reprogramming teachers who resist the consultant’s brand of diversity, equity, and inclusion — which includes labeling the U.S. government’s definition of family as “systemic familialism.”

Farmington Public Schools hired US2 Consulting to perform an educational equity audit to assess its pedagogy, curriculum, policies and procedures, as well as how it was perceived. US2 received $75,000 for its services.

In a blog post on the company’s site, “systemic familialism” is defined as “prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination on the basis or assumption of family structure.” This is in response to the definition of family: “a group of two or more persons related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together; all such related persons are considered members of one family.”

One of the company’s memes on Facebook asks how Christianity played a role in colonization and explains:

“Christianity was one justification that European powers used to colonize and exploit Africa. ... To many European nations, Christianity represented western civilization and the basis for Anglo-Saxon morality. Christianity served as a major force in the partition and eventual colonization of Africa.”

The consulting company’s memes also include a litany of “isms” and “privilege” explanations including:

Saneism: “Discrimination based on someone’s actual or perceived mental health.”

Misgender: “Referring to someone using gendered language, that does not correctly reflect the gender which they identify.”

Lookism Privilege: "Getting a front desk job over another individual, because you look the part.”

Intellectual Privilege: “Not worrying about whether it is necessary to tell someone your IQ (intelligence quotient.)”

Heterosexual Privilege: “The ability to openly talk about one’s partner without being ridiculed.”

Hearing Privilege: “Going to a lecture without the need of an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter or closed-captioning.”

Able-bodied Privilege: “Being able to go outside without getting stared at because of your different ability.”

The Farmington Public Schools Board of Education and did not respond to requests for comment. Neither did the superintendent.