After hauling in a screen pass on the first play of St. Joseph-Ogden's road game at Monticello, Tim Blackburn-Kelley races down the field for the first TD of the season while playing running back in Saturday's 40-28 win. The quick score that burned just 20 seconds off the game clock set the tone for the first half before the Spartans ripped off three more scores before halftime.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
SJO's Ryker Lockhart nails Monticello's Matt Swartz to the turf during first quarter action on Saturday. The first game for the two Illini Prairie Conference members was postponed until noon due to a large storm system passing through Piatt and Champaign county Friday evening.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Spartans' Nolan Earley rushes into the Monticello backfield looking to tackle the Sages' quarterback for a loss.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
SJO's Nolan Earley latches on to Monticello's Ike Young on his way to record a TFL in the first half.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Spartan's Coy Taylor barrels his way into the endzone on a 1-yard play for his team's second touchdown in the first quarter.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Tayton Gerdes celebrates a big play for the Spartans during the third quarter.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
SJO quarterback Kodey McKinney looks to the northeast corner of the field for an open receiver. The junior signal caller scored on 67-yard run in the first quarter and tossed three TD passes in his first varsity start. See all the photos from the game here . . .
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Wyatt Wertz looks for running room while following his blockers on a 37-yard dash through the Sages' defense. The junior running back rushed for 103 yards on 14 carries.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden senior Jared Altenbaumer lunges forward to pounce on Monticello quarterback Ike Young.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Almost a nailbiter as Monticello's momentum grows in the second half after another touchdown, SJO head coach Shawn Skinner strolls down the sideline while the Spartans get a lesson in tenacity during their season opener. See all the photos from the game here . . .
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Sages' Ike Young unloads a pass before Spartans' Gabe Mata can disrupt the third-quarter pass play.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
SJ0 linemen Cameron Wagner and Brodie Harms stack pancakes in the trenches with Monticello's Ryan Frazee and Brody Billedo during fourth-quarter action. See more photos from the game here . . .
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Monticello's Ike Young looks for running room on a keeper. The senior finished 27 of 44 for 292 yards and threw two second-half touchdown passes in his first varsity start at quarterback. He also led Monticello in rushing with 18 carries for 66 yards and scored two of the Sages' four touchdowns.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Leaping above Sages' Zeke Young, Spartan Coy Taylor hauls in a pass for second-half touchdown in the southeast corner end zone at Wilkey Sports Complex. See more photos from the game here . . .
SNS - Moving a wine collection is not just about packing up bottles and transporting them to a new location. It requires a careful approach to ensure each bottle's quality, taste, and value are preserved.
Unlike most household items, wine is highly sensitive to temperature changes, vibrations, and light exposure — making a stress-free move difficult if not handled properly. Whether you are a casual collector or a seasoned connoisseur, taking the time to plan your move carefully can help avoid costly mistakes and ensure your cherished collection arrives safely at its new home.
Here are five essential tips for moving a wine collection safely, from preparing in advance to choosing the right transport options to savor every bottle for years to come.
Prepare in Advance
The key to a successful move, especially when dealing with something as delicate as a wine collection, is preparation. Start by inventorying your collection well ahead of time. Create a detailed list of all the bottles in your collection, including essential information such as the wine’s name, vintage, and estimated value. Taking high-quality photographs of each bottle can also be helpful, particularly for insurance purposes. If you have a particularly rare or valuable collection, consider having it appraised to ensure its value is adequately covered during the move.
Moving your precious wine collection should be done with the upmost care to preserve its value as well as taste. Look for carriers that specialize in moving wine collections to protect your investment. Discuss handling procedures, insurance coverage, and any climate-controlled transport options they have to offer. Use extra layers of protection to help absorb any shock or impact that might happen during transit.
Photo by Emre Katmer/Unsplash
Next, research moving companies that specialize in transporting wine collections. Not all movers have the expertise or equipment needed to handle wine properly, so look for companies with experience in this area and excellent reviews from previous customers. Ask about their handling procedures, insurance coverage, and any climate-controlled transport options they offer.
Work with professional movers — there are plenty of moving scams out there to avoid. Don’t skip due diligence and check what people say about a moving company on websites like MovingScam before hiring them.
Finally, consider the timing of your move. Avoid moving a wine collection during extreme weather conditions, such as very hot summer months or freezing winter days, as these can compromise the wine’s quality. Give ample time to coordinate every detail and ensure that the wine collection receives the careful attention it deserves.
Use Proper Packing Materials
Using the right packing materials is crucial to protecting your wine collection during a move, and it will make unpacking easier as well. Regular cardboard boxes are not sufficient; they offer little protection against temperature changes, vibrations, or breakage.
Instead, invest in specialized wine shipping boxes with dividers that provide extra cushioning and prevent the bottles from rattling against each other. These boxes are designed to securely hold bottles in place, reducing the risk of damage during transport.
For high-value or particularly fragile bottles, consider using wooden crates. Wooden crates provide sturdier protection than cardboard and are better suited to withstand the pressures of a move.
Make sure to wrap each bottle individually with bubble wrap or foam sleeves before placing it in the crate or box. This extra layer of protection helps absorb any shock or impact that could occur during handling or transit.
Maintain Ideal Temperature
Wine is highly sensitive to environmental conditions, so maintaining the ideal temperature and humidity during the move is essential to preserving its quality. The optimal storage temperature for wine is around 55°F (13°C), and it should remain relatively stable throughout the journey. Sudden fluctuations in temperature don't sit well with the wine – they can cause it to expand and contract. This can potentially lead to cork being pushed out, which, in turn, could allow oxygen to seep in. All of this could spoil the wine.
To avoid this, consider renting a climate-controlled vehicle specifically designed to transport wine. These vehicles maintain a consistent temperature and humidity level, protecting a collection from the effects of heat, cold, and dryness. If you are moving your family collection yourself, be mindful of the weather conditions on the day of the move. Avoid leaving wine bottles in a hot car, as temperatures can quickly rise to levels that will damage it, even during short stops.
Plan for Secure Transportation
When moving a wine collection, it's important to ensure that your bottles are securely transported to prevent any damage. Start by placing your packed boxes or crates in a stable, flat position within the vehicle, ideally in a way that minimizes movement during transit. Avoid stacking boxes too high or placing them in areas where they might shift or fall if the vehicle stops suddenly or takes a sharp turn.
When transporting the collection yourself, use moving blankets or foam padding to fill any gaps around the boxes and prevent them from sliding. Additionally, if the collection is valuable, consider using a vehicle with a suspension system that minimizes vibration, as excessive shaking or jolting can disturb the sediment in older wines and affect their flavor.
Moving your wine collection can be easy with a careful planning.
Photo: Sarah Pflug/Burst
For long-distance moves, make sure to plan the most direct route to your destination and avoid rough or bumpy roads whenever possible. Limit the number of stops and aim to keep the journey as smooth as possible to reduce the risk of damage. Keeping your wine collection secure during transport will help ensure that it reaches its destination in perfect condition.
Label Boxes Clearly
Clear labeling and careful handling are crucial when moving your wine collection. Proper labeling ensures that anyone handling the boxes knows their contents are fragile and need special care. Start by labeling each box with clear instructions such as "Fragile," "This Side Up," and "Handle with Care" to minimize the risk of mishandling. Use large, bold lettering or bright-colored labels that are easily visible.
In addition to these general labels, consider including specific information about the contents, such as the type of wine and its storage requirements. For example, mark boxes containing rare or older wines with a “High Value” or “Keep at Room Temperature” label to alert movers to their importance and the need for extra caution.
Make sure to communicate with the moving team or anyone helping you transport the wine about the significance of careful handling. Reinforce that bottles should never be tilted, dropped, or subjected to sudden movements, as these can disturb the sediment in older wines and compromise their quality.
Runners keep a steady pace while running down McHenry Street during the 2023 Illinois Marathon. From buying new shoes regularly to stretching ankles and toes, foot self-care is key to improving competitive performance.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
StatePoint Media - Whether you’re a novice jogger embarking on a couch-to-5K program or a marathoner serious about racking up finishers’ medals, it’s critical you take great care of your feet.
“Running is an amazing form of cardiovascular exercise, but because it’s a high-impact sport that involves repeated trauma to the feet, everyone from long-distance runners to casual joggers is at risk for developing painful and debilitating foot conditions,” says Bryce A. Paschold, DPM, FACFAS, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon and a Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS).
To help you identify signs of some of the more common foot issues associated with running so you can get proper treatment before the condition keeps you from the activity you love, the foot and ankle surgeon members of ACFAS are offering the following insights:
• Plantar Fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis is perhaps the most common complaint from runners. Presenting as heel pain, it’s caused by inflammation of the ligament that holds up the arch. At the first sign of heel pain, Dr. Paschold advises runners to stretch the calf, wear sturdier shoes and use arch supports. In some cases, icing and anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, are helpful. Should pain continue, visit a foot and ankle surgeon, who might recommend custom orthotics, injections and physical therapy.
• Neuromas: A neuroma is a pinched nerve between the toes that can cause pain, numbness and a burning sensation in the ball of the foot. Overly flexible shoes are often the cause, and padding, orthotics or injections are usually effective treatments.
• Tendonitis: Runners can be sidelined with tendonitis if they ignore the warning signs of this overuse condition. There are several forms of tendonitis that affect the Achilles and other areas, and all are treated with rest, icing, strengthening, stretching and anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes with orthotics and physical therapy. Because overzealous training is usually the cause, especially among beginners, it’s important to ramp up mileage and speed gradually. A running coach can tailor your training plan to your current fitness level.
• Broken bones: Don’t assume that because you’re able to run, your foot is not fractured. Signs of a stress fracture can include pain, swelling, redness and possibly bruising. If a fracture is suspected, remember to practice RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). You should also see a foot and ankle surgeon for an X-ray and proper diagnosis. Remember that like with other overuse injuries, stress fractures are often brought on by trying to do too much too soon. A general rule of thumb is to increase mileage by no more than 10 percent week to week.
• Lisfranc injuries: One misstep can lead to a sprain, fracture or dislocation of the Lisfranc joint. Consider wearing a headlamp in low lighting for surer footing. It is also a good idea to incorporate exercises into your regimen that will keep ankles and feet mobile and strong.
“While completing a marathon or even longer distance race may seem like the ultimate goal, it’s wise for new runners to start with shorter races first. This conservative approach will keep your feet in good shape so you’re able to run pain-free for years to come,” says Dr. Paschold. “And of course, it’s vital to listen to your body and seek care from a foot and ankle surgeon whenever a foot problem is suspected.”
For more information on foot care or to find a foot and ankle surgeon near you, visit FootHealthFacts.org, the patient education website of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
by Arthur Allen and Eliza Fawcett, Healthbeat Rebecca Grapevine, Healthbeat
Because viruses evolve as they infect people, the CDC has recommended updated covid vaccines each year.
The FDA has approved an updated covid shot for everyone 6 months old and up, which renews a now-annual quandary for Americans: Get the shot now, with the latest covid outbreak sweeping the country, or hold it in reserve for the winter wave?
The new vaccine should provide some protection to everyone. But many healthy people who have already been vaccinated or have immunity because they’ve been exposed to covid enough times may want to wait a few months.
Covid has become commonplace. For some, it’s a minor illness with few symptoms. Others are laid up with fever, cough, and fatigue for days or weeks. A much smaller group — mostly older or chronically ill people — suffer hospitalization or death.
It’s important for those in high-risk groups to get vaccinated, but vaccine protection wanes after a few months. Those who run to get the new vaccine may be more likely to fall ill this winter when the next wave hits, said William Schaffner, an infectious disease professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a spokesperson for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
On the other hand, by late fall the major variants may have changed, rendering the vaccine less effective, said Peter Marks, the FDA’s top vaccine official, at a briefing Aug. 23. He urged everyone eligible to get immunized, noting that the risk of long covid is greater in the un- and undervaccinated.
Of course, if last year’s covid vaccine rollout is any guide, few Americans will heed his advice, even though this summer’s surge has been unusually intense, with levels of the covid virus in wastewater suggesting infections are as widespread as they were in the winter.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now looks to wastewater as fewer people are reporting test results to health authorities. The wastewater data shows the epidemic is worst in Western and Southern states. In New York, for example, levels are considered “high” — compared with “very high” in Georgia.
Hospitalizations and deaths due to covid have trended up, too. But unlike infections, these rates are nowhere near those seen in winter surges, or in summers past. More than 2,000 people died of covid in July — a high number but a small fraction of the at least 25,700 covid deaths in July 2020.
Partial immunity built up through vaccines and prior infections deserves credit for this relief. A new study suggests that current variants may be less virulent — in the study, one of the recent variants did not kill mice exposed to it, unlike most earlier covid variants.
Alexandra Koch/Pixabay
Public health officials note that even with more cases this summer, people seem to be managing their sickness at home. “We did see a little rise in the number of cases, but it didn’t have a significant impact in terms of hospitalizations and emergency room visits,” said Manisha Juthani, public health commissioner of Connecticut, at a news briefing Aug. 21.
Unlike influenza or traditional cold viruses, covid seems to thrive outside the cold months, when germy schoolkids, dry air, and indoor activities are thought to enable the spread of air- and saliva-borne viruses. No one is exactly sure why.
“Covid is still very transmissible, very new, and people congregate inside in air-conditioned rooms during the summer,” said John Moore, a virologist and professor at Cornell University’s Weill Cornell Medicine College.
Or “maybe covid is more tolerant of humidity or other environmental conditions in the summer,” said Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University.
Because viruses evolve as they infect people, the CDC has recommended updated covid vaccines each year. Last fall’s booster was designed to target the omicron variant circulating in 2023. This year, mRNA vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer and the protein-based vaccine from Novavax — which has yet to be approved by the FDA — target a more recent omicron variant, JN.1.
The FDA determined that the mRNA vaccines strongly protected people from severe disease and death — and would do so even though earlier variants of JN.1 are now being overtaken by others.
Public interest in covid vaccines has waned, with only 1 in 5 adults getting vaccinated since last September, compared with about 80% who got the first dose. New Yorkers have been slightly above the national vaccination rate, while in Georgia only about 17% got the latest shot.
Vaccine uptake is lower in states where the majority voted for Donald Trump in 2020 and among those who have less money and education, less health care access, or less time off from work. These groups are also more likely to be hospitalized or die of the disease, according to a 2023 study in The Lancet.
While the newly formulated vaccines are better targeted at the circulating covid variants, uninsured and underinsured Americans may have to rush if they hope to get one for free. A CDC program that provided boosters to 1.5 million people over the last year ran out of money and is ending Aug. 31.
The agency drummed up $62 million in unspent funds to pay state and local health departments to provide the new shots to those not covered by insurance. But “that may not go very far” if the vaccine costs the agency around $86 a dose, as it did last year, said Kelly Moore, CEO of Immunize.org, which advocates for vaccination.
People who pay out-of-pocket at pharmacies face higher prices: CVS plans to sell the updated vaccine for $201.99, said Amy Thibault, a spokesperson for the company.
“Price can be a barrier, access can be a barrier” to vaccination, said David Scales, an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Without an access program that provides vaccines to uninsured adults, “we’ll see disparities in health outcomes and disproportionate outbreaks in the working poor, who can ill afford to take off work,” Kelly Moore said.
New York state has about $1 million to fill the gaps when the CDC’s program ends, said Danielle De Souza, a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health. That will buy around 12,500 doses for uninsured and underinsured adults, she said. There are roughly one million uninsured people in the state.
CDC and FDA experts last year decided to promote annual fall vaccination against covid and influenza along with a one-time respiratory syncytial virus shot for some groups.
It would be impractical for the vaccine-makers to change the covid vaccine’s recipe twice every year, and offering the three vaccines during one or two health care visits appears to be the best way to increase uptake of all of them, said Schaffner, who consults for the CDC’s policy-setting Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
At its next meeting, in October, the committee is likely to urge vulnerable people to get a second dose of the same covid vaccine in the spring, for protection against the next summer wave, he said.
If you’re in a vulnerable population and waiting to get vaccinated until closer to the holiday season, Schaffner said, it makes sense to wear a mask and avoid big crowds, and to get a test if you think you have covid. If positive, people in these groups should seek medical attention since the antiviral pill Paxlovid might ameliorate their symptoms and keep them out of the hospital.
As for conscientious others who feel they may be sick and don’t want to spread the covid virus, the best advice is to get a single test and, if positive, try to isolate for a few days and then wear a mask for several days while avoiding crowded rooms. Repeat testing after a positive result is pointless, since viral particles in the nose may remain for days without signifying a risk of infecting others, Schaffner said.
The Health and Human Services Department is making four free covid tests available to anyone who requests them starting in late September through covidtest.gov, said Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response, at the Aug. 23 briefing.
The government is focusing its fall vaccine advocacy campaign, which it’s calling “Risk less, live more,” on older people and nursing home residents, said HHS spokesperson Jeff Nesbit.
Not everyone may really need a fall covid booster, but “it’s not wrong to give people options,” John Moore said. “The 20-year-old athlete is less at risk than the 70-year-old overweight dude. It’s as simple as that.”
KFF Health News correspondent Amy Maxmen contributed to this report.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
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PEORIA - The fall virus season is upon us, and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration just approved one of the newest tools to protect Americans from severe illness.
The updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available at pharmacies around the country in the coming weeks.
The mRNA vaccine is not a booster, says Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. He says it’s recommended for a much broader portion of the population.
"The vaccine is now recommended for everybody 6 months and older as a one-time, once-a-year vaccine," Dr. Kasper says. “The vaccine has been updated. For people who are at really high risk, those 65 and older or with respiratory conditions, they may get a second shot. This would be in a six-month interval in the springtime.”
Does the vaccine prevent me from getting COVID-19?
The quick answer? No, much like you find with the annual influenza vaccine.
"The vaccine seeks to protect severe outcomes associated with COVID-19. It doesn't protect you from getting COVID, it tries to decrease the severity of how sick you would get," Dr. Kasper says.
While there has been an uptick in COVID-19 cases recently, Dr. Kasper says there has not been an increase in COVID hospitalizations. He attributes this to robust natural immunity in the population and adding this COVID-19 vaccine is just another way to protect yourself from severe illness.
FDA’s “What to Know” sheet
The 2024-2025 formula has been updated to protect against the Omicron variant KP.2.
Unvaccinated individuals 6 months through 4 years of age are eligible to receive three doses of the updated, authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or two doses of the updated, authorized Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Individuals 6 months through 4 years of age who have previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 are eligible to receive one or two doses of the updated, authorized Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines (timing and number of doses to administer depends on the previous COVID-19 vaccine received).
Individuals 5 years through 11 years of age regardless of previous vaccination are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, authorized Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines; if previously vaccinated, the dose is administered at least two months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, approved Comirnaty (manufactured by Pfizer BioNTech) or the updated, approved Spikevax (manufactured by Moderna); if previously vaccinated, the dose is administered at least two months since the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
Additional doses are authorized for certain immunocompromised individuals ages 6 months through 11 years of age as described in the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine fact sheets.
Commercial retailers are the way to go
As the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna become available, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) will publish a pharmacy lookup website at https://www.vaccines.gov/en/vaccines.gov to help people find the nearest vaccine locations.
Dr. Kasper says the best bet at getting a vaccine appointment for COVID-19 or influenza, is through pharmacies at local commercial retailers like Target, Walgreens, CVS or Walmart.
Free COVID-19 home tests are coming back
“The U.S. government will make the at-home COVID testing available for free again this year. You can request up to four home tests that will be delivered to your address for free,” Dr. Kasper says. That gives people another option for testing if they think they're developing signs of COVID even after receiving a vaccine, which can be another way to avoid wait lines at urgent cares, ERs or primary care clinics, and to keep themselves isolated until symptoms have resolved.”
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reports that COVIDTests.gov will be the website to order from once the website is active.
Status of the Novavax vaccine
A third manufacturer, Novavax, makes a protein-based vaccine similar to influenza vaccines. While it hasn’t been approved by the FDA, Dr. Kasper suspects it will be soon.
"It likely will be approved, and Novavax has been a prior manufacturer of COVID-19 vaccines. That is a third option that will be coming that isn't mRNA based for people to consider if they had an adverse reaction with Pfizer or Moderna in the past,” Dr. Kasper says.
Can I get the COVID-19 and flu vaccine at the same time?
"There's no issue with timing on getting the COVID and influenza vaccines. The RSV vaccine is recommended to be given separate," Dr. Kasper says. “Most of that has to do with the fact they weren't studied together, there's not an adverse issue with it. For the population, COVID and influenza are recommended across almost all age groups. RSV is for our older population, so we recommend spacing that out by a week or two.”
For all vaccine questions, Dr. Kasper recommends speaking with your primary care team to review your options.
St. Joseph - Coy Taylor returns to the gridiron tonight for the Spartans. During his junior year, Taylor hauled in 95 passes for 1342 receiving yards and averaged 122 yards per game. Look for the senior wide receiver to make big plays tonight in St. Joseph-Ogden's season opener on the road at Monticello. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
In this back to school season, millions of American students are returning to classrooms where the wrong course, lesson, or textbook can lead to deep trouble. Why? Because for the last several years, conservative activists and lawmakers have been waging a crusade against “critical race theory,” or CRT.
Critical race theory is an academic concept acknowledging that racism isn’t simply the result of individual prejudice but is also embedded in our institutions through laws, regulations, and rules.
As school districts have emphasized, it’s a higher education concept rarely taught in K-12 schools. But cynical activists have used CRT as a catch-all term to target a broad range of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives — and seemingly any discussion about race and racism in the classroom.
Since January 2021, 44 states have “introduced bills or taken other steps that would restrict teaching critical race theory or limit how teachers can discuss racism and sexism,” according to Education Weekly. And as of this writing, UCLA has identified 807 anti-CRT “bills, resolutions, executive orders, opinion letters, statements, and other measures” since September 2020.
Critics claim — falsely — that CRT teaches that all white people are oppressors, while Black people are simply oppressed victims. Many opponents claim it teaches white students to “hate their own race,” or to feel guilty about events that happened before they were born.
In reality, CRT gives students of every race the tools to understand how our institutions treat people of different races unequally — and how we can make those systems fairer. That’s learning students of every race would be better off with.
But instead, this barrage of draconian legislation is having a chilling effect on speech in the classroom.
In 2022, Florida passed the “Stop W.O.K.E. Act,” which prohibits teaching that could lead to a student feeling “discomfort” because of their race, sex, or nationality. But the law’s vague language makes it difficult for educators to determine what they can or cannot teach, ultimately restricting classroom instruction. In my home state of Texas, SB3 similarly restricts these classroom discussions.
Running afoul of these laws can get teachers and school administrators in trouble. As a result of this hostile environment, the RAND Corporation found that two-thirds of K-12 school teachers have decided “to limit instruction about political and social issues in the classroom.”
Notably, this self-censorship extends beyond states with such policies: 55 percent of teachers without state or local restrictions on CRT have still decided to limit classroom discussions of race and history.
As a student, I find this distressing.
My high school history classes gave me a much richer understanding of race in our history, especially the discussions we had at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests. And in college, I’ve gotten to learn about racial inequalities in everything from housing and real estate to health care, politics, education, and immigration policy.
As a person of color, I can’t imagine where I’d be without this understanding. Neither white students nor students of color will benefit from laws designed to censor their understanding of history, critical thinking, and open dialogue in the classroom.
The fight against CRT is a fight against the principles of education that encourage us to question, learn, and grow. Rather than shielding students from uncomfortable truths, which they can certainly handle, we should seek to equip them with the knowledge to navigate the world, think critically about our history and institutions, and push for a more inclusive country.
Ian Wright is a Henry A. Wallace Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and a student at Rice University from Dallas, Texas. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.
Discover the headlines published on each of these days from our news and sports coverage from Champaign‑Urbana and the wider community. From local news and sports to community events, politics, and opinion pieces, The Sentinel archives capture the stories that shaped life in Champaign County year after year.
