It’s a New School Year – Stay Vigilant
By Mitch Siegler, Founder

Starting a new school year always comes with a checklist of needs. But just as school supplies, clothes, and books are all necessities, so is vigilance.

As THINC continues to fight radical, Liberated Ethnic Studies (LES) in K-12 schools, we’ve noticed a strange paradox: supporters of “liberated” curricula are proud to indoctrinate young students into their political ideology, but they avoid giving straight answers about what they actually teach – especially to inquiring parents.

We’ve seen educational organizations and teachers’ unions openly support the application of critical race theory (CRT) to ethnic studies, then deny that CRT is being taught. We’ve seen LES proponents harangue school boards about inclusion, then explicitly exclude groups they say aren’t “oppressed” enough from ethnic studies curricula and instruction. We’ve even seen teachers’ unions – who love touting their values – sue to keep the curricula that reflect those values hidden from parents.

A clear picture has emerged: LES advocates are so convinced that theirs is the one and only truth that they think anyone who challenges them deserves vilification, not debate or even dialogue. In their eyes, “transparency” is just code for “meddling parents” whom they seek to shut out of education wherever and whenever possible.

The good news is that these radical ideologues, while loud and powerful, are a small minority, and we know how to beat them: through the very transparency they fight so hard to oppose.

Parents have already spoken; our nationwide survey of nearly 1,500 parents revealed that 88% believe that their children’s curricula should be publicly available! Unfortunately, those who hold power in our schools often prioritize teachers over students – and parents often don’t even make the list. Even jurisdictions which are required by law to make lessons public often flout those regulations in the absence of oversight, which is where parents come in.

Parents need to use their voices to make sure that schools follow through and don’t indoctrinate children. As your kids return to school, keep a close eye on their assignments. LES ideology has infiltrated even math and science, pushed by activists who believe that all education is and should be political. They don’t keep secret their ultimate objective – turning kids into activists.

As the saying goes, if you see something, say something. Don’t hesitate to ask teachers or administrators for more information, and to broach your concerns with the school board if necessary. There’s strength in numbers – engage with other parents. Force LES activists to defend the ideas that they push on children.

Sunlight may be the best disinfectant, but parents are the window through which it shines.