By Author Gorman The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of ReconciledMinistries.com
In today’s educational landscape, there’s a troubling trend where resources, both financial and intellectual, are being diverted from the core mission of education to support secretive policies and initiatives that undermine parental rights, community values, and the true educational needs of our children. This shift is largely driven by partnerships like the Partnership for the Future of Learning, an extensive unelected bureaucratic state, and various non-profits, all of which appear more focused on ideological agendas than on student learning.
The Distraction from Educational Metrics:
Misallocation of Resources: Schools are increasingly spending on programs that prioritize social engineering, equity initiatives, and health policies over traditional academic subjects. This includes funding for School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs), social-emotional learning (SEL), and gender ideology education, often under the radar of parental scrutiny.
Failing to Meet Educational Metrics: While schools are busy meeting these new, often ideological, metrics, they’re falling short on traditional education benchmarks like literacy, numeracy, science, and history. Standardized test scores, graduation rates, and college readiness are not improving at the pace they should, given the resources invested.
The Role of Unelected Bureaucrats and Nonprofits:
Unelected Influence: The bureaucratic state, including departments like Education, Health and Human Services, and the CDC, often bypass elected officials to implement policies through grants, regulations, or partnerships like the WSCC. These agencies and their appointed officials set agendas that might not align with community values or educational priorities.
Nonprofits and the Partnership for the Future of Learning: This partnership and similar organizations advocate for educational reforms that often prioritize social justice, equity, and community health over academic rigor. They influence policy, curriculum, and funding, benefiting from the system they help to shape, but at the expense of genuine educational advancement.
Financial Benefits Over Educational Outcomes: Many of these organizations benefit financially from the systems they help to maintain or expand. Grants and funding often flow to these nonprofits, which then push for policies that ensure their continued relevance and funding, rather than focusing on educational excellence.
The Impact on Families and Communities:
Erosion of Trust: When educational institutions become battlegrounds for ideological conflicts, the trust between schools, parents, and communities erodes. Parents feel sidelined or opposed when schools adopt policies without their input or against their values.
Cultural Displacement: The push for certain social policies in schools can lead to a cultural shift away from the values held by many families, particularly those of faith or traditional backgrounds, causing a rift within community cohesion.
Secretive Policies: The lack of transparency regarding what’s taught, how funds are spent, or what medical decisions are made with minors only deepens the divide, as parents are left out of the loop on significant aspects of their children’s lives.
The Call to Action:
Refocusing on Education and Exposing the Lies: Demand Transparency and Accountability: Parents and community members must insist on clear, open communication about curriculum, funding, and school policies. This includes understanding how resources are being used and ensuring they align with educational goals.
Reclaim Educational Priorities: Advocate for policies that put academic achievement back at the forefront. This means supporting curricula focused on core subjects, critical thinking, and practical skills rather than ideological indoctrination.
Exposing Government Deception: Through local journalism, community meetings, or parental rights groups, highlight how educational metrics are being manipulated or ignored in favor of political or social agendas. Use this information to rally support for change.
Legislate for Parental Rights: Work towards laws that require parental consent for significant educational and medical decisions involving students, ensuring parents are not just bystanders in their children’s education.
Community Action and Election Influence: Engage in local politics to elect representatives who prioritize education over ideology. Support school board members, mayors, or state legislators who will stand against the bureaucratic overreach and restore local control.
Financial Independence: Push for educational funding that doesn’t come with ideological strings attached. This might involve advocating for local tax measures or private donations directed specifically towards educational improvement rather than social policy implementation.
Conclusion:
We are at a critical juncture where the future of our children’s education is at stake. It’s imperative that we redirect our focus back to the essentials of learning, expose the deceptive practices of those benefiting from the current system, and fight for an educational environment that values academic achievement, respects community values, and upholds the sacred bond between parents and their children. Only by doing so can we ensure that our schools serve the true purpose of education, not the hidden agendas of those who would use our children as pawns in a larger ideological game.
Tom