"Public school teachers posting political manifestos" is a turnoff for parents, writes Matthew Ladner on Next Steps.
In EdChoice's What Do Parents Want survey, 84 percent said teachers should keep their politics to themselves. "Parents say they want schools to teach the fullness of American history, both positive and negative; to instill the ability to discuss contentious issues rationally; to avoid sexually explicit material; and to avoid teaching LGBTQ content in the classroom," EdChoice reports.
Forty percent wanted schools to emphasize national pride while 18 percent wanted a more critical look at our country, and the rest had no preference. Thirty-eight percent chose stricter discipline, 7 percent more lenient discipline.
Two-thirds of parents want to keep sexually explicit content away from their child, the survey found. Fifty-seven percent of K-8 parents did not want LGBT issues discussed in class. That dropped to 32 percent for parents of high school students.
The survey also showed "Parents preferred technology-centered instruction over limited screen time" and a focus on STEM over the arts and humanities. Most preferred a college-prep curriculum rather than workforce-prep.
I'm so old, I recited the pledge of allegiance daily, sang the national anthem at high school ballgames, celebrated Columbus Day, and watched numerous classmates drive their pickup trucks to school--gun racks in the back window--parking them in the lot because they'd go hunting after school. Three things we never had at our school: 1. A gun incident 2. A bomb threat 3. Teachers telling us to vote this way or that What has changed?
It must have been the 2004 election and my son was in grade school and they held a class election. That evening we get a call from the school that my son was the only student who voted for Bush. I asked how they knew and why were they calling me during dinner to tell me this. They said it was important and we should know. AYKM??
I'm so old I remember my teachers saying nothing about their political views.
School choice addresses this issue. Let the government schools pull a Bud Light and promote whatever feminist/Marxist/LGBTQ agenda they want. In a school choice environment, parents will respond like Bud customers.
"18 percent wanted a more critical look at our country"
Good grief, all they do is bang on about the sins. More critical?