More than ever before, parents and schools are conflicted on important issues that affect children. While true that schools have a responsibility for students, what exactly are those responsibilities? Who gets to decide what happens in our schools? Do the rights of parents end at the schoolhouse door?
A January 2021 article titled, What the School Board Members Who Shape Your Child’s Curriculum Really Believe, Rachel del Guidice (https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/01/21/what-the-school-board-members-who-shape-curriculum-really-believe/) recaps a podcast interview with Lindsey Burke, Director of the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation. The interview highlights the results of a survey conducted by the Foundation in collaboration with Braun Research.
The purpose of the survey was to get a sense of what both parents and school board members think in terms of the policies that establish school-based practices and what is being taught in public schools. The survey focused on three categories: civics education as it relates to the 1619 Project; character education, and sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lindsey Burke shared a surprising statistic:
“There are roughly 14,000 school boards across the country and about 100,000 school board members, and 95% of the school board members are elected to their positions. They represent the largest group of elected officials in the country. School boards have a lot of power over education, and I think that they are frequently overlooked.”
Here are a few highlights from the interview and the survey. It is worth the time to read the full article.
In general, parents are pleased with the amount of civics education taught in schools, while an overwhelming majority of school board members believe more civics needs to be taught. Fifty percent of parents and 70% of school board members agree that, as is the focus of the 1619 Project, schools should not use curriculum materials that emphasize slavery as the center of our founding.
Both parents and school board members strongly support the need for character education in our schools, with 83% of parents believing schools should instill character and virtue in children and 89% of board members concur. Specifically, with regards to what is termed the success sequence – graduating high school, getting a job, and getting married before having children and how that significantly reduces the likelihood of ending up in poverty – 72% of parents agree with this approach, while 60% of school board members agree.
When it comes to teaching about sexuality in the early grades, 66% of parents and 80% of school board members do not believe that schools should teach young children in elementary school about sexual activity, sexual orientation, and gender identity issues. And, with regards to a child’s gender identity, the majority of parents and board members surveyed agree that schools have an obligation to inform parents if their child either identifies as transgender or questions his or her gender identity. This includes 70% of parents and 60% of school board members.
Overall, the article draws two important conclusions: 1. Schools are not values-neutral, and families should be able to select learning environments that are the best fit for their children. 2. States should require all public school districts to be transparent when it comes to school curricula and the resources used in classrooms. Curriculum materials should also be made available for public review.
Since school board members are the largest group of elected officials in the country, it is imperative that parents and community members get involved at the local level and understand how school-based policies are enacted and how curricula decisions are made. When it comes to issues important to parents and the education of children, what your local school board believes matters. As a parent and as a taxpayer, get involved, ask questions, do your homework. Don’t leave your rights at the schoolhouse door.