Thread by @DefendingEd

THREAD: We are delighted to announce the public launch today of Parents Defending Education, a national, nonpartisan group that will build a grassroots army of parents to begin reclaiming our K-12 schools from political activists and extremists. 1/

We believe in some basic principles shared by overwhelming majority in US - but that are under attack from leaders of many schools: education should be based on scholarship & facts; it should encourage our kids’ development into happy, resilient, free-thinking citizens. 2/

Education should prepare our kids for life in America - a western democracy with unique values and traditions - not for a life of blind obedience to radical, ever-changing “social justice” causes and toxic identity politics. 3/

Let us be clear: Wokeism is an attack not just on our kids' education, but on their psychological health. It seeks to make them angry, confused, emotional, contemptuous of their community & society, and unable to use logic and reason. Wokeism will turn our kids into failures. 4/

This attack on our children takes many forms: the cult of “antiracism,” which demands they feel either shame & guilt or resentment & bitterness depending on which racial category they are assigned, and tells kids they are racists if they don’t obey. 5/

“Equity,” which demands aggressive (and illegal) racial discrimination against Asians and whites. “Action civics,” which trains young kids to think and act like radical activists rather than curious learners. And so on. 6/

We know what the problem is, but Parents Defending Education is here to pursue solutions: First, we must empower each other. Join our effort, become part of our network, learn about this dangerous new attack on our schools and society, and get organized for the fight ahead. 7/

Second, we must engage: We have to get involved in our schools, many of which are going off the rails & need oversight from the majority that opposes indoctrination and extremism masquerading as education. PDE will show you how to get involved at the local and state level. 8/

Third, we have to expose: the activists in our schools like to operate behind a fog of woke slogans. In reality, many schools are spending enormously – your money – on “Equity and Inclusion” consultants, professional development trainings, and the like. 9/

PDE is using FOIA filings, investigative research, & other tools to expose what schools are doing & the extremists behind it. We file civil rights complaints and litigate against schools that have forgotten our country's civil rights laws apply to them. 10/

Finally, what cannot be achieved through existing channels will be accomplished through new measures such as state-level legislation enacting serious reforms. Much more on this soon. 11/

Our schools are not owned by teachers, principals, or political activists. They are funded by we, the people, and they are supposed to help strengthen our communities, not tear them apart. Schools that have abandoned their obligations to their communities will be challenged. 12/

If you share our belief that the recent trend of political extremism and indoctrination being embraced by many schools threatens our children’s well-being & our society, it's time to get started. Please join us by clicking here: defendinged.org/join-the-movem…