Like Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, the Mainstream Coalition in Johnson County says parents should have no say on curriculum decisions. An email to their supporters says they support “keeping decisions about curriculum and student wellbeing with local professionals and educators, not politicians or outside interest groups.”
At least they call parents ‘outside interest groups’ instead of ‘domestic terrorists’ as did the National School Board Association.
Telling parents to butt out of their children’s education and wellbeing flies in the face of the Mainstream Coalition’s vision statement – “a Kansas political system that equitably represents all of its constituents.” Public school districts are part of the government political system and parents certainly are constituents of locally elected school board members.
The Mainstream folks seem to identify with what George Orwell wrote in Animal Farm: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
We know where the Mainstream Coalition stands on parental rights (no soup for you!), but what about the politicians they support?
This is who they endorsed in the 2020 General Election for House and Senate in Johnson County. I know from personal experience that most of them are firmly in the ‘government knows best’ camp.
But don’t take my word for it – ask them point-blank:
- Should parents have a say in their child’s curriculum and how they are taught?
- Should taxpayer-funded accounts be available to parents if they believe their school district is not meeting the academic needs of their children?
Every parent and grandparent should ask these questions of their state representative, their state senator, and everyone running for office in 2022. And make your intention crystal clear.
“I have two questions for you. If you answer ‘yes’ to both, I’ll vote for you in 2022. I’m voting for someone else if you answer ‘no’ or try to avoid answering the questions.”
Parents and grandparents have had it with being ignored by school officials. A recent poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of Kansas Policy Institute shows 75% support for making taxpayer-funded accounts available to parents if they believe their school district is not meeting the academic needs of their children. This overwhelming demand crosses all geographic and ideological boundaries.
Stay tuned to The Sentinel for more survey results in the next few days.
Like the Mainstream Coalition, the Department of Education, the State School Board, and most school superintendents have made their position clear – parents get no say in how or what their children are taught.
If you want that to change, you must get involved.
