Truth in Education Controversial Part of CHD Conference
By Bob Small
One of the more controversial groups represented at the 2023 Children’s Health Defense (CHD) Conference was Truth In Education (TIE).
TIE says that Comprehensive Sexuality Education commonly taught in public schools “is an assault on the family and the health and innocence of children.”
Of course, this brings back the old problem of parents, as many are, who are reluctant to have that conversation and doesn’t account for the addition of the internet.
Another issue they oppose is Critical Race Theory (CRT)
“Simply put, instruction in Critical Race Theory as presented in Black Lives Matter curriculum and The 1619 Project pushes American students down the road of hate,” says TIE.
As long as the totality of American History is taught, including slavery, emancipation, including both US Support for Israel and Operation Paperclip in the curriculum, there would not be a CRT or the 1619 Project. One wonders if most students even know that Abraham Lincoln was a Republican, not a Democrat.
Under the “what can you do” section, they list many good suggestions, including “attend school board meetings and know what is being taught in your school”.
One wishes there would be a line about running for the school board.
Most local school boards do not require “professionals.” What we need more of are carpenters, factory workers, waiters and waitresses. In 2005, Mary Gay Scanlon ran for the Wallingford Swarthmore School Board and lost.
She eventually did win an election.
And how about we teach students to question authority, especially government authority, such as covid mandates and election results that seem unrealistic?
Teachers rarely let their students challenge the things they teach.
“Critical thinking” lessons is too often teachers playing pretend.
“The Socratic education begins … with the awakening of the mind to the need for criticism,” it is said. This is another way of saying always question.
Lastly, another critique is Why Truthful, Inclusive Education Benefits All Students
Dr. Kesha Moore of LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is quoted: All children have a right to know the truth, to know who they are, to know who they live with, and what their community is like.
So where do we go from here?
