If there is one good thing about the COVID pandemic, it is the spotlight it forced on American classrooms. Suddenly parents became aware of the frightening significance of replacing U.S. history and civics classes with gender and diversity studies. Those who never heard of CRT now recognize critical race theory as destructive to America's founding principles.
This year the Heritage Foundation released the inaugural results of a national education study. The 2022 Education Freedom Report Card's #1 ranking goes to the Sunshine State. The evaluation considers more than two dozen factors grouped under four broad categories: school choice, transparency, regulatory freedom, and spending.
The Sunshine State embraces education freedom across the board. Florida does exceptionally well in allowing parents to choose among private, charter, and district schools, is home to a strong ESA (education savings account) program, and ranks third overall for education choice. Florida ranks first among states for academic transparency. Among other protections, state lawmakers set a high standard for academic transparency, and reject critical race theory’s pernicious ideas.
Florida Convention of States volunteers championed educational freedom through their months-long efforts to collect and publicize school board candidates' beliefs. With COS behind the scenes, the State of Florida has received national recognition for promoting candidate transparency and influencing school-board elections toward traditional conservative values.
Purpose of Education
There is a never-ending philosophical debate about whether education should be liberal or vocational. The ancient Greeks understood liberal to mean liberate the mind to think freely. Independent thinking was considered an essential element of democratic citizenry.
Progressive educational reform, on the other hand, was designed to prepare workers for the industrial economy. Over the last 100 years the individual thinker and questioner has been suppressed into a mold of submissive team player.
The founding American spirit of self-reliance and rugged individualism that created this free country would resist too much deference to science, experts, and authority. To preserve our freedom, today's students must be taught to ask themselves, "When is it better to think for yourself and when to trust the experts?"
COVID has exposed the need for parents, grandparents, teachers, and all concerned patriots to question the experts.
COS Is Local
We need patriots to take a close look at school curricula and see if they align with American values. Several COS volunteers were so inspired by this community need that they are running for public office. We deeply admire and support their efforts.
Local involvement is essential to balance national trends funded by the federal government. The post Civil War Morrill Acts and many World War II-era education acts have created financial incentives that dictate how states must conform to federal policies. What starts as a benefit can easily turn into one-size-fits-all federal control and overreach.
An article V convention would consider amendments related to term limits, fiscal responsibility, and less federal overreach. COS may have the goal of calling such a convention of states, but the only way that will happen is with your help.
COS is committed to growing its grassroots army of self-governing activists. If you'd like to find a support group with a life-changing purpose, join us today.
