OPINION:
Next year’s presidential election is about more than just who occupies the White House for four years; it’s a battle to preserve America. In determining what kind of country our children and grandchildren will grow up in, no issue is more important than education.
If we’re to protect traditional American values such as free speech and meritocracy, which are under direct assault in classrooms across the country, getting “woke” ideology out of schools and defending parental rights can’t just be empty slogans.
At the next Republican presidential debate in California on Sept. 27, candidates should have the opportunity to demonstrate whether they truly understand what’s at stake in the battle over our education system.
In the first debate last month and in the weeks leading up to it, several candidates began to distinguish themselves as leaders on education. At the same time, others demonstrated a troubling lack of understanding of the threat facing America’s schools and students.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came into the debate with undoubtedly the strongest governing record on education, and it showed. In his state, Mr. DeSantis has banned the teaching of critical race theory, prohibited inappropriate discussions of sex and gender in the classroom, and removed explicit books from school libraries, all of which he alluded to in the debate and promised to do nationally if elected.
Vivek Ramaswamy offered the clearest denunciation of the Department of Education of anyone at the debate, calling it the “head of the snake” and promising to return its $80 billion budget to “the hands of parents across this country.”
Both Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Ramaswamy also talked about something crucially important: the teaching of civics. We must teach our children what made this country great and why they should be proud of being Americans by teaching them our Constitution.
Mr. DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum all also pledged to abolish the Education Department if elected president. Former President Donald Trump, although he chose to forgo the debate, has been calling for the dismantlement of the department for over a year.
In light of this and grassroots initiatives such as 1776 Action’s nationwide petition to defund the Cabinet agency, it’s clear that this position is gaining momentum in the GOP.
But while there were some encouraging answers on how to solve the problems plaguing the nation’s schools, several of the candidates on the stage last month appeared completely clueless on the issue.
What’s particularly concerning about this is that these candidates’ lack of knowledge likely reflects a fundamental failure on the part of the Republican establishment to help voters understand how their kids are being brainwashed in school and what they need to do about it.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, for instance, bragged about how he expanded “computer science education.” But he made no mention of what he would do to stop the spread of dangerous radical ideologies in schools.
Mr. Burgum, while correctly suggesting that the Department of Education be abolished, said that the solution to the problem is innovation. Really? One need only look at the proliferation of pornographic books in school libraries, pride flags in school classrooms, and drag shows in school cafeterias to know this statement is hopelessly naive and disqualifying.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was also vague about the specifics of her plan to “get these kids to read” and facilitate transparency in the classroom, although she has since signed a parental rights pledge and unveiled a more comprehensive and encouraging education platform comprehensive education platform.
Teachers unions were another topic covered by few candidates. While Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina promised to “break the backs of the teachers unions” and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie touted how he went “right after the teachers unions in 2010,” no candidate has effectively articulated why teachers unions are so detrimental to our children’s development.
While there were some good and bad answers on education in the debate, what has yet to emerge from the Republican field is one candidate who clearly understands and can articulate that what’s taking place in America’s schools today is an ideological war over the minds of our children.
Notably, the word Marxism was not mentioned once in the debate, despite the fact that it is being peddled to students on a daily basis. Ideologies such as critical race theory, critical queer theory, social and emotional learning, and diversity, equity and inclusion are Marxism rebranded to appeal to 21st-century American liberal sensibilities. Every Republican candidate should be hammering this fact home.
What voters intuitively understand and what every Republican hopeful should be working to relay is that, for a significant number of teachers and school administrators, the goal is indoctrination, not education.
The teachers unions have been active in pushing this radical agenda in our schools.
This was exactly my experience in school in Mao’s China. During the Cultural Revolution, our education in math, science and reading was replaced with indoctrination to make us loyal followers of the Chinese Communist Party. Mao did not want students who were well versed in academics; he only wanted revolutionaries to further his cause.
This is where America is now. We are in the midst of a revolution.
Republicans should be loudly warning about the future America is headed toward under the radical left’s takeover of the education system. Our schools are no longer interested in preparing our children to be responsible and successful citizens.
Instead, they are focused on training our children to be future activists and turning them into future voters for the Democratic Party.
To win this ideological war, we have to help students to understand that “wokeism” is Marxism and communism. Unfortunately, Mr. DeSantis failed to mention on the debate stage one of the most important bills he signed into law: a measure requiring Florida schools to teach the history of communism. This is something every state should do.
Ending the American Marxists’ takeover of American schools will be the determining factor in whether or not the country survives.
As Republicans choose a nominee to represent them in 2024, how acutely each candidate understands the urgency of this problem will remain a top concern for voters, and should be a major focus in future debates.
• Xi Van Fleet grew up in China and spent her school years during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. In 1986, she fled to America. Her experience compelled to warn the American people about the threat of socialism/communism and the danger of the current “woke” movement, which she views as a Marxist cultural revolution.
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