Whether or not individuals believe in God or any higher power, some state and government officials are attempting to influence that decision for all. For a long time, politicians and high-ranking officials have been trying to change the education system by integrating religion into American classrooms. This is not the end of the government attempting to extend its reach within education, though.
Currently, no state has mandated that religion must be taught in education, but in states like Texas, the possibility of the Ten Commandments being displayed in classrooms was almost plausible. This law was voted on in the Texas state senate and passed, sending it to the state house where the bill faltered.
In the past few years, Republicans have attacked the education system several times, even mentioning an elimination of the education department. Republicans in Oklahoma also successfully banned all critical race theory classes earlier this year. While there were many lawsuits filed after this ban, no resolution has occurred.
It is clear that Republicans are failing to see that not everyone shares the same history and upbringing as they do, and many citizens do not want to be restricted by the government on what is and should be taught in the classroom. Giving the government the power of what can and cannot be taught and what can and cannot be displayed in the classroom could lead to mass indoctrination and brainwashing.
Temecula and Sunol school districts in Southern California have banned LGBTQ flags, for example. Sunol Glen Unified School District specifically banned LGBTQ flags, according to The Hill reporting, while Temecula Valley Unified School District was more subtle in their decision by stating that only the state and the U.S. and state flags would be allowed in classrooms.
Students protested in both districts, and protesters in Sunol Glen even called for a recall of school board members who voted in favor of the policy, The Mercury News reported. This goes to show that certain politicians, and now school districts, want a cookie-cutter society that shares one view.
If one side doesn't have a say in education, neither should the opposing side or sides.
Each state can often be “defined” as a Republican or a Democratic state, except for some states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. This being said, in a state like Indiana, Republicans hold the majority of all elected government jobs. If a law was mentioned or voted on related to education, that law would most likely include a Republican ideal, without added input from the opposing side.
The government should be kept separate from education for the simple fact that if one side gets control of education, kids will be exposed to one-sided ideas, which could detrimentally impact the thoughts of a child as they get older. If only one side is preached, then there is no counterbalance.
Politicians need to focus their time on more pressing topics like gun control or the lack thereof. Debating education is a losing battle because at the end of the day, no one will preach an idea that is liked by everyone, so in this case politicians need to abandon the topic.
U.S. citizens should not sit back and watch as politicians from all sides try to edge each other out and have a rule over education. This being said, we cannot support politicians who would seek to eliminate the education department. We should vote for those who are in support of it.
After all, these politicians are not the ones going to school seven hours a day, five days a week. Districts and, better yet, students should be able to decide their courses. Yes, not all students are capable of making these decisions, but if a topic like critical race theory is a class that students want then without a doubt the district should try their best to include this class.
Students and teachers should be allowed to express themselves at school. A little diversity is good for young adults and children to experience, as it can shape them for adulthood.