mguhlin

Afraid to Speak Up

 

“The younger you are, the more likely you are to speak up against authority, or to act. The older you get, the more you realize what a waste of time it is. The reason why is people don’t easily change their minds, and the best change you can make is to yourself. When it comes to bosses, the public, you may as well just shut up.” 

A key reason why educators engage in self-censorship, RAND found, is a concern that their instruction — legal or not — could trigger a parental backlash. Source: The 74 article via Mark Dunk

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Fear Shuts Teachers’ Mouths

If that’s your attitude, then you will fit in with the masses of folks in this article Rick Weinberg called my attention. A quick summary describes it in this way:

A study shows two-thirds of U.S. teachers self-censor on political and social topics due to fear of parental backlash. The RAND Corporation found this leads to less classroom discussion on race, gender, and sexuality, even without legal restrictions. The effect is widespread, with actual self-censorship rates doubling those legally mandated. This is the first quantified research on the issue, according to researcher Ashley Woo. Summary by Perplexity.ai of The 74 article

Does It Pass the Smell Test, er, The Orwell Test?

Based on The Orwell Test, the article from The 74 Million appears to rely on verifiable facts supported by evidence from a study, comes from a source that is likely credible, and employs accepted methods of reporting. Therefore, there is no immediate reason to be highly suspicious of the information presented in this article.

The real issue?

Teachers in states that don’t have the laws are just as likely as those that do to say that they are subject to school- or district-level restrictions, the survey found. Some have stopped discussing controversial topics not covered by statutes or policies, such as abortion rights or climate change. Unsure what exactly has been outlawed, others report deciding not to discuss historical figures of color or civil rights.  Source: The 74 article

Surprised?

It should come as no surprise that teachers are holding their tongues in the face of the rabid attacks by MAGA Republicans, Christian Nationalists, Moms for Liberty, and fear-mongering administrators who simply want peace and quiet, yielding their responsibility to provide an American education that empowers rather than raises the next generation of fearful, cowering children. 

Consider these news source from the last year, courtesy of Perplexity.ai summary:

News Source Summary Link
PBS / Associated Press Moms for Liberty, a group advocating for “parental rights” in education, has become a significant force in GOP politics, aligning with establishment Republicans and influencing school board elections. Over half of the 500 candidates they endorsed in 2022 won their races. The Southern Poverty Law Center designated them as an “anti-government extremist” group. [1]
CNN Moms for Liberty faces challenges and pushback over its conservative education agenda. The group has been involved in school board races and campaigns against cultural issues in schools. A scandal involving the husband of a co-founder has not helped their cause, and there is growing opposition to their efforts to remove books from schools. [4]
NBC News In Grapevine, Texas, a school board election became a battleground for Christian nationalism, with candidates backed by a far-right Christian cellphone company. The election has divided the community and raised concerns about religious liberty and the imposition of Christian nationalist beliefs on public education. [5]
New Republic Moms for Liberty experienced losses in former strongholds, indicating a decline in their influence. The group, which rose to prominence opposing COVID-19 regulations and later expanded to pushing book bans and opposing discussions of LGBTQ issues and race, saw a drop in participation and the loss of preferred candidates in school board elections. [7]
The Nation Moms for Liberty is compared to the Tea Party movement, with its rapid rise in conservative politics and influence on school board elections. Despite its grassroots claims, the group has close ties to GOP groups and lawmakers, and its funding sources remain somewhat mysterious. [8]
Albuquerque Teachers Federation Moms for Liberty is described as a far-right Christian Nationalist group attempting to influence school boards. The group is part of a larger strategy to mobilize conservative forces against public education, with connections to right-wing billionaires and Christian fundamentalist leaders. [10]
Michigan Advance In Michigan, some Muslims have united with extremist Republicans against LGBTQ+ rights, including those associated with Moms for Liberty. This alliance is driven by shared conservative values and opposition to sex and gender education in public schools. [14]
Advocate Moms for Liberty’s conference was infiltrated by activists calling out the group’s agenda of book bans and school board takeovers. The group has established relationships with influential Republican organizations, politicians, and donors. [15]
New York Times In Montana, the Republican Party has taken a hard right turn toward Christian nationalism, with the religious right becoming more influential in state politics. This shift has led to the passage of laws banning transgender athletes, increasing tax credits for private Christian schools, and numerous anti-abortion laws. [16]
New Republic Moms for Liberty’s summit aimed to recruit a new class of aggrieved mothers to their cause, promoting a “parental rights” agenda that includes book bans and opposition to LGBTQ inclusion in schools. The group has been designated as an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. [19]
Note: Citations appear at the end of the blog entry

It is doubtful, as Rick Weinberg suggests, that educators can achieve change while being hushed by fascists:

Interesting article here. Educators, including myself, can have change without discussing challenging topics. 

Most of us are unarmed when it comes to argumentation, and I fear, unprepared to deal with the tidal forces of fascism washing across America today. A determined, organized force is pushing to take over America’s schools, and the consequence of that is a loss of freedom of speech.

At a national event a few weeks ago, I ran into a teacher, a mother, who was running for school board in her area. She had determined that she wouldn’t go quietly. But even she held her tongue at work, worried about losing her livelihood.

I applauded her bravery. As if she were going off to a fruitless war that would end her life without benefit. I hope I was wrong.

Citations for News

Prompt for table:

What are some news stories showing how MAGA Republicans, Christian
Nationalists, and Moms of Liberty have taken over school boards and
oppressed teachers and administrators? Put response in table format with
column headers: News Source, Summary, Link

Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure

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