Many parents think the controversy surrounding “woke” education is nearly resolved, believing that the issues of the past few years have been addressed, allowing schools to move forward. However, a recently uncovered internal curriculum guide from Maryland’s largest school district tells a different story.
This document indicates that Montgomery County Public Schools is guiding teachers to focus their lessons on topics like white supremacy, racial identity, and gender identity, urging students to engage in “resistance and liberation” from current social structures. These themes were debated at a recent PTA meeting and form part of the district’s broader push for what they call an “anti-bias/anti-racism curriculum.”
Students, for example, were exposed to sensitive political content regarding immigration enforcement in geography classes. Teachers are prompted to highlight issues of injustice, oppression, and inequality, suggesting that education is not just about relaying knowledge, but about morally shaping students’ views on society.
If left unnoticed, these issues might have faded into the background noise of school bureaucracy. Still, the document’s public release spurred attention. A grassroots organization, Defending Education, works to help parents and communities grasp what is being taught in schools, offering advice on how to respond when education veers into political or ideological territory.
Founded by Nicole Neily, Defending Education embraces transparency and documentation, asserting that parents often know their schools better than any national organization. However, they typically lack internal documentation or context regarding whether what they observe is an isolated incident or part of a wider trend.
The group emphasizes that knowledge is empowering and helps parents engage more effectively in discussions with school administrators. This idea drives much of the organization’s work, which includes gathering primary documents and translating them into straightforward language, allowing families to make informed choices on how to proceed.
Why is the Montgomery County case significant?
According to Defending Education, the guidelines in Montgomery County illustrate a larger pattern. Controversial educational frameworks are often not presented as distinct courses, but are woven into overall instructional values across various subjects and grades.
Paul Ranko, a senior director with Defending Education, expressed concern that the language in the MCPS materials would alarm parents who have been assured that such a framework isn’t present in K-12 classrooms. He noted that the internal guidance closely resembles Critical Race Theory, despite repeated assurances to the contrary.
Classes revolving around “resistance to and liberation from white supremacy” likely divide students and instill far-left ideology instead of promoting the American belief that individuals should be evaluated by their character and achievements, not skin color.
Not an isolated situation
The Montgomery County case isn’t unique. It represents just one of many cases that Defending Education has identified across the U.S. in recent months, ranging from classroom teaching to civil rights enforcement.
Recent instances include:
- Minnesota (Hermantown Middle School):
Eighth graders viewed graphic political content discussing immigration enforcement, questioning whether ICE has exceeded its authority while linking this enforcement to President Trump’s campaign. - Portland, Oregon:
The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation after a complaint highlighted the potential misuse of taxpayer funds in connection with the district’s Center for Black Student Excellence, possibly infringing on federal civil rights laws.
Advocacy groups like Defending Education act less like typical protest organizations and more as institutional clearinghouses. Their efforts encompass:
- Collecting internal documents via parent input and public records requests.
- Disseminating primary materials for parental review.
- Clarifying education laws and parental rights in accessible language.
- Providing tools to engage with school boards and administrators effectively.
In essence, Defending Education serves as an intermediary between parents and larger national issues. By collecting insights from families and releasing internal documents, they help parents see what schools are communicating, often in their own words.
The organization also offers legal and policy context, guiding parents in understanding whether their observations reflect normal practices or raise concerns.
How to get involved
Parents can explore Defending Education’s resources to better understand educational methods, parental rights, and common curriculum structures. By staying informed, they can see if local issues mirror national trends or highlight discrepancies between what schools claim to teach and what is being communicated.
Some parents engage more actively by connecting with one another, showing up to school board meetings fully prepared, and using materials from Defending Education to formulate clear, concise questions for administrators. Some just want confirmation that their instincts are correct about something off within the educational environment. In either scenario, the central message is clear: parents know their schools best, and they shouldn’t have to navigate these complexities without support.
