Disregard for Parental Authority Shows Why the Backpack Bill is Needed

This week, the group Accuracy in Media exposed administrators in multiple Ohio public school districts for willfully deceiving parents on the content of curriculum being taught to their students. These administrators admitted on tape that their schools engage in backdoor methods to promote controversial topics like critical race theory (CRT) and other liberal ideologies so that parents will not suspect these ideas are being taught.

"There's more than one way to skin a cat," Matthew Boaz, the Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of Upper Arlington City Schools, said. "You can pass a bill that you can't teach CRT in a classroom, but if you didn't cover programming, or you didn't cover extracurricular activities or something like that, that message might still get out. Oops. There will be a way.”

In Groveport Madison Schools, administrative assistant Hilary Staten claimed, “We had some parents that, you know, they don’t fully understand. So, you know, it’s when we trick them.” 

“This type of egregious behavior by public schools is becoming far too common in Ohio,” stated Troy McIntosh, Executive Director of the Ohio Christian Education Network. “The only solution that parents have to hold these schools accountable for their deception is the Backpack Bill, which will empower parents to take their state education funding with them to the school of their choice.”

TAKE ACTION

Contact your state lawmakers now and ask them to pledge support for the Backpack Bill that is pending in the General Assembly. It only takes a minute—just enter your address, select your Ohio senator and representative, and hit "compose message."

Sample message

Subject: Our children deserve more - it's time to pass the Backpack Bill!

Body: Our children are facing critical issues in too many Ohio public schools. The recent exposure of school officials bragging about deceiving parents regarding the content shared with students in the classroom is egregious. It's clear: Ohio's one-size-fits-all approach is failing our children. Every child deserves the opportunity to attend the school that meets his or her needs, not only academically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. Every parent and guardian has the right to direct the upbringing of their children. Please pledge to pass the Backpack Bill to give ALL students equal opportunity for the best education that meets their needs without discriminating based on their zip codes or incomes.

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or info@ccv.org.

As Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. 

###