California Family Minute

December 1, 2011

Moderation, please; hold the urgency 

by Ron Prentice,
Chief Executive Officer

Today I encourage you to link to an article written by Larry Sand, a retired California public school teacher and president of the California Teacher Empowerment Network (CTEN). Mr. Sand’s article introduces us to a new book written by Kyle Olson, Indoctrination: How ‘Useful Idiots’ are Using Our Schools to Subvert American Exceptionalism. The title pulls no punches! 

Regardless of what the book accurately states, some people just don’t like negative tones. A reader of Sand’s article commented, “a little less vitriol would make you worth taking seriously.” 

I understand the reader’s perspective; he’s tired of extreme statements, like 99% against 1%, or the one I read this morning of a person’s “outrage” over a state’s upcoming vote to define traditional marriage. I, too, tire of unsubstantiated claims yelled hysterically from rooftops.

However, the downward spiral of public education’s legacy cannot be contested, and should not be politely whispered. The warnings have been coming for two decades, and there is no longer time for a ho-hum response. A little less vitriol? Millions of children are literally at risk!     

California Family Council does battle for the protection of the authority of parents in the raising of their own children. Far too often we must provide alerts of new legislation that attempts to tear away at any semblance of morality within public education and the broader culture.

We - you and I - can bring about change that will not come from Sacramento. We can fill the meeting rooms when school boards meet. Churches can “adopt” local schools to provide volunteer assistance in the classroom and on the grounds. We can review curriculum, and we can speak up on behalf of children and teachers.

But first, we must be informed. For more reading, consider the following:

From Crayons to Condoms Co-written by former CFC board member Karen Holgate

You're Teaching My Child What? By Miriam Grossman, M.D.

Reclaim Your School by Brad and Susanne Dacus