SCHOOLS: Public education under fire

On the evening of Aug. 2, the school board for District No. 271 held its monthly meeting. Anyone who’s attended recently knows the board meetings have become a forum for disgruntled residents to express their contempt for critical race theory, social-emotional learning models, and the incorporation of diversity, equity and inclusion principles into educational programming, among other complaints.

Right wing-fueled fear that the indoctrination of leftist, socialist, communist, etc., ideologies in schools is happening as we speak led to the creation of Lt. Gov. McGeachin’s indoctrination task force, a black hole for taxpayer money that, unsurprisingly, has turned up nothing of consequence.

Nonetheless, fears of indoctrination persist, so much so that Idaho turned down federal funding for early childhood education. Not since the McCarthy era has unfounded paranoia been so pervasive in our society.

What’s troubling about this paranoia is that the folks experiencing it appear hellbent on undermining and even dismantling the very institution they’re allegedly trying to protect. Even more troubling is that, amid the griping over ideologies and theories, students, educators and schools continue to face real challenges with little support from their legislators.

It’s no secret public education is at a tipping point. Either we unify to protect and strengthen the institution that serves as the foundation of our democracy or we allow yet another wave of McCarthyism to wreak havoc that will take decades to undo. If you support public education, raise your voice. Our future depends on it.

CARRIE MORRISON

Post Falls