Let’s file this one under “Dishonest Authoritarian Hackery.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, not having anything else better to do, has threatened a school district for not pushing far-leftist propaganda in the curriculum. After all, folks like Newsom are staunch proponents of the “No Child Left Unbrainwashed” policy.
Gov. Newsom is challenging the Temecula Unified School Board’s decision not to adopt a controversial social studies textbook and is threatening legislative consequences if they don’t reverse course. The school board defends its action, stating it didn’t “ban” the book but chose not to adopt a new curriculum.
The district said it has an alternative compliant curriculum ready. Newsom accuses the board of being radicalized zealots and vows to deliver the book to students if the board doesn’t act, backed by support from Democratic leaders in California:
The school board, which banned “critical race theory” in December of 2022, detailed how it did not “ban” a book but instead decided not to adopt a new social studies curriculum and that an alternative curriculum compliant with state standards is being presented on July 18, 2023. Furthermore, the school board also stated claims by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond that “the school district is slated to begin the school year on August 14, 2023, without enough textbooks for every student” is “categorically false.”
Newsom, on the other hand, contends, “radicalized zealots on the school board rejected a textbook used by hundreds of thousands of students and now children will begin the school year without the tools they need to learn.”
This isn’t the first time Newsom and his hair gel have attempted to bully this district and others into helping the powers that be indoctrinate schoolchildren. Earlier this month, he tried to force TVUSD into incorporating a book about San Francisco City Commissioner Harvey Milk, a known child abuser, into the curriculum. Just weeks before that, the governor attempted, unsuccessfully, to troll red states by claiming that “book bans are at a record high” because too many school districts aren’t allowing pornographic material and far-leftist ideas on race in the classroom.
I’ll put it simply: Newsom’s arguments about “book banning” are about as silly as the idea that Chris Christie will actually get the GOP nomination. For starters, school districts are not banning books despite what progressives are telling us. They seem to believe that since the public isn’t paying attention, progressives can con them into believing that people who don’t want sexually inappropriate material in classrooms are akin to book burners in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
The reality is that these books are still readily available in your favorite bookstores and public libraries. So if these people want to get these books, they can; but they will not be furnished by government-run schools. But that’s the problem, is it not? It is not enough for folks on the hard left to indoctrinate their own children; they want to brainwash your children as well. The only option they have is to use the education system, which is why they are fighting so hard to include this material in the classroom.
Newsom’s challenges to local school boards for not adopting certain textbooks and curricula demonstrate a disregard for local autonomy and a push for centralized control over what children are taught. By threatening legislative consequences if the school boards don’t comply, Newsom is undermining the rights of communities to make decisions that align with their values and priorities.
As a society, most people understand that we should be cautious about what we introduce to impressionable minds in an educational setting. Teaching children about race, gender identity, and sexuality must be done in a developmentally appropriate and responsible manner. Schools should focus on fostering critical thinking, open dialogue, and respectful understanding of diverse perspectives rather than promoting a specific ideological agenda. Even more importantly, they should be prioritizing reading, writing, and mathematics proficiency above all.
Parents have a legitimate role in determining what is suitable for their children’s education, and local communities should have the freedom to make decisions that align with their values and cultural norms without Gov. Slick trying to meddle in their affairs. Newsom’s attempt to dictate curriculum choices disregards the rights of parents and local communities to have a say in their children’s education.
It is crucial to distinguish between legitimate concerns about age-appropriateness and a desire to suppress ideas. The education system should be a place where young minds are nurtured, encouraged to think critically, and exposed to a wide range of ideas and perspectives. Using the term “book banning” to describe efforts to maintain responsible educational standards undermines the seriousness of historical book censorship and confuses the real issues at hand.
In conclusion, Gov. Slick’s actions reveal a concerning desire to influence education and promote far-leftist ideas through the educational system. This is another reason why local politics is so important. Sane parents had better start focusing on their communities – especially in California.
