Navigating back to school night
Know your school
-
What is the purpose of your school? Does it produce conformist social justice activists or independent-thinking truth seekers?
-
Understand your school's mission, vision, and values. Is the school “living” them?
-
Does the school’s definition of diversity include viewpoint diversity?
-
How are consultants and school speakers selected? Is there ideological diversity?
-
Review your school's handbook, enrollment contract, and all communication thoroughly. Do enrollment contracts clearly articulate how the school supports independent thinkers? What are parents' rights?​
​​​​​
​
Programming priorities
-
How are curricular decisions made, and how are any changes communicated?
-
What are course-required readings? What books are recommended to students and teachers?
-
What are the learning standards/goals by grade, and how will teachers cover these?
-
Is there transparency around ideological "curriculum?"
-
What “surveys” will be given, and how will parents be notified so they can opt out?
-
Where can lesson plans be viewed, including sex education curriculum?
-
What organization(s) does the school engage to formulate sex education?
-
What is the school’s position on gender ideology?
​​​​
​
Educator training
-
What school-wide training have you provided your teachers in the past two years?
-
What professional development are you planning to offer/require of your teachers this year?
-
How do you train teachers to encourage critical thinking and facilitate civil discourse?
-
How do you equip teachers to handle topics that could be considered inflammatory?
​​
​
Curriculum questions
-
How do you represent a balance of perspectives within the classroom?
-
Are the topics age-appropriate and aligned with the curriculum?
-
How do you ensure students are encouraged to share their unique perspectives?
-
When would you find it appropriate to discount a student's perspective in front of the class?
-
How will the school support students and families who don’t believe in gender ideology?
​
​
Learn more
-
​Understand accreditors' impact on educational culture regarding viewpoint diversity
-
10 Principles for Opposing Thought Reform in K-12 by Greg Lukianoff
-
Why are pronouns problematic? Read When Asked ‘What Are Your Pronouns,’ Don’t Answer by Colin Wright
-
Read It's Just a Pronoun, or is it? by Pamela Garfield-Jaeger
-
Read The School-To-Clinic Pipeline by Leor Sapir
-
View Parents Unite Resources to learn more about the state of diversity of thought in schools
-
Expand the range of discourse in schools using this Student Discourse Club Guide
​
​