Schools Teach Kids 'What Society Needs Them to Know,' Michigan Dems Say in Deleted Post
- Michael Foust Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
- Updated Jan 18, 2022
The Democratic Party of Michigan faced pushback Saturday over a Facebook post that questioned parents' role in schools and declared that the purpose of education is to teach children "what society needs them to know."
The party released a statement about the post, although some parents questioned whether the original comments reflected the true position of the party.
"Not sure where this 'parents-should-control-what-is-taught-in-schools-because-they-are-our-kids' is originating, but parents do have the option to send their kids to a hand-selected private school at their own expense if this is what they desire," the now-deleted post by the party read, according to The Detroit News.
"The purpose of public education in public schools is not to teach kids only what parents want them to be taught," the post continued. "It is to teach them what society needs them to know. The client of the public school is not the parent, but the entire community, the public."
The Michigan Democratic Party deleted that post – which had been shared about 2,500 times – and issued a statement.
"We have deleted a post that ignored the important role parents play – and should play – in Michigan public schools. Parents need to have a say in their children's education, end of story," a subsequent post on Monday stated. "The post does not reflect the views of Michigan Democrats and should not be misinterpreted as a statement of support from our elected officials or candidates."
Still, some said the original post was the party's true position.
"Too late. Now we have it in your own words what the Democratic Party really believes," one person wrote on the party's timeline. "You said the quiet part out loud."
The controversy is similar to one that faced Democrat Terry McAuliffe in last year's Virginia gubernatorial election.
"I'm not going to let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decision," McAuliffe said during a debate, referencing a spat over sexually explicit books. "… I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach kids."
Related:
Terry McAuliffe: 'I Don't Think Parents Should Be Telling Schools' What to Teach Children
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Skynesher
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
