Over the past few years, a battle is taking place on many school grounds – one being driven by mothers that is inevitably shaping the future of schools. Laura Pappano – a journalist with decades covering education – couldn’t ignore the growing influence of these movements on education policies and challenging public schools.
In her book, “School Moms,” she reports on the well-organized efforts of far-right movements, such as Moms for Liberty, in framing attacks on schools, influencing language and mobilizing local communities. As a result, these movements have flipped school boards, banned books, and changed curriculums.
“There is a lot of organized money on the far right. They see schools as a political opportunity. I mean, one of the reasons that I have been reporting on this and wrote this book is because I have viewed public schools-- and I think many people share this view-- that this is a place that is nonpartisan,” she says. “I never knew what people's politics were in my school. We're here for all children. We're here to support their learning. We're here to support the teachers, the librarians. And what the far-right extremists have done is recognize that because schools gather everyone, they are a great platform for gaining power.”
In this episode of the EdCast, we explore the historical parallels to these movements, the challenges faced by teachers, and the significance of public engagement in preserving democracy and inclusive education.
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How Covid-19 Impacts Rural Schools
Education in Uncertain Times
The Role of Education in Democracy
Making Online Learning Work
Improving College Access for Native People
The Digital Divide and Remote Learning
School Leadership During a Crisis
Schooling for Critical Consciousness
The Benefits of Family Mealtimes
Learning Loss and the Coronavirus
College Students in the Age of Surveillance
Schools, Families, and the Coronavirus
Racial Differences in Special Education Identification
Getting Beyond the Literacy Debate
The Pitfalls of Oversharing Online
Grading for Equity
The Common and Yet Hidden Language Disorder
Unconscious Bias in Schools
Sticker Shock: The Actual Cost of College
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