Are parents who speak out at school boards domestic terrorists? The National School Board Association and FBI thinks so. 

October 8, 2021
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If there’s a silver lining to be found in the way teachers’ unions robbed a year-and-a-half of learning from students, it's that parents across the country have become more engaged in their children’s education.

For months, we’ve seen parents band together to ask more of their school districts, and not a week goes by without another parent going viral for their inspiring and challenging testimony made before school boards during the public comment portion of meetings. It’s the kind of action that inspired a school district to stand up to the union and reopen classrooms ([link removed]) , and forced Sacramento politicians to shelve plans to gut California charter schools ([link removed]) .

Unfortunately, moms and dads like these doing the very thing parents are designed to do — protect and advocate for their children — are being labeled as “domestic terrorists,” and Attorney General Merrick Garland has instructed the FBI ([link removed]) to begin watching them, ostensibly to silence their voices.

It’s a chilling threat not only to parents, but to all Americans who enjoy free speech, and the ability to petition their government representatives — input needed for real representation in a constitutional republic.

Garland’s instruction that the FBI convene meetings to determine how to deal with fired-up parents comes in response to a letter ([link removed]) the National School Board Association (NSBA) sent to the Biden Administration. In it, the association requested help protecting school board members from what it said are threats from parents, specifically those concerned with the addition of Critical Race Theory to curricula. They likened parent protests and rallies to “domestic terrorism” and “hate crimes.”

There is little doubt this action by Garland and the NSBA are attempts to intimidate parents and keep them in the dark about their childrens’ education and away from the boardroom; it will quiet some, and enrage others. The NSBA could encourage civil discourse among the most passionate parents, but instead, they’re begging federal law enforcement to shut them up. Rather than giving parents a seat at the table to negotiate agreements on the students’ behalf — the very reason these boards exist — the NSBA is working to ensure the only voice in education is that of the teachers’ union.

It’s hard to be shocked by the callousness of the NSBA and the unions after all we’ve witnessed in California schools. Most recently, teachers unions in California were able to force Gavin Newsom ([link removed]) to issue a sweeping vaccine mandate through their hefty contribution to his recall campaign. It’s no different at a local level. Teachers’ unions are a significant influence on local board of education candidates through endorsements and campaign contributions. It’s how the United Teachers Los Angeles, which refused to fully reopen schools for an entire year, is poised to get a hefty raise ([link removed]) . And, it’s how, despite evidence of severe learning loss suffered by children ([link removed]) throughout the pandemic, they’ve distracted school boards into thinking the greatest
educational need students have today is Critical Race Theory.

Perhaps if parents had the capacity to fund board members’ campaigns at the level teachers’ unions do, their disruptions would be tolerated, just as the unions’ disruptions to education continue to be, but that’s beside the point.

California Policy Center’s ParentUnion.org was created for a time like this. Even before the union-induced school closures, we were working to empower and mobilize parents up and down the state on provincial issues that were important to people in their communities around the state, and we certainly won’t stop now. The ParentUnion.org has grown tremendously in recent months (thanks, Gavin!), and is stronger than ever. We will continue connecting parents and aligned coalitions to each other, training them to respectfully engage with their local school boards, and ensuring they understand their rights to speak up on behalf of their voiceless children.

It’s sad, but true: our parents are used to threats. They stand up to teachers’ unions and administrators who cower, rather than protect our children, after all. Attorney General Garland won’t intimidate them, or us. Together, we will continue to advocate for California’s kids, and one day, we’ll all know who has terrorized our kids all along.

And it won’t be the parents.
Support the California Policy Center. Donate Today. ([link removed])

Quote of the Week

"Children in California have formed the first-ever ‘Kids’ Union,' a powerful political lobbying force designed to influence policy in Sacramento. Their first order of business was to raise millions of dollars — mostly by mowing lawns and selling lemonade — in order to donate a bunch of money to Governor Newsom so they will be exempted from all vaccine mandates. ‘Hey, it worked for the teachers’ union.’" — The Babylon Bee ([link removed])

More from CPC
* The California Exodus explained ([link removed])
* California’s children are property of the state ([link removed])
* Statement from the ParentUnion.org on labeling parents “domestic terrorists ([link removed])

CPC and allies in the news
* CPC’s Lance Christensen speaks with Lars Larson about DOJ intimidation of parents ([link removed])
* California will require all students to get coronavirus vaccine ([link removed])
* CA billionaire backs initiative to gut public sector unions ([link removed])
* Are parents paying enough attention to California’s school system ([link removed])
* Californians react to Newsom’s vaccine requirement for public school students ([link removed])
* School choice programs among ballot initiatives filed for 2022 California election ([link removed])
* California parents blast school boards for linking criticism of CRT with domestic terrorism ([link removed])

Classroom headlines
* One in three students at a local California school failed last year - but who’s tracking ([link removed])
* California parents and kids are abandoning public schools with Gov. Newsom’s attack on parent choice ([link removed])
* California student vaccine mandate explained: What’s required under school vaccine rules ([link removed])
* Benefit costs, not school choice programs, are the real drain on public education spending ([link removed])
* Anticipating an increase in student misbehavior, California releases new discipline guidelines ([link removed])
* Attack on parent choice awakes a sleeping giant ([link removed])
* San Francisco has more drug users than public high school students ([link removed])

Union news
* No bus drivers, custodians, or subs. What’s really behind schools’ staffing shortages? ([link removed])
* Five LA county employees sue over vaccine mandate ([link removed])
* Lawsuit claims LA union slush fund still ongoing ([link removed])
* San Diego County schools are struggling with a labor shortage ([link removed])
* Teachers union boss accidentally endorses school choice while rushing to support masking in schools ([link removed])

Other things we’re reading
* San Francisco will pay people not to shoot others: ‘Cash for criminals’ ([link removed])
* Tens of millions in fines expected in oil spill ([link removed])
* Who pays for the woke agenda? ([link removed])
* SF schools’ financial tailspin prompts state to intervene in face of massive shortfall ([link removed])
* Politicians treat jobs like prizes to be awarded or taken away ([link removed])
* California Governor Newsom signs education bills in Fresno ([link removed])

Connect with CPC

Want to keep up with CPC and our partners during the week? Follow us on Twitter ([link removed]) , join our Facebook ([link removed]) community, and sign up to be part of the growing Parent Union ([link removed]) .


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