Townhall has reported on many instances of schools teaching students, in some cases, in elementary school, about sexual orientation and gender identity. And, since the pandemic, reports have shown that children suffered immense learning loss in subjects like math and reading.
In a recent interview with Townhall, Erika Sanzi, the director of outreach at parental rights organization Parents Defending Education, said that it’s a “red flag for parents and the community at large” that school districts are focused on “woke” indoctrination topics rather than math, reading, and science.
A Fox News survey released Thursday found that voters “of all political stripes” agree that America’s public schools are not teaching students the responsibilities of being a good citizen. This accounts for 65 percent of Democrats, 75 percent of Republicans, and 71 percent of Independent voters.
Additionally, 54 percent of respondents said that they think there’s not enough lessons on reading and writing. Fifty percent felt this way about math and science.
Almost half of all respondents, 48 percent, said that lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity are receiving too much attention in schools.
“Moreover, Democrats divide between gender identity not being taught enough (39%) or about the right amount (34%), while three-quarters of Republicans feel there is too much focus on it (77%),” Fox News’ write-up stated.
🚨A new @FoxNews poll shows Americans believe local public schools' teaching priorities are out of whack:
— Nicki Neily (@nickineily) August 18, 2023
70% say there’s too little focus on good citizenship.
54% say there’s too little focus on reading & writing.
48% say there’s too much focus on sexual orientation/gender. pic.twitter.com/mkFDLvFxWd
Last year, 2024 GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed by left-wing advocates as the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation. The law prohibits schools in the Sunshine State from teaching young children about sex and gender identity.
Aside from lessons being taught in schools, the law requires school districts to adopt procedures to notify parents “if there is a change in services from the school regarding a child’s mental, emotional or physical health or well-being,” DeSantis’ office explained in a press release.
“Parents’ rights have been increasingly under assault around the nation, but in Florida we stand up for the rights of parents and the fundamental role they play in the education of their children,” DeSantis said. “Parents have every right to be informed about services offered to their child at school, and should be protected from schools using classroom instruction to sexualize their kids as young as 5 years old.”