New regulations designed to promote Godliness and patriotic spirit among school kids are harmless enough. But principals should have some direction about who, and whom not, to allow into schools to talk about “Americanism.”
An Orangeburg Times & Democrat article from the summer of 2022 provides this advice:
“Legislation promoting membership in organizations such as Boy Scouts of America was approved by the S.C. General Assembly in 2022. The new law will allow youth patriotic society organizations to come into public schools during a designated week and speak with students about joining. The legislation identifies five acclaimed youth patriotic society organizations:
“Senate Minority Leader and Orangeburg Sen. Brad Hutto was a key supporter of the ‘Youth Patriotic Societies Bill.’”
Simple enough. Boy Scouts, nothing wrong with that. I suspect, however, that there will be some others who will want access to the schools for their own purposes. And, of course, these regulations designed for public schools should also apply to charter schools, and to private-religious schools that accept tax money or get tax breaks.
Simply, I want to caution principals to do their own research.
Start here, with the Wikipedia page for a well-known organization on college campuses:
“Turning Point USA (TPUSA), or Turning Point, is an American nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses. It was founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk and Bill Montgomery. TPUSA's sister organizations include Turning Point Endowment, Turning Point Action, Students for Trump, and Turning Point Faith. TPUSA has been described as the fastest growing organization of campus chapters in America, and according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, TPUSA "is now the dominant force in campus conservatism".
TPUSA has been involved in multiple controversies, including allegations of racism and criticism from other conservative groups and figures.
The organization started Professor Watchlist, a website that claims to expose professors that TPUSA says "discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom". According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, TPUSA has attempted to influence student government elections in an effort to "combat liberalism on college and university campuses." In 2021, TPUSA also started the School Board Watchlist website. It publishes the names and photos of school board members who have adopted mask mandates or anti-racist curricula.
“TPUSA annually hosts several conferences on various topics throughout the year, such as the Student Action Summit, Young Women's Leadership Summit, Young Black Leadership Summit, AmericaFest, and Young Latino Leadership Summit. The organization is funded by conservative donors and foundations, including Republican Party politicians.” ...
The article goes on and there is a wealth of information there. Now, kids, DO NOT use Wiki as a cited source for your term papers (ask your teacher why). But, principals, DO use all available means to know what is Right for your Students. That’s YOUR responsibility.
Vic MacDonald is Editor of The Clinton Chronicle. In June, 2025, he will observe his 50th year in community journalism. Reach him at 864-833-1900.
Another interesting group:
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
USPIE documentary equips parents to fight insidious CRT indoctrination in government schools
‘After years of denying what we already knew was happening, liberal educators cannot deny the toxic propaganda they are indoctrinating our children with,’ USPIE president explains
COLUMBIA, S. C. — Despite the promises that critical race theory (CRT) is not taught in America’s schools, the indoctrination of America’s children is already underway. During the first week of Black History Month, many schools across the country took place in “Black Lives Matter in Schools Week of Action,” a week devoted to “disrupting the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure.” One school outlined a day-two lesson plan for middle schoolers titled “Diversity and Globalism,” which states that the “concept of privilege is difficult to understand and particularly difficult for those who have privilege to acknowledge.” The lesson plan suggested that the teacher “do personal research and reflection” so that the teacher has “identified the impact of privilege” on their own life.
Parents around the country have protested against critical race theory in K-12 curriculum, all while unions and liberal commentators continue to deny that the concepts are in K-12 education. Rather than allow their children to fall victim to insidious Marxist ideologies, many parents are banding together and fighting for their God-given parental rights.
Sheri Few, founder and president of United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE), has been on the forefront of the fight for parental rights for decades and knows the signs of governmental overstep when it comes to America’s children.
“After years of denying what we already knew was happening, liberal educators cannot deny the toxic propaganda they are using to indoctrinate America’s children,” Few commented. “They are teaching children to hate their country, their freedoms, and even themselves with incredibly damaging pedagogies. This is why USPIE’s recent documentary, ‘Truth & Lies in American Education,’ is vital for concerned parents who are looking for ways to make their voices heard.”
USPIE’s latest film, “Truth & Lies in American Education,” reveals the shocking realities behind the explicit content in American schools — and equips viewers with the information needed to fight for change. The film is available for streaming on SalemNOW. With testimonials from educational experts such as Karen England, Alex Newman, Dr. Duke Pesta, Dr. Carol Swain, Sam Sorbo, and others, the film challenges any preconceived notions about the American education system. The film follows Few’s own daughter-in-law, April, as she learns about the alarming liberal agenda throughout America’s school system. Driven by her own desire to safeguard her children, April Few makes the shocking discovery that the government education system — the one intended to educate America’s children — has been infiltrated with toxic propaganda.
“Parents all across the nation are rallying together to fight for their God-given parental rights and demanding change in the face of the explicit content being forced on their children, such as inappropriate sex education, critical race theory, and just outright Marxism,” said Few. “Parents are marshalling forces and looking for ways to make a difference, but often don’t know how to get started. If we don’t stop the indoctrination of children in America’s classrooms, we will lose them to a government that has ulterior motives.”
“Truth & Lies in American Education” is available for streaming on SalemNOW, as well available on DVD. For more information about “Truth & Lies in American Education,” click here.
United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) is a nonprofit, nationwide coalition that seeks to return education to its proper local roots and restore parental authority over their children’s education by helping parents and local communities to escape federal and other national influences. It is the vision of USPIE to create a culture where parents, empowered with the authority to choose what and how their children learn, are the undisputed primary educators of their children, where local schools operate in support of families, and where education is unencumbered by federal mandates.
For more information on United States Parents Involved in Education, visit www.uspie.org or follow USPIE on Facebook or Twitter.
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Another interesting group:
Traditional education model neglects boys both spiritually and academically
Trail Life USA understands boys need action, purpose, connection, and recognition to thrive
GREENVILLE, S.C. — After students were forced to stay home for schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic, parents were able to witness the shortcomings of both the modern classroom and virtual learning settings. Many parents have chosen to send their children to private schools or taken on homeschooling in order to avoid the inadequacies of the traditional educational model. While both boys and girls have been affected by these dramatic schooling changes, boys have been hit particularly hard.
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, boys are almost twice as likely as girls to receive special education, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls (12.9% compared to 5.6%). Academically, boys underperform girls at every level.
For Trail Life (TrailLifeUSA.com) CEO Mark Hancock, the answer to this problem is obvious. “Boys and girls are different,” Hancock explained. “And let’s face it, teaching girls is easier. They are less active and noisy, they are generally more compliant, and they are better suited to listen attentively, reflect competently, and respond correctly when asked to do what they are told.”
He continued, “Boys were designed by their Creator to be doers. They struggle when when required to ‘sit down, be quiet, and pay attention’ for prolonged periods of time. Boys need action and purpose. Snakes and snails, hammers and nails, rifles and coonskin caps — that is what boys are made of! Hands-on problem solving, action, outdoor exploration and adventure make men out of boys because that is how boys grow — through activity and experience.”
Trail Life was founded with this fundamental need in mind. Trail Life’s mission is to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure.
The 2020 American Family Survey shows a comparable trend in churches where learning approaches are often similar. According to the survey, only 36% of parents believed churches were serving their sons well. Something is missing for young men, and it’s not internet, homework, or effort; it’s activity, purpose, and action.
Hancock points to the intelligent design of a creative God: “Adam was not created in the beauty and security of the Garden of Eden. He was created in the wild, and placed in the garden with a mission. He was to go, ‘fill the earth and subdue it.’ God made man to explore, conquer, lead, face dangers, and overcome obstacles with the tools, heart, and power God instilled in him as a man. At Trail Life, we are teaching boys to fulfill God’s purpose and obey His commands each time we put them in a situation where they must solve problems and overcome the difficulties life throws at them. Whether a rock wall or a pandemic, boys grow and learn through challenge and conquest.
“The same principles apply to developing character and strong faith in Christ,” stated Hancock. “Reading and hearing about God are important, but the muscles of faith are strengthened through action. James 2:17 states, ‘Faith without works is dead.’ As boys experience God through service and adventure, as they rub shoulders with mentors, as they face challenges and pray and see answers, faith becomes personal. Instead of knowing intellectually about God, boys come to actively know God.”
Instilling godly values is a foundational principle at Trail Life. Trail Life USA’s Six Essential Concepts of a Christian Worldview are woven throughout its’ unique practical, hands-on, adventure-based Proven Process that is designed to help a boy truly grasp the concepts and apply them to his own life.
Hancock concluded, “There is a time for a book and a desk, and there is a time for experience and adventure.”
Trail Life USA has received praise from some of the top Christian voices today, including Focus on the Family, Franklin Graham, James Dobson, Mike Huckabee, Alex and Stephen Kendrick, Family Life, Promise Keepers, the American Family Association, and many others.
Trail Life USA is the premier national character development organization for young men, producing godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens. Trail Life’s mission is to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure. Troops exist in all 50 states and are growing as Trail Life USA expands around the country. Find a Troop today, or Start a Troop in your community. Find out more at TrailLifeUSA.com.
Trail Life USA’s K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man’s skills. A robust awards program motivates young men to grow on a personal level to become role models and leaders among their peers. Living the Trail Life USA is a journey established on timeless values derived from the Bible.
