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Not at this time

OPINION – In a stunning display of political theater, California Governor Gavin Newsom held an event where he and his wife supposedly highlighted how California’s family agenda Promotes Educational Freedom. But in reality, the agenda has had little positive impact on education, is devoid of freedom and is actually anti-family. 

The four pillars of their agenda include:

• Freedom to Decide: All parents deserve to share in key school decisions.
• Freedom to Thrive: All students deserve a fair start in life.
• Freedom to Learn: All students deserve to learn about the world and themselves.
• Freedom to Succeed: All students deserve to build real-life skills and a career.

Freedom to Decide

It is truly mind-boggling to witness Newsom’s audacity as he brazenly lies to the American people. Keep in mind, this is the same governor who joined his fellow Democrats who have shamelessly labeled parents as extremists, bigots and racists. And now, he wants us to believe that he is committed to empowering parents? 

Ironically, just a few weeks ago, Newsom threatened to levy illegal fines against a school district for simply allowing parental input on controversial curriculum. This followed his distribution of a threatening letter sent to California school districts declaring that they could face legal action if they did not allow children access to certain books, some of which included graphic, sexual imagery. And when parents of various ethnicities, religions and political persuasions dared stand up to him, he called their protests “ignorant”. It seems that the only thing Newsom wants to empower is his own authoritarian agenda.

Freedom to Thrive

California’s early childhood education program epitomizes the misguided ideology that more government intervention is the solution to every societal problem. While its proponents tout it as a golden opportunity for children to receive a head start in life, the reality is a far cry from their idealistic vision. 

The program, burdened by bureaucratic red tape, stifles innovation and creates a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to address the unique needs of individual children. Instead of empowering parents to make the best choices for their children, the program further entrenches the notion that the state knows best. Furthermore, the exorbitant costs associated with this initiative place undue burden on taxpayers, with questionable returns on investment. California’s early childhood education program is a prime example of ineffective government intervention that undermines personal freedom and fails to deliver the promised outcomes.

Freedom to Learn

The question here is, “Learn what?”

Recent statistics show that only about half of California students are proficient in math and reading, a woeful result that reflects poorly on the Newsom’s “Freedom to Learn” goal. Moreover, the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their more affluent peers has widened, highlighting the system’s inability to uplift those most in need. 

But when it comes to ideological indoctrination, California is leading the way. CRT, DEI, LGBTQI+ appear to be the focus of “Freedom to Learn”, as opposed to the development of fundamental skills. This focus has resulted in students lacking the basic knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary for success in the real world.

Freedom to Succeed

One has to wonder how Gavin Newsom is defining “Success”. By every objective metric, California’s educational system is failing. And California parents have clearly noticed, as evidenced by the mass exodus from California’s public education system. 

One can even argue that in their attempt to promote “Equity”, California is actually stifling success. For example, The state’s new Math Framework has come under fire for restricting access to higher level mathematics courses. Instead of preparing students for Algebra I in eighth grade, the new guidelines recommend that most students wait until ninth grade to take it, effectively limiting students from reaching Calculus before graduating high school.

In other words, equity for lower performing students is achieved by limiting the ability to learn for higher performing students. This is not success!   

Sadly, the media failed once again to step up and do some real journalism. They have simply regurgitated Newsom’s empty rhetoric— refusing to ask him the tough questions. How does he reconcile his mistreatment and marginalization of California parents with his sudden claim to want to empower them? How can he continually claim “success” when the state’s public education system is failing our children on so many levels?

Californians deserve a leader who genuinely values and respects parental involvement in education. Gavin’s hollow gestures and false promises are nothing more than a desperate attempt to salvage his tarnished image. It’s time to see through the smoke and mirrors, and demand better for our children and families.

Craig DeLuz is Director of Communications for CRA, President of 2A News Corp. and a director for the Frederick Douglass Foundation of California. You can follow him on Twitter @CraigDeLuz.