Staff Reports
A recent report has unveiled that taxpayer-funded colleges, such as Portland State University, are training the next generation of teachers to identify and combat “agents of oppression,” which might include the seemingly innocuous notions of marriage and monogamy. As if we needed more proof that liberal academia is becoming a production line for progressive ideologues, this latest revelation underscores the alarming lengths these institutions go to infuse their curricula with critical race theory and other radical constructs that have no place in K-12 education.
Parents Defending Education, a watchdog group, dove deep into nearly 70 colleges across 34 states to explore the programs offered to future educators. Their findings indicate that at PSU, the explosion of political activism is front and center, with courses that discuss topics ranging from “Trump and the politics of hate” to the oh-so-wonderful “Antiracist English Language Arts Educators.” Who knew future teachers would be majoring in social justice instead of actual education?
Marriage, monogamy, middle age: Future K-12 teachers drilled in 'agents' of oppression, Marxism https://t.co/Sr3XurqHxh
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) August 27, 2024
It seems the list of so-called “agents of oppression” goes beyond just middle-aged couples; it’s an ever-expanding category that now includes nearly everyone who doesn’t fit the radical left’s fluid narrative. From “appropriate size” to “social amnesia,” the left continues to invent creative definitions of oppression that take aim at those living the traditional lifestyle. This ideology may soon suggest that possessing a peaceful family life is akin to being part of a nefarious plot to maintain oppression. It’s utter nonsense, yet these institutions are moving full steam ahead.
The report doesn’t confine itself to the usual suspects; even conservative bastions in red states like Texas and Alabama are being infiltrated by these radical academic ideologies. Courses that promote Marxism and the rewriting of history have trickled into campuses that should be focused on fundamental education, not opinions on race and intersectionality. In a world where parents trust teachers to mentor their children, it’s absurd to think that taxpayer dollars are funding programs designed to induce indoctrination rather than education.
To add to the absurdity, PSU’s “Identity and Social-Emotional Learning” course encourages candidates to evaluate their own identities through a lens of oppression. It looks like future teachers will need to assess their privilege levels rather than focusing on lesson plans and effective teaching methods. And for students, this certainly won’t translate to better test scores or real-life skills; rather, it will drown classrooms in a sea of leftist jargon.
The rise of “caucuses” for racial segregation under a different name—here, cleverly labeled as “affinity groups”—illustrates just how twisted this academic environment has become. White students can meet separately to discuss their guilt, while minority groups ‘work through their challenges’—as if separating people based on race is a progressive solution to anything. Congratulating themselves on ‘social justice’ has become the order of the day, but in reality, this only serves to divide students further rather than unite them.
In a nutshell, more studies confirming the troubling reality of indoctrination within teacher preparation programs could hardly come at a better time for parents. The findings present compelling evidence that many future teachers are being trained in radical ideologies rather than critical thinking and educational best practices. As America stands on the brink of another school year, vigilance is crucial; taxpayer money should not fund a system that prioritizes militant activism over genuine education.
