New Jersey Democrats are facing allegations of attempting to impose Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) instruction on homeschooled students, a move perceived by some as an attempt to extend state indoctrination to those who have chosen to opt out.
According to the Western Journal, Corey DeAngelis, writing for The Daily Economy, suggests that there's more to the proposed state legislation than initially apparent. DeAngelis criticizes Assembly Bill 5825, which ostensibly aims to ensure "oversight of home education programs," labeling it as "a power grab that threatens the very foundation of parental rights."
The bill stipulates that "The parent or guardian shall submit a copy of the curriculum that will be utilized in the home education program, which shall be aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards." DeAngelis points out that the DEI curriculum is as much a part of state standards as traditional subjects such as reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Another contentious piece of legislation, Assembly Bill 5796, mandates an annual inspection of homeschooled children by a school district official, along with a "general health and wellness check." The bill specifies that the inspector should be a counselor, social worker, or nurse.
DeAngelis argues that these measures are an attempt to force homeschooling families back into the ideological sphere they sought to escape. He writes, "Parents whove chosen to educate children independently often do so to avoid the heavily political worldviews imposed in government classrooms. By effectively compelling homeschooling families to parrot political narratives on race, gender, and identity, such mandates confirm the odd ownership many Democrats feel over peoples kids."
He further suggests that these bills imply that New Jersey Democrats believe "government school administrators, not parents, hold ultimate authority over a childs upbringing." DeAngelis contends that "The Democrats are inserting the government as a wedge between children and their families."
Will Estrada, senior counsel at the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, told Reason that no states currently force homeschoolers to align with public school curriculum. He noted that the state-imposed curriculum is often the reason parents choose homeschooling. Estrada also pointed out that "public schools are there to educate children enrolled in the public school, not to do health and wellness checks on children in the community at large."
Sophia Mandt, a writer for Reason, concluded in her article on the New Jersey laws that "There are a million reasons why parents would want to homeschool their children, none of which should need government approval. Rather than harassing parents who wish to have more of a say in what their children are taught, New Jersey lawmakers could better serve the public by looking for ways to increase educational freedom in the state."
However, DeAngelis argues that these laws are not about freedom. He wrote, "Authoritarian regimes have often sought total control over education, and history reminds us these moves are ominous. In 1938, the Nazi regime banned homeschooling to ensure all children were indoctrinated in state ideology. New Jerseys bill follows a similar path, forcing families to conform or face penalties."
DeAngelis further suggests that "The real motive here is monopoly protection. The Democratic Party functions as a wholly owned subsidiary of the teachers unions, which view homeschooling as a direct competitor."
He concludes by stating that "At its core, A5825 violates the First Amendment by compelling government speech. Homeschool parents would be forced to teach state-mandated DEI content, even if it contradicts their values or beliefs (and often causes harm)."
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