^{The Bottom Line} We Must Build on Educational Freedom Election Wins

The highly anticipated “red wave” didn’t materialize in the midterm elections. Despite that disappointment, however, there were valuable victories for educational freedom.

Florida, the national leader in education freedom (though Arizona may surpass it with the state’s recent passage of universal school choice), saw Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decisive reelection. Republicans also gained supermajority control of the state House and Senate, and victory in 41 of 67 conservative-backed school board elections. Voters in Maryland, Indiana, and Michigan brought more conservative school board majorities. Credit is due to those parents who spoke out against school closures and political indoctrination taking precedence over academic learning.

Yet, the growing movement of parents fighting for educational freedom is still largely in its infancy. Developing an effective strategy for election victories will be key over the next few years. Momentum can’t be lost despite an unfortunate overall midterm election outcome.

The challenge is daunting, particularly considering that the older, more conservative generation will eventually be replaced by a younger generation coming out of woke-indoctrination centers labeled K-12 public schools. The midterm election exit polls reveal that 63% of voters ages 18 to 29 voted for the left. Students are preconditioned at the K-12 level to view conservatives, and conservative policies, with disdain. Woke ideologies are entrenched into nearly every subject, with educators exercising their authority over children to push a leftist worldview for 180 days per year for 13 consecutive years.

As G.K. Chesterton wisely noted: “Education is not a subject and does not deal in subjects. It is instead a transfer of a way of life.” Even parents who work to actively combat the attack on their values face an uphill battle as their children get older. Students not cemented in leftist ideologies during their K-12 years are then bombarded by even more radical ideologies when they arrive at college.

What can stop this undoing of our nation’s foundational principles? 

Educational freedom is the only hope. Our kids must be freed from K-12 public schools, and parents allowed to select an educational avenue that aligns with their values for their children. Pete Hegseth and David Goodwin rightly argue that “The mission to liberate the minds of America’s future citizens is not a debate, an academic argument, or even a clash of worldviews. It is a battle. A war — a war over correct ideas.”

While the future of our country depends on us winning the educational freedom battle, there is hope because the battle is just warming up. It’s time we assemble more troops to champion educational freedom, joining the groundswell of parents already engaged in the fight.