The Pennsylvania School Boards Association voted unanimously to withdraw from the National School Boards Association in response to the latter’s attempt to use the federal government as a weapon against parents who disagree with certain school policies. Every other state that values parental rights should do the same.
Earlier this month, the NSBA sent a letter to the Biden administration asking the government to use federal statutes that combat terrorism and crack down on parents who have led protests and spoken out against various issues at local school board meetings. The organization likened these parents’ actions to “domestic terrorism and hate crimes,” claiming their involvement has put “America’s public schools and its education leaders” under “an immediate threat.”
This is hyperbolic and divisive nonsense, and Pennsylvania’s school boards were right to reject it. The PSBA sent out an internal memo this week calling the NSBA’s letter to President Joe Biden “the final straw.”
“This misguided approach has made our work and that of many school boards more difficult,” the PSBA wrote. “It has fomented more disputes and cast partisanship on our work on behalf of school directors, when we seek to find common ground and support all school directors in their work, no matter their politics.”
full statement: pic.twitter.com/XCWGIpmD2h
— Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) October 15, 2021
It is horrible that some school board members are facing threats — everyone should be able to agree with that. But the PSBA is right in pointing out that the NSBA’s language has classified an entire group of people, the concerned parents who attend and speak out at school board meetings, as dangerous citizens because of the actions of a few. In doing so, it has politicized the education system even more than it already is and put a target on the backs of all parents who dare to speak up.
Just look at how the Biden administration has responded to the NSBA’s letter. The Justice Department not only agreed with the NSBA’s language and accusations, but it opened up the possibility of an FBI investigation into the “threats of violence” described by the NSBA. In other words, the federal government is using the NSBA’s complaints to send a message that concerned parents better watch themselves, or potentially face consequences.
Every state should take this as a direct threat and hold the NSBA accountable for its attempt to subvert local control of the education system and undermine the rights of parents to be involved in it. It is a toxic organization, one that clearly does not mind doing harm to public education and the families that enroll in it.
The PSBA might have been the first state school board group to cut ties with the NSBA, but it definitely should not be the last.
