Approximately 60% of parents in the United States are worried about their children’s education. According to a Free to Learn (FTL) poll, the overwhelming majority of parents believe they should have a say in what their children are taught at school.
Kendall Tietz of The Daily Caller reported that “Concerns over COVID-19 mitigation measures, Critical Race Theory (CRT), gender ideology and virtual learning have been on the rise since the start of the pandemic.”
Over half of parents stated that virtual learning had a negative impact on their children’s academic performance.
Furthermore, 60% indicated that virtual learning had a negative impact on their children’s mental health.
Due to the rising use of virtual learning, more than half of parents revealed that they’re becoming more involved in their children’s education.
FTL sent a letter to National Education Association President Becky Pringle, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, and National School Boards Association President Viola Garcia on December 20, 2021, to let them know about the survey’s discoveries and to call on their organization to emphasize “academics, not activism.”
“Despite the unending push by your organizations to de-emphasize academic achievement in the name of activism, there was overwhelming consensus in our research that American families are extremely concerned with how K-12 schools are performing,” the letter stated.
Over 80% of the survey respondents said they are worried about the current quality of education.
Additionally, 74% of parents indicated they “should be able to request the curriculum being taught to their children.”
Also, 72% said they should be able to take their children out of any education program they believe is harmful or inappropriate.
Nearly 75% of Americans said it is inappropriate for schools to conduct surveys about students’ sexual activities, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Additionally, 66% of respondents agreed that since 2019 schools have become increasingly politicized.
“I hope this data helps make clear that those students’ parents are not some disembodied, disinterested group to be ignored, nor are they domestic terrorists against which to fight,” the letter said in a concluding statement. “They are the ones who have the greatest interest in seeing their children succeed and should be treated as full partners as you help America’s young people achieve their greatest potential.”
The poll involved 1,200 respondents and was conducted from November 29 to December 3 with a margin of error of ± 2.83%.