[Daily Mail, Where America Gets Its News] - Democrats in Michigan were blasted for telling parents that they are not 'clients' of public schools and that they shouldn't be involved in their kids' education
- A Facebook post on Saturday shared by the state's Democrats also said parents can sign their kids up in private schools if they don't like the way things are
- The post was later deleted on Monday and Democrats apologized for the post
- Republicans in the state are calling for Governor Gretchen Whitmer to act on the fiasco
- Michigan's gubernatorial elections are coming up soon in March as Whitmer seeks reelection
- Former Detroit Police chief and Republican candidate James Craig, who blasted the post on Sunday, will also be running for the governor's seat
Michigan Democratic Party deletes social post claiming parents aren’t ‘client of the public school’
[JUSTTHENEWS] Facebook post ignited a hailstorm of criticism as the debate over parental rights continues to rage across America.
A weekend Facebook post by the Michigan Democratic Party ignited a hailstorm of criticism, prompting the party to eventually delete the comment Monday.
“Not sure where this ‘parents-should-control-what-is-taught-in-schools-because-they-are-our-kids’ is originating, but parents do have the option to choose to send their kids to a hand-selected private school at their own expense if this is what they desire,” the deleted post read.
It continued: “The purpose of a public education in a public school is not to teach kids only what parents want them to be taught. It is to teach them what society needs them to know. The client of the public school is not the parent, but the entire community, the public[.]”
The comments echoed a sentiment expressed by failed gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe during a campaign debate last October. “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach,” then Gov. McAuliffe said during a debate with now Gov. Glenn Youngkin. McAuliffe’s statement is widely attributed to derailing his campaign.
Michigan Freedom Fund Executive Director Tori Sachs also took issue with the Facebook post.
Sachs cited Michigan law, which states in Section 380.10: “It is the natural, fundamental right of parents and legal guardians to determine and direct the care, teaching, and education of their children. The public schools of this state serve the needs of the pupils by cooperating with the pupil's parents and legal guardians to develop the pupil's intellectual capabilities and vocational skills in a safe and positive environment.”
Rep. Pamela Hornberger, R-Chesterfield Twp., is House Education Committee chairwoman. She responded with her own Facebook post.
“Michigan Democrats have continually sided with the education establishment and unions to fight against school choice and parent empowerment,” Hornberger wrote. “Their decisions harm our students. If the education establishment and unions continue to fund Democrats, the Democrats will continue to vote against the best interest of Michigan’s students and families.”
In a subsequent post, the Michigan Democratic Party noted they had removed the group’s initial statement.
“We have deleted a post that ignored the important role parents play – and should play – in Michigan public schools. Parents need to have a say in their children’s education, end of story,” the post reads.
The retraction continues, “The post does not reflect the views of Michigan Democrats and should not be misinterpreted as a statement of support from our elected officials or candidates.”