Parents prioritize civic literacy, colorblindness, and transparency in education rather than focusing on preconceived notions of the oppressive and oppressed, according to a new national survey.
The survey commissioned by the THINC Foundation delivered shots directly across the bow of critical race theory. The vast majority, 85%, of parents believe individual attributes such as effort, character, and perseverance have more influence on life outcomes than immutable traits like skin color and ethnicity.
More than 9 in 10 parents said it is important for children to be taught mutual respect and cooperation, including engaging with differing viewpoints, and 90% said it is important to teach civics. Nearly as many parents, 89%, said school curricula should be publicly available, so they know what their children are being taught.
The survey, released April 14, polled 2,246 parents of K-12 students.
“Parents want schools to focus on the fundamentals that bring Americans together: civic literacy, respect for different viewpoints, and the conviction that every child can succeed,” said THINC Foundation founder and CEO Mitch Siegler in a statement accompanying the release of the findings.
