> > > What–you may ask–is the Phoenix Declaration, recently adopted by Florida > educators? > > The Declaration is a product of the Heritage Foundation > <https://www.heritage.org/press/the-heritage-foundation-releases-phoenix-declaration-american-vision-education?utm_source=chatgpt.com>, > and a recent post in *Lincoln Square *pretty much summed it up. > > The Phoenix Declaration smuggles a theocratic worldview through pleasant, > familiar vocabulary—turning words like “truth,” “freedom,” and “the good > life” into vehicles for a single religious ideology. Once you decode that > language, the stakes clarify fast: a public education system where > scientific method is replaced with biblical literalism, where civic history > is rewritten through a sectarian lens, and where moral autonomy is > redefined as submission to someone else’s theology. The danger isn’t just > Florida’s adoption of the document—it’s how easy it would be for > unsuspecting school boards in other states to nod along… > > The Declaration is firmly rooted in Heritage’s Project 2025, which > probably tells us all we need to know. Both documents are products of > Christian nationalism. Both explicitly frame education as a process of > eliciting a student’s “God-given potential,” and inculcating (their version > of) virtue, moral formation, and the “Judeo-Christian tradition.” The > Declaration says its educational mission is “helping children achieve their > full, God-given potential,” by educating them in “truth and goodness,” > civic virtue, character formation, and a love of country– echoing the > Christian-nationalist belief that America is a “Christian nation,” and that > public life should reflect that Christian “heritage.” > > The Declaration appears to be part of Project 2025’s effort to > institutionalize its worldview through a takeover of public education. > That certainly is the view of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, > <https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-alarmed-after-fla-adoption-of-heritage-foundations-anti-education-framework/?utm_source=chatgpt.com>which > has noted that several of the declaration’s principles echo those of > Project 2025–for example, proposals to expand school vouchers, promote > religious instruction with public funds, and curtail diversity and civil > rights efforts. > > The declaration includes several statements that appear benign on their > face but reveal a deeper ideological agenda when read in context. > > On “objective truth” and morality, the document states: “Students should > learn that there is objective truth and that it is knowable. Science > courses must be grounded in reality, not ideological fads. Students should > learn that good and evil exist, and that human beings have the capacity and > duty to choose good.” > > Language like this has been routinely used by Christian nationalist groups > to cast evidence-based teaching about gender, sexuality and modern science > as “ideological fads,” while elevating religious beliefs about morality as > neutral “truth.” > > On cultural transmission, the declaration asserts: “True progress comes > only by building on what has been learned and achieved in the past. > Students should therefore learn about America’s founding principles and > roots in the broader Western and Judeo-Christian traditions.” > > This explicitly frames public education through a sectarian lens. The > United States is not founded on “Judeo-Christian traditions” as a governing > principle, and public schools cannot privilege one religious heritage over > the nation’s actual pluralistic history. > > FFRF points out that several members of the Declaration’s drafting > committee and signatories are representatives of organizations openly > committed to religious education, Christian nationalism or the dismantling > of secular public institutions. (Moms for Liberty > <https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/moms-liberty/> is a > signatory. Need I say more?) > > It isn’t surprising that Florida would adopt the Declaration–Governor Ron > DeSantis has made his war on “liberal” education a high priority, in the > process destroying the academic integrity of Florida universities. 10 > Tampa Bay News has reported on responses to adoption of the Declaration, > including that of the Florida Educational Association, > <https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/what-phoenix-declaration-florida-adopted/67-3c0b3ea3-01fe-4ba6-9209-20f9fbe54121?utm_source=chatgpt.com> > > “This political campaign disguised as a declaration seeks to hand over > control of our classrooms to political operatives and shift blame, pointing > fingers rather than offering real solutions,” FEA stated. “Instead of > chasing ideological agendas, the State Board of Education members should > focus on what truly helps students: Making sure public schools are fully > funded, addressing the critical teacher and staff shortage, and > guaranteeing that every child has access to a strong, neighborhood public > school.” > > FEA was not the only organization to see past the Declaration’s ambiguous > language. Julie Kent, the president of Florida National Organization for > Women, pointed out that the Declaration’s standards “impose an ideology > under the guise of neutrality, marginalize diverse perspectives, undermine > public education and politicize curriculum reviews.” > > The Declaration’s standards reveal the accuracy of the criticisms. That > standard on “Truth and Goodness,” declares students must learn that there > is “objective truth” –truth which the Declaration finds rooted in a > particular version of Christianity. > > I guess it’s not enough to send tax dollars to religious schools via > vouchers. The Right wants to Christianize our public schools too. > https://sheilakennedy.net/2025/12/the-phoenix-declaration/
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