The Department of Defense's K-12 school system is under intense scrutiny as the Democrat-controlled Senate prepares to debate the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.
A transparency group's report uncovered systemic issues and alleged misconduct within the Pentagon's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, as Just the News reports.
The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2025, which recently passed the House with amendments from Anti-Woke Caucus members, is set for discussion in the Senate. Meanwhile, OpenTheBooks.com, a transparency group, has spotlighted the Pentagon's 70,000-student school system and its DEI initiatives.
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) faced a review in January regarding "progressive ideologies" in the military. This led to several changes, including the reassignment of former DEI chief Kelisa Wing and the deletion of the DEI Division page. Wing's contentious tweets, in which she targeted whites, had previously prompted GOP legislators to call for an inquiry.
Rep. Elise Stefanik noted that on March 23, 2023, the Department of Defense informed her about Wing's reassignment merely three hours before a military personnel subcommittee hearing on DEI. Undersecretary Gilbert Cisneros Jr. described the move as part of a "headquarters restructuring." Subsequent communication from DoDEA Director Thomas Brady revealed the integration of DEI Specialists into key divisions.
Despite the reassignment, OpenTheBooks.com CEO Adam Andrzejewski accused Undersecretary Cisneros of pretending to close the DEI office. According to Andrzejewski, the Pentagon's K-12 schools continue to employ controversial methods equating to emotionally manipulative pedagogical practices.
OpenTheBooks criticized DoDEA for utilizing private chat rooms for teacher-student conversations concerning sexuality and gender, which parents cannot access. The group also highlighted DoDEA's promotion of the Black Lives Matter organization and the encouragement of explicit discussions on race and identity.
The transparency group's report also pointed out a significant increase in federal grant spending by DoDEA, from $20 million in 2020 to $70 million currently. Suspicions were raised about the $1.3 billion allocated for salaries in fiscal 2022, as DoDEA refused to disclose individual salaries. Additionally, after OpenTheBooks exposed summit videos, those recordings were removed from official channels.
Andrzejewski raised alarms over the integration of DEI with social emotional learning (SEL) in DoDEA's transformative SEL framework. Teachers use paid applications like Pear Deck and Google Forms for emotional wellness inventories, raising concerns about potential abuse or exploitation of students' SEL data.
DoDEA has heavily invested in Google Workspace and Chromebooks since 2016. At a 2021 summit, a guidance counselor suggested using an "Objective Brain Gauge Device" to scan students' brain activity. Additionally, DoDEA has delayed processing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeal requests until July 2024 and refused to release related emails, citing privacy issues.
Rep. Stefanik criticized the Department of Defense for delaying the notification of Wing's reassignment. Andrzejewski underlined the vulnerability of military-connected children to the emotionally manipulative methods described in the report, particularly given their frequent relocations and unique family stressors.
In conclusion, the scrutiny on DoDEA amid the Senate's upcoming debate on the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act points to controversial DEI initiatives and significant amounts of undisclosed federal funding.
The transparency group's report highlights serious concerns about emotional manipulation, data privacy, and the integrity of the Pentagon's K-12 education system.
