This is part of a series of ten summertime articles mapping the common ground upon which parents, educators, and communities can unite regarding one of the most divisive topics in America: public education. 

The History Channel is my authoritative source for solid, historical facts about UFO’s, Sasquatch, and Chupacabra, and my favorite show is undoubtedly Ancient Aliens. In one episode, the troll-haired guy (Giorgio Tsoukalos) asserts that the only reason people don’t accept that the pyramids were built by E.T. is because we will not teach the truth in school. That certainly settles it for me, but Mr. Tsoukalos is not alone in his opinion. Virtually everyone on the left and right seems to agree that public schools are the root of every problem that plagues America. When everyone agrees with Ancient Aliens about public schools, who can say America is divided? 

If public schools are to blame for all our problems, then according to the same logic, that’s where we can also fix everything. This philosophy has produced wholesale social engineering through schools since their inception. This is not always bad, for schools have been used to help curb smoking, to stop littering, and to even promote healthy exercise. Such good examples of social engineering are always transparent, widely supported, and inarguably in the best interest of kids. (I don’t know anyone promoting smoking, unhealthy kids, or trashy highways.)  But seriously, anti-littering campaigns are not the type of social engineering that irritates parents and educators. 

This is not solely a red or blue issue, however. Both parties do it constantly and cooperatively. For example, Common Core State Standards – introduced under Brad Henry and Sandy Garret and implemented by Mary Fallin and Janet Barresi – were adopted with widespread bipartisan support and voted out with equally purple fervor. Legislation is an open process that can be reversed, however, so this is not really the type of social engineering that bothers everyone. It’s the sneaky stuff that bothers us, especially when it infringes on parental rights, limits local control, or erodes relevant curriculum. That’s the type of social engineering I believe has hurt public schools. 

Anything that usurps parents’ authority or influence over their own children (parental rights), that circumvents a communities’ local autonomy (local control), or that artificially injects unrelated agendas into an academic area (relevant curriculum) rightfully raises a red flag, but most of all, Americans do not like things that are hidden or secretive (transparency). People see this as a subversive type of social engineering.

Public schools are diverse communities, so parents and educators (and children) understand that everyone will not always agree. They do get along, however, by establishing rules and procedures to ensure that captive and impressionable audiences are not needlessly subject to issues that may be hostile to the parents’ wishes. Student-led clubs or groups can explore such topics, but they must be voluntary, conducted openly, and with parent’s knowledge. Anything a child is forced to attend (as part of compulsory schooling) should be free of attempts to subvert parental rights, local control, relevant curriculum, or transparency. 

But of course, people are imperfect and we all have agendas, which is why local control, open meetings, and open records will always be needed. Post-COVID parents seem to have a renewed interest in what their public school is doing, and most educators welcome this. We have needed your help for a long time to help manage the insanity. Social engineering in schools is as old as chalkboards, but thankfully, parents and educators can agree on most issues, tolerating and accepting differences that do arise. Despite what the media portrays, there really is common ground in education, and I believe most parents and educators value the same things.  

As a proud bald man, however, I must confess my own secret agenda, driven by jealousy of the troll-haired guy’s bouffant. I want all public school children to sport the troll hairstyle. They would look so cute lined up with their hair pointing straight up, but alas, I cannot push my pompadour preferences on hapless children. Neither parents nor educators would like that. Nevertheless, I do suggest that Egyptologists start looking for Reese’s Pieces in the pyramids because E.T. never phones home without them. Georgio really may be on to something there.

Tom Deighan is a public educator and currently serves as Superintendent of Duncan Public Schools. He may be reached at deighantom@gmail.com

This is first in a series of ten summertime articles mapping the common ground upon which parents, educators, and communities can unite regarding one of the most divisive topics in America: public education. 

I know it sounds crazy, but I contend that common ground on the issue of education not only exists, but that it may be the only remaining common ground in American culture. I am not dreaming the nostalgic myth of a lost Atlantis or the elitist dream of the flying island of Laputa. On the contrary, most public schools are practical, functioning, and redeemable places where parents, educators, and communities work together every day, regardless of differences. These islands function because 80% of parents and 80% of educators actually agree on 80% of the issues. (The 80/80/80 rule.)

I confess that this does sound a little crazy, even as I write this. Wherever I turn, public education is either extolled or demonized, and when extremes are our only options, everyone is forced to become an extremist. Despite the rhetoric, however, I have met few extremists. I see signs of them on social media and in news clips, but I cannot ever recall meeting one at the supermarket, at church, or in the drop-off line at school. Nevertheless, our national discourse is increasingly controlled by trolls behind keyboards and ogres on parade. In such a culture, anyone who rejects any element of our orthodoxy is no longer human. At least that’s what the trolls and ogres on my cable news channel tell me!

No subject illustrates this more than the topic of public education. We are told to choose between either rabid resistance to any change in public schools (except for more public funding) . . . or rabid commitment to dismantle public schools (while using the same public money). When such false choices wholly dominate national media, no wonder so many people naturally assume that their local public school is a boiling cauldron of controversy and contention. Far left and far right social engineers are surely battling it out in our hallways and classrooms, using our children as human shields. Judging by the national narrative, 80% of educators are evil, 80% of students are delinquents, and 80% of parents don’t care. If only God or the Government would save us!

So when I propose the 80/80/80 rule, I understand why you might think I am crazy, but think about it. Virtually all parents want their children to one day graduate, earn a living, and be part of a community. Educators want the same, and despite what you see on the interweb, few educators entered this profession because they hate children or parents. Sadly, the national media have 10/10 vision; they focus on the 10% of radical left issues and the 10% of radical right issues, painting everyone with these wide brushes. Your neighborhood school certainly includes these perspectives, but they make it work, because 80% of parents and 80% of educators agree on 80% of the issues. When they don’t, they have the capacity to disagree amicably and to work together. Otherwise, our schools would all be on fire.

I know the 80/80/80 rule seems preposterous to many, but I understand. Some subjects are easy, like career-ready graduates, safety, and security. Others, like school choice and faith, are a little more complicated, but the 80/80/80 rule applies even to tough topics. Next week, we will start off with the most revolutionary of ideas – that the parent is the most important educator in any child’s life. This ideal is the bedrock upon which our entire system depends, and believe it or not, most parents and most educators agree on this issue. Please join me this summer as we explore this elusive common ground.  If my instincts are correct, we will discover it is bigger than ever imagined. Heck, even those searching for schools on Atlantis and Laputa might discover real estate they can share, even if they do choose to live on opposite sides of the island.

Tom Deighan is a public educator and currently serves as Superintendent of Duncan Public Schools. He may be reached at deighantom@gmail.com