Photo:20221001 Relation of global warming and climate change – conceptual scheme comparative diagram; Author:RCraig09; Lic.:CC BY-SA 4.0
The Democratic Party’s education priorities reveal a stark disconnect between their climate agenda and the actual needs of American students. Instead of addressing the alarming literacy crisis, Democrats are prioritizing “climate literacy” in schools, Nick Pope reports in the Daily Caller. While students struggle with basic reading and writing skills, the left is more concerned with indoctrinating them on climate change than equipping them with the fundamental tools for success.
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), reading scores for fourth and eighth graders in 2022 dropped significantly compared to 2019. Less than half of fourth graders can read at grade level, with only 17% of black students and 21% of Latino students achieving proficiency. Yet, the Democrats’ platform emphasizes climate literacy over conventional literacy, mentioning it multiple times while barely acknowledging the dire state of actual reading skills.
This misguided focus comes as Democrats push climate-friendly policies like replacing school buses with electric models, a move that could enrich Chinese manufacturers more than it benefits American students. Meanwhile, Democrat-aligned unions like the Chicago Teachers Union are using contract negotiations to push for climate-related demands instead of focusing on improving the dismal educational outcomes in their cities.
Even worse, Democrat officials like Washington Governor Jay Inslee promote climate curriculums that encourage students to prioritize “emotions” over “rational thinking.” Such policies don’t prepare students for the real world—they aim to create a generation of climate activists at the expense of academic achievement.
America doesn’t need more politically driven climate propaganda in classrooms. What our children desperately need is a return to the basics—reading, writing, and critical thinking. The Democratic Party’s misplaced priorities are doing a disservice to students, especially those from low-income and minority backgrounds who are falling further behind.
This post originally appeared at https://www.phyllisschlafly.com/family/education/climate-literacy-over-real-literacy/
