Honesty for Ohio Education Demands Accountability for Ohio Neo-Nazi Homeschoolers
Ohio Department of Education investigation creates more questions than answers about
Upper Sandusky homeschooling network
Upper Sandusky homeschooling network
February 14, 2023 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today, during the February State Board of Education meeting, State Board Member Teresa Fedor prompted the first discussion about the neo-Nazi homeschooling network operating in Upper Sandusky. A homeschooling couple is under investigation for authoring and distributing neo-Nazi curriculum to thousands of online subscribers.
Board Member Fedor demanded answers about homeschooling regulations and use of taxpayer dollars to proliferate the Nazi-infused curriculum. Interim State Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Siddens offered few details about the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) investigation into the couple, only calling the act horrendous, and stating ODE has not determined if the couple was receiving taxpayer dollars for the Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Educational Savings Account program or College Credit Plus. In an earlier statement to VICE News, ODE determined the couple did not violate Ohio law or homeschooling regulations by using hate-fueled, antisemitic, racist, and genocidal curriculum.
In response, Cynthia Peeples, founding director of Honesty for Ohio Education, issued the following statement.
As a statewide coalition championing honest education, Honesty for Ohio Education believes education must address the realities and trauma of generational antisemitism, racialized hate, and discrimination in our state. That is why we call for a transparent investigation into the neo-Nazi homeschooling network and demand full accountability from state and local leaders about the use of Ohio homeschooling as a vehicle to indoctrinate children and spread Nazi hate.
While the coalition supports the important role that homeschooling serves in protecting and educating more than 50,000 Ohio students, we condemn its use as a means to exploit and endanger children, and sow seeds of hate and extremism. This shocking incident punctuates the need for greater oversight of a homeschooling system that can easily subject children to fringe extremists and genocidal ideologies. Any system in Ohio that provides safe harbor to neo-Nazi values is a threat to public safety, and a clear and present danger to domestic security.
The Upper Sandusky neo-Nazi homeschooling network is yet another example of how politically-fueled hate, extremism, and discrimination have taken root in Ohio. We continually witness certain Statehouse and State Board of Education leaders weaponize race and identity to peddle dishonest censorship legislation or resolutions striking down Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students, while some local school board members are changing school policy to attack student identity.
We are especially concerned about Senate Bills 1 and 11 which do nothing to address the lack of oversight for Ohio homeschooling, and instead prohibit further regulation and increase tax credits for homeschoolers.
We call on every Ohioan to condemn the systems and leaders that empower the hateful ideologies taking root in our communities. Honesty for Ohio Education stands ready to work across aisles, institutions, and zip codes to build an Ohio grounded in truth, unity, and justice.
Board Member Fedor demanded answers about homeschooling regulations and use of taxpayer dollars to proliferate the Nazi-infused curriculum. Interim State Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Siddens offered few details about the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) investigation into the couple, only calling the act horrendous, and stating ODE has not determined if the couple was receiving taxpayer dollars for the Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Educational Savings Account program or College Credit Plus. In an earlier statement to VICE News, ODE determined the couple did not violate Ohio law or homeschooling regulations by using hate-fueled, antisemitic, racist, and genocidal curriculum.
In response, Cynthia Peeples, founding director of Honesty for Ohio Education, issued the following statement.
As a statewide coalition championing honest education, Honesty for Ohio Education believes education must address the realities and trauma of generational antisemitism, racialized hate, and discrimination in our state. That is why we call for a transparent investigation into the neo-Nazi homeschooling network and demand full accountability from state and local leaders about the use of Ohio homeschooling as a vehicle to indoctrinate children and spread Nazi hate.
While the coalition supports the important role that homeschooling serves in protecting and educating more than 50,000 Ohio students, we condemn its use as a means to exploit and endanger children, and sow seeds of hate and extremism. This shocking incident punctuates the need for greater oversight of a homeschooling system that can easily subject children to fringe extremists and genocidal ideologies. Any system in Ohio that provides safe harbor to neo-Nazi values is a threat to public safety, and a clear and present danger to domestic security.
The Upper Sandusky neo-Nazi homeschooling network is yet another example of how politically-fueled hate, extremism, and discrimination have taken root in Ohio. We continually witness certain Statehouse and State Board of Education leaders weaponize race and identity to peddle dishonest censorship legislation or resolutions striking down Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students, while some local school board members are changing school policy to attack student identity.
We are especially concerned about Senate Bills 1 and 11 which do nothing to address the lack of oversight for Ohio homeschooling, and instead prohibit further regulation and increase tax credits for homeschoolers.
We call on every Ohioan to condemn the systems and leaders that empower the hateful ideologies taking root in our communities. Honesty for Ohio Education stands ready to work across aisles, institutions, and zip codes to build an Ohio grounded in truth, unity, and justice.
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Honesty for Ohio Education is a nonpartisan, statewide coalition that champions honest education, affirmation of identities, cultures, and experiences, the well-being of students and educators, and local control in education. The coalition represents more than 40 national, state, and local organizations, and hundreds of students, families, and educators across the state.