​What is Honesty in Education?

Honesty in education is the complete presentation, thorough examination, and intentional discussion of historical and current events, behaviors, societal trends, and the hard truths that define the contours of our nation. It reflects and affirms diverse perspectives and identities, including race, sex, identity, and faith. It is grounded in credible research, widely-accepted sources, and narratives of diverse lived experiences. It promotes open dialogue, debate, and thorough and thoughtful analysis of information. Honesty in education develops lifelong learners and engaged citizens who contribute to their communities, address complex issues, seek collaborative solutions, and help advance the betterment of society.

​As Students, Families, Educators, and Ohioans, We Believe...​
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Every child deserves an honest high-quality education grounded in truth, facts, and diverse perspectives,
​regardless of background, race, or zip code. 
​
Dismissing racism and discrimination, or minimizing its trauma and impact,
harms individuals and communities, and prevents pathways to reconciliation and healing.

Education must reflect and celebrate student identities, experiences, and cultures to 
maximize engagement and achievement.

Students and communities benefit most when caring families, skilled educators, and dedicated school boards 
define what is appropriate within classrooms.

Honesty in education is the freedom of critical thinking, reflection, and the diverse exchange of ideas that are 
essential to Ohio’s future, viability, and high-functioning democracy. 

Why Does Honesty in Education Matter?

It promotes emotional well-being.  When students feel respected, valued, and represented in their school and they are more engaged, reflective, and productive.

It drives academic achievement.  Exposing students to evidence-based curricula, multiple perspectives, and comprehensive analyses enables them to think critically and solve problems.

It develops upstanding citizens.  Appreciating differences teaches students to advocate for themselves, one another, and their communities.

It supports dynamic educators.  Teachers thrive with full access to targeted professional development programs that sharpen skills and improve knowledge about complex historical and modern social issues.
It builds community.  Collaborating and understanding each other empowers families, educators, and school boards to develop inclusive and comprehensive educational programming that serves all students.

It fosters economic competitiveness.  Ohio's workforce is diverse. Critically understanding racism, sexism, and other discrimination in our past and present enhances workplace culture, maximizes productivity, and attracts talent and industry.

It protects our vibrant democracy.  Democracy is an ongoing process that requires citizens’ continual education and participation.  Honesty in education affirms patriotic ideals and gets us closer to aspirations of equal treatment.

Who does DISHONESTY in Education
​ Hurt Ohio?

Any effort to prohibit, censor, or restrict honesty in education creates educational dishonesty, 
​hurting students, families, educators, our state, and our democratic republic.

This dishonesty reflects distrust of students to manage difficult and complex truths,
distrust of families who want to heal, be included, and reconcile the realities of our nation,
​and distrust of educators who want to teach complete accounts of history and modern events.

This dishonesty devalues Ohioans who aspire to
​learn more, be more, and do more for themselves and the Great State of Ohio. 

This dishonesty prevents attempts to
​reconcile our history with our present to improve our future... and finally heal.
STUDENTS
It encourages narrow, singular viewpoints that perpetuate racist, discriminatory and exclusionary abuse, trauma, behavior, and narratives. 
​
It normalizes and models how to perpetrate and tolerate abuse and trauma within staff and students. 

It prevents pathways to historical, social, and intellectual reckonings, reconciliations, growth, and healing. 

It harms the safety and emotional well-being of students by restricting social-emotional learning programs, like advisory groups.

It prevents students from better understanding their differences in individual identity, experience and culture by preventing them from participating in diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

It devalues students by assuming they cannot handle complex and sometimes conflicting ideas.

It prevents student discussion, debate, and analysis of controversial topics in which students often have a keen interest.

It discourages student voice, student agency and advocacy for others.

It discourages informed citizenship, civic engagement, and community outreach through action civics, service learning and advocacy projects. 

​EDUCATORS
​​It undermines the learning environment by restricting the exploration of ideas, teaching methods, curriculum, and lesson plans.

It restricts essential professional development and training.

It restricts access to critical sources of funding for curricula and materials.

It violates academic freedom in higher education.

It threatens and intimidates educators with severe penalties without clear standards for violations.

It removes the autonomy of school districts and families to interpret and apply educational standards.
​
It creates distrust and disharmony among educators, students, and families.
FAMILIES
It prohibits collaboration among families, educators and school districts by limiting Local Control of communities over their own educational environment.

It imposes a singular State viewpoint over teaching sensitive issues.

It deprives communities of Local Control over their kids' education.

It prohibits collaboration and creates disharmony among families, educators and school districts entrusted to shape their educational environment.
It ignores the wounds families experience when outdated and damaging content remains unchallenged.
​
​It creates distrust and disharmony among families, students, educators, and communities.
​

​OHIO
​It impairs Ohio’s economic growth and viability by restricting skills necessary for job readiness and productive teamwork.

​It hinders strong workforce development by driving competitive talent away from Ohio.

​DEMOCRACY​
It limits understanding of American institutions, systems, policies, and power dynamics. 

It discourages our young citizens from becoming civically engaged.

It distorts patriotism by denying the need to fight for equal and equitable rights for all people.

It violates the American ideal of challenging institutions, systems, and policies in order to improve them. 

​It views American history as so shameful we have to hide it, rather than learn from it.