As young students, most of today's parents never knew the politics of their K-12 teachers. Some folks want to change all that. The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), the union representing New Jersey's public school teachers, is one of the most powerful and effective lobbyists in Trenton. 

In July, the NJEA promoted a four-day program for teachers entitled "Teaching is Political: Advocating and Organizing for Social Change 2022 Summer Collaborative."  The program was sponsored by a group of radical left educators calling themselves the "Radical Pedagogy Institute." The alert carried on the NJEA calendar featured six raised fists of various skin tones.

*This is a screenshot of the NJEA event calendar*

The Radical Pedagogy Institute describes itself as "a professional learning community of educators focused on developing the skills, knowledge, and dispositions to engage in radical pedagogies . . .  and political organizing in our classrooms and communities." The word "pedagogy" refers to the method and practice of teaching.

The Radical Pedagogy Institute lists as examples of radical pedagogies: "queer, anti-racist, DisCrit, culturally relevant, critical, and other liberatory pedagogies." All of the listed examples are consistent with far-left critical theory (also simply known as "theory').  DisCrit is a combination of Disability Studies and Critical Race Theory.

*This is a screenshot from the Radical Pedagogy Institute's website*

The NJEA appears determined to bring radical politics directly into New Jersey K-12 classrooms. The Radical Pedagogy Institute actually calls for "political organizing in our classrooms." NJEA endorses and helps fund candidates for local boards of education. Parent groups throughout New Jersey encourage voters to find out which candidates are endorsed and funded by the NJEA and to cast a wary eye on such candidates. Parent activists also encourage voters to give consideration to candidates who oppose politics in the classroom.