Critical race theory is only the latest in a series of attacks on public education, but parents have had enough. Some states are listening; Iowa and Florida are the latest. Dr. Michael Youssef discusses the history and current state of American education in his book, Hope for This Present Crisis (thepresentcrisis.com).
Critical race theory teaches students to look at American society and history through a racial lens and views race itself as a relatively recent social construct weaponized by dominant groups to oppress others. Its opponents say schoolchildren should not be taught that America is fundamentally racist. Supporters contend that federal law has preserved the unequal treatment of people based on race and that the country was founded on the theft of land and labor.
In his book, Hope for This Present Crisis, Youssef writes, “All of these destructive forces, and many more, can be traced back to critical theory, which has seized control of most of our major universities. It began in the law schools and spread to the ethnic studies and gender studies departments. Today critical theory infects almost every educational discipline in many universities, from history to music theory to mathematics.”
Florida’s State Board of Education banned critical race theory over the objections of the Florida Education Association. Florida’s rule also prohibits the use of the discredited and historically inaccurate 1619 Project. Gov. DeSantis backed the state Board of Education measure.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed House File 802 into law codifying the state’s stance against teaching “specific defined concepts,” such as the widely controversial critical race theory.
Critical race theory is not new. It stems from critical theory, the Marx-inspired body of thought which infiltrated major universities in the 60s, eventually filtering down to K-12 as students of the 60s became educators of the 21st century.
Youssef traces the history of undermining traditional American and Christian values in the classroom.
Youssef writes, “By banning God from classrooms, we have invited a rise in school violence, drug abuse, bullying, depression and suicide. As Theodore Roosevelt once observed, ‘To educate a man in the mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.'”
Youssef continues, “Our schools no longer teach young people how to think for themselves, how to reason, how to live moral and productive lives, or how to recognize propaganda and logical fallacies. Instead, our schools have become godless indoctrination centers.”
Hope for This Present Crisis is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BAM, ChristianBook.com, and Leading The Way.
Dr. Michael Youssef was born in Egypt and lived in Lebanon and Australia before coming to the United States and fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming an American citizen. He holds degrees from Moore College in Sydney, Australia and Fuller Theological Seminary in California, with a Ph.D. in social anthropology from Emory University. He founded The Church of The Apostles, which was the launching pad for Leading The Way’s international ministry. Youssef has authored more than 40 books, including popular titles like Jesus, Jihad and Peace and Saving Christianity?
Youssef hosts the popular TV and radio broadcast Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef, which airs more than 13,000 times every week across six continents in 26 languages—reaching audiences in nearly every major city in the world. His programs attract tens of millions of viewers weekly in the U.S. on major TV networks, including TBN, Daystar, Fox Business, Lifetime, GOD TV, CTN, NRB TV and more.
Equipped with a keen understanding of the Bible, the Middle East, sociological trends in the Western world and popular Christian worldview issues, Youssef is a sought-after voice whose expertise is regularly requested on both secular and Christian media, including Huckabee, Fox & Friends, Eric Metaxas, The Hugh Hewitt Show, The Christian Post, Fox News, Hannity, Glenn Beck, The 700 Club and more. He and his wife reside in Atlanta and have four grown children and 10 grandchildren.
Hope for This Present Crisis is published by FrontLine, an imprint of Charisma House. {eoa}
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