A quiet shift occurred within the schools serving the children of American servicemembers. Despite previous restrictions, firms promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles continue to operate within the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), receiving $171,175 in recent funding.
The groundwork for this change was laid in 2020 when then-DoDEA Director Thomas M. Brady declared DEI “must be a foundational premise” across the entire organization. This directive swiftly impacted the curriculum of the 161 schools operated by DoDEA, located on military bases worldwide.
The changes weren’t subtle. Presentations were given advocating for introducing concepts of gender expression to elementary school students, arguing it was the ideal age to begin these discussions. Educators were actively encouraged to initiate “critical conversations” centered on identity, power, and privilege – conversations explicitly intended to provoke emotional responses.
A previous attempt to curtail these practices occurred when a ban on federal funding for DEI initiatives was implemented. While many consultants were removed at that time, some companies initially hired during the Biden administration have remained active within DoDEA.
One example is SHAPE America, a professional society for gym teachers, which received $30,175 to maintain memberships. The organization’s health standards explicitly acknowledge “systemic disparities” and aim to “dismantle the structures that perpetuate inequality,” going beyond simply leveling the playing field.
During a 2021 training session on these standards, teachers were cautioned that presenting heterosexuality as the norm could “inherently cause conflict.” This illustrates a deliberate effort to challenge traditional perspectives within the curriculum.
DoDEA also allocated $141,000 to thinkLaw, a curriculum development company. Its CEO, Colin Seale, recently advocated for a strategy of embedding DEI principles within lessons through “defiance disguised as compliance.”
Seale’s approach, surprisingly illustrated with a reference to a Lil Wayne lyric, suggests subtly teaching concepts like gender fluidity while outwardly adhering to existing restrictions. He advises teachers to discreetly introduce these ideas without openly defying directives.
The core issue isn’t simply about the presence of DEI programs, but the lack of transparency surrounding what children are being taught. Parents deserve full knowledge of the curriculum, particularly within schools funded by taxpayer dollars.
This situation raises fundamental questions about the role of ideology in education and the right of parents to be informed about the lessons shaping their children’s worldview.
