Is China’s Influence in U.S. Education Over,
Under, or Around and Through?

Confucius say: “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals; adjust the action steps.”

On October 30, 2023, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report showing that “nearly all” Chinese Confucius Institutes operating on U.S. college and university campuses had been closed. The purpose of the institutes was allegedly to teach Chinese language and culture, but rumors of spying, indoctrination, and intellectual property theft by Chinese nationals began circulating shortly after the arrival of the institutes in 2004 during the administration of George W. Bush.

More Race Baiting in Minnesota Fueled by NEA Affiliate

Never lacking in controversy, particularly with regard to education, the state of Minnesota is doubling down on its woke social justice agenda that many view as little more than politically motivated race baiting. Last month, the state’s NEA affiliate, the Minnesota Education Association (MEA), created a stir by offering professional development courses for teachers on topics such as “Interrupting Whiteness” and “LGBTQ+ Training.”

This divisive initiative for teachers, called MEA FIRE - Facing Inequities and Racism in Education, “aims to disrupt systemic racism and racial inequities in Minnesota’s education system.” The MEA website explains that the FIRE training program “leads Minnesota’s educators in a movement to live equitably and practice recognizing and responding to inequities and injustices.”

Homeschooling Boom Continues

In a December email to her subscribers, the Foundation for Economic Education’s (FEE) Kerry McDonald called attention to a new report on homeschooling by Dr. Angela R. Watson of Johns Hopkins University’s Institute for Education Policy. Watson’s key finding is that during the 2024-25 school year, “homeschooling grew at an average rate of 5.4% nationally—far exceeding the 2% growth rate in pre-pandemic years.”

Professor Watson reiterated what has become common knowledge, that homeschooling boomed during the COVID 19 pandemic and then declined slightly once brick-and-mortar schools reopened in late 2020 and early 2021. The 2023-24 school year showed a rebound for homeschooling, but the big news is its impressive growth during 2024-25.