The Ohio Department of Education is reportedly investigating a pro-Nazi homeschooling network run by a couple in the state, and the news has left many of us in shock and disbelief. While the idea of Nazi-approved curriculum seems like something out of a horror movie, this is the reality we are facing. The network, dubbed ‘Dissident Homeschool’, is run by Katja and Logan Lawrence of Upper Sandusky and provides a platform for more than 2,400 subscribers to access pro-Nazi lessons.
This news has been met with outrage and sadness by Ohio’s interim Superintendent of Public Instruction Stephanie Siddens, who said in a statement on Twitter, “There is absolutely no place for hate-filled, divisive and hurtful instruction in Ohio’s schools, including our state’s home-schooling community.” The Upper Sandusky Exempted Village Schools Superintendent Eric Landversicht also added in a letter to the community that parents are responsible for choosing the curriculum for their children and that the district does not endorse or sponsor the chosen curriculum.
Katja Lawrence, one of the founders of the network, reportedly told a neo-Nazi podcast that they created the network because they were “having a rough time finding Nazi-approved school material” for their children. She added that they were “so deeply invested into making sure that that child becomes a wonderful Nazi.”
The Ohio Department of Education is currently “actively reviewing compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements” to ensure that the homeschooling network is not in violation of any laws. It is clear that this is a deeply troubling and concerning situation, and we can only hope that the state takes the necessary steps to ensure that no child is exposed to this kind of hateful rhetoric.
Source: thehill.com