COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Education has indicated that an investigation would be launched and a review of home-schooling procedures following news that an Upper Sandusky couple is promoting a neo-Nazi curriculum to online forums.
WBNS 10-TV reports that the actions have been condemned by the governor’s office and other state officials, but under state law, the Education Department does not review or approve home school curriculum.
Leading Statehouse Democrats have voiced their support for the review.
“Teaching hate to children has no place whatsoever in any kind of classroom. As we continue to understand how hate schools operate in Ohio, we must ensure our leaders at the Department of Education and in the legislature are doing everything possible to prevent this from ever happening again,” said Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington).
Russo and other Democrats have criticized Senate Republicans for introducing bills they say will weaken home school laws and shift tax dollars away from public schools to home schools.
In a letter to acting state superintendent of schools Dr. Stephanie Siddens, Russo and Rep. Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) claim that the couple is operating a social media messaging group on the platform Telegraph called “Dissident Homeschool,” which has been providing lesson plan materials promoting white-supremacist and pro-Nazi material for parents to use in home schooling.