Ohio moms claim Columbus Academy expelled their kids over critical race theory pushback
Two Ohio mothers are lashing out against a private school that allegedly expelled their children after the duo campaigned against critical race theory.
"I feel like it is unfortunate that when you are speaking out and you are trying to say your truth, unfortunately, there are people who want to retaliate against you. In this case, they retaliated against our children, who are innocent," Andrea Gross told 'Fox & Friends First." She was accompanied by Amy Gonzalez. Both of them alleged that Columbus Academy denied re-enrollment to a number of students because the mothers breached part of their contract when they publicly pushed back against the school's attempt to "indoctrinate" students with liberal ideologies.
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Who are Andrea Gross and Amy Gonzalez?
Gross and Gonzalez are co-organizers of the "Pro Columbus Academy Coalition," pushing against critical race theory being taught at the school. The decision to expel their children from the institute came after months of efforts by Gross and Gonzalez to probe the school's curriculum, which included divisive concepts about race and anti-conservative sentiment. The coalition does not only include the two moms, it also includes hundreds of other Columbus Academy parents, who were concerned about the recent changes introduced to the school materials.
"We tried, in the best way possible, to represent and speak up not only for our children but also our teachers. At a private school, they did not have a union. I believe a lot of it is coming from The National Association of Independent Schools," Gonzalez told Fox News host Todd Piro. The institute includes pre-K through 12th-grade students. The school ousted two of Gross' children and one of Gonzalez's.
School defends expulsion
The debate surrounding the critical race theory started in the wake of George Floyd's murder by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis last year. While schools like the Columbus Academy have defended their stance to introduce the CRT as they insisted "anti-racist" or equity-focused content was aimed at enhancing inclusion among students, parents have often disagreed with the notion, saying that the theory often promotes division.
According to Gonzalez, not just parents, but even a lot of students, as well as teachers, have opposed CRT. She stressed the fact that the fight is directed at expanding the freedom of speech, not restricting the same. "We feel like how are they going to come forward? They have one-year contracts, which whenever they have any grievances, they don’t have an HR department, they have to take that to the head of school as well," she said.
A spokesperson for the Columbus Academy restated to Fox News the school's position on "attacks" leveled by parents. "Columbus Academy does not comment on the circumstances of any student or family. However, any parent who waged a public campaign of false and misleading statements and inflammatory attacks harmful to the employees, the reputation, or the financial stability of Columbus Academy would be in clear violation of the Enrollment Agreement and would be denied re-enrollment for the following school year," the spokesperson said.