Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith accused leadership at Valparaiso Community Schools of being “woke” in social media posts April 18 and 19 after its superintendent apologized for the way the school handled Beckwith’s visit during a career fair.
The incident is the latest in a wave of conservative criticism of public education. Schools across the nation have experienced funding cuts, increased government scrutiny and political attacks that claim teachers are indoctrinating students, even as a comprehensive review of the issue, at least in history education, found the claim to be untrue.
Valparaiso High School hosted Beckwith, a self-proclaimed Christian nationalist whose tenure in Indiana government has been marred by controversy, as one of the keynote speakers for its career fair April 17. Though Beckwith spoke only about his professional background and Indiana business during his official remarks, VCS Superintendent Jim McCall wrote in a Facebook post April 18, some students were offended by individual conversations with the lieutenant governor after his speech.
“Our schools are not a platform for any political agenda,” McCall wrote, “and every student deserves to feel respected and welcome here.”
He also promised to “vet outside speakers” with more care in the future.
But McCall’s apology to the district’s parents sparked criticism from Beckwith, who is now demanding the superintendent resign. McCall announced in March that he had plans to leave the district July 1.
“This is exactly what’s wrong with our WOKE education system,” Beckwith wrote on social media April 19. “Schools should be places where students are challenged… not coddled. Where they learn to think… not be shielded from ideas they disagree with. Unfortunately more and more school leaders like Jim are AFRAID of engaging in real education.”
In his post, Beckwith described the majority of his conversations with students as productive but said a small group of students approached him to disagree with some of his views. Beckwith said he welcomed the conversation.
Beckwith’s appearance also came as a surprise to many students and parents, as VCS planned it to be a reveal. Students were also kept inside the auditorium after Beckwith’s speech because a “scheduling gap” meant the career fair vendors weren’t immediately ready, McCall wrote.
McCall also noted that before Beckwith spoke, he was introduced with his official biography, which included political phrases like “fighting the woke agenda.”
In his social media post, Beckwith said McCall’s apology would have a chilling effect on conservative students and criticized the district for allowing students to walk out for a protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The protest at VCS was one of several that occurred at public school districts in Indiana, and while students are not protected from discipline for participating in a walkout, schools are not required to punish them.
The focus on public schools also coincides with Gov. Mike Braun’s statewide push to expand Turning Point USA chapters in Indiana schools.
Contact breaking politics reporter Marissa Meador at mmeador@indystar.com or find her on X at @marissa_meador.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Beckwith calls Valparaiso Community Schools ‘woke’ after controversial visit
Reporting by Marissa Meador, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
