Macalester College’s education department has been included in Parents Defending Education’s list of “CorruptED” institutions. One of the most prominent liberal arts schools in Minnesota, Macalester College was one of 67 schools whose education departments, or schools of education, were on the aforementioned list.
Describing itself as a “national grassroots organization working to reclaim our schools from activists imposing harmful agendas,” Parents Defending Education seeks to oppose the politicization of public schools and prevent activists from influencing curriculum.
As such, the organization compiled a list of collegiate education departments whose curriculum includes “radical left-wing ideologies.” While the organization largely focuses on K-12 institutions, Parents Defending Education put the list together to shine a light on what future school teachers are being taught at colleges throughout the United States.
“At Parents Defending Education, we took a look at what America’s current and future K-12 educators are being taught in colleges of education across the country. This report highlights these findings from institutions of higher learning, ranging from small private colleges to large state institutions and elite universities,” writes Parents Defending Education.
In its report, the organization identified 67 “CorruptED Universities” and 170 courses that “instruct future teachers in ‘Wokeness’/Critical Theories.” Parents Defending Education noted that its report “is not exhaustive and will be updated over time.”
Additionally, the organization highlighted the types of left-wing ideologies that are being pushed by collegiate education programs. Macalester College, located in St. Paul, Minn., was among the institutions whose education department was scrutinized by Parents Defending Education.
According to Parents Defending Education, Macalester College’s education program featured a course for students called “EDUC 260: Critical Issues in Urban Education.” That course included discussion topics such as “Why is teaching so white?” Additionally, the course recommended that students read texts which included “Troubling Education: Queer Activism and Anti-oppressive Pedagogy” and “Youth Resistance Research and Theories of Change.”
“We will use critical theory to illuminate power dynamics embedded in educational systems,” the syllabus for the course reads.
Parents Defending Education’s complete report on the various collegiate education programs can be viewed here.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
