The Oakwood Community for Strong Schools started on Facebook in the summer of 2021 with the merger of several groups started by Oakwood parents who realized we had common interests. We continue to maintain a presence on Facebook today. Please join in and let us know what topics are of interest to you and your family.
Oakwood Community for Strong Schools on Facebook
Join our e-mail list by sending a note through our Contact Us page.
The Oakwood Community for Strong Schools is seeking a community that encourages what is best for our children. Academic excellence is of critical importance, and also the ability to engage in the ideas of our time with depth and resilience. Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt’s book, the Coddling of the American Mind, dives into the challenges our culture faces and the social trends that are making conversations about debated topics more difficult.
The Coddling of the American Mind focuses in on three Great Untruths that are seeping into our culture: What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker; always trust your feelings; and life is a battle between good people and evil people. These untruths result in a culture of “safetyism” that impacts a young person’s social, emotional, and learning development, making life more difficult to navigate.
We want kids who grow up learning that overcoming challenges makes them stronger, who understand that our feelings can sometimes lead us astray and must be disciplined by reason, and that good people may sometimes disagree on prudential issues. This leads to a robust environment that embraces freedom of speech and debate of ideas. Oakwood is a community with diversity, and perhaps we can embrace this opportunity to help our city lead the way in crossing the political divide. Give The Coddling of the American Mind a read and let us know what you think!
Oakwood Community for Strong Schools was forged in the summer of 2021 as a response to the rising national interest in schools across the country. Whether it is advocacy for freedom of speech, a response to frustrating COVID policies, or pushing back against the most radical aspects of the culture wars, many parents wish to increase their engagement with their local schools.
Here in Oakwood, there continues to be a significant interest in interaction with our local Oakwood City Schools. In the last 18 months, including a hotly contested school board election, parents have expressed interest in greater financial transparency, better aid for children with learning disabilities, concerns over the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) program. These topics span the political right and left. Our group serves to engage the schools and bridge this divide, and we hope you will join us.
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