PragerU CEO Marissa Streit has voiced concerns that controversial educational theories, particularly the concept of "adultism," are being integrated into teacher training programs across the United States to challenge parental authority. Streit asserted in an interview with Fox News Digital that these programs, often presented under the umbrella of "ethnic studies," are actively being used to promote anti-capitalist and Marxist ideologies within American schools.
According to Streit, the term "adultism," which historically described age discrimination against children, is now being reframed in radical training materials. She argues this reframing portrays standard parental guidance on issues such as dress codes, relationships, or significant medical decisions as forms of oppression or tyranny. "[Ethnic studies] teaches the teacher to tell the student that the term adultism is a negative thing," Streit stated. "When an adult is behaving like an adult by telling their child that the child should not dress a certain way or have sex at an early age or even request sex or gender changes... the parent is engaging in adultism."
Streit cited a teacher training manual titled "Lessons In Liberation: An Abolitionist Toolkit for Educators," published by AK Press. She contends this book promotes concepts such as anti-capitalism, Critical Race Theory (CRT), and the rejection of adult authority, repackaging them as ethnic studies modules.
This alleged push against "adultism" is reportedly present in or endorsed by curriculum in over 22 states. A June report by the San Francisco Chronicle noted that ethnic studies workshops in local schools have faced significant controversy for promoting "adultism" as a form of oppression, citing training presentations that stated, "Due to systemic power dynamics inherently the relationship between students and educators is an oppressive one."
Streit also connected the opposition to "adultism" to ongoing political and legal disputes over parental notification policies in schools. These disputes have involved whether schools should inform parents about a student's gender transition or preferred name and pronouns. Streit pointed to a resolution by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) that she says opposes parental notification policies, aiming to protect students from "forced outing."
Streit suggested that dismantling parental authority is part of a broader strategy aligned with the platform of groups like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), with the ultimate goal of fundamentally transforming American institutions. She posited that this strategy involves eroding trust in established institutions and weakening bonds between families and communities, thereby creating an environment where individuals may seek alternative forms of governance.
Conservative education activists, including the group Defending Education, have also raised concerns about divisive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) ideologies appearing in district policies and teacher training, even after efforts by the Trump administration to curtail DEI in public institutions. A report by Defending Education allegedly found DEI principles integrated into teachers' unions' policies concerning artificial intelligence.
Fox News Digital reported that attempts to reach the Democratic Socialists of America, the American Federation of Teachers, and AK Press for comment did not immediately yield responses.