The Right's Public-School Campaign 1992-1993

By Liz Galst

March/April 1994 Issue

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(From a report compiled by People for the American Way.)

Two-thirds of the religious-right's 56 candidates won in San Diego in 1990. In 1992, that number was down to one-third, largely because of organized opposition.
In Kirkwood, Mo., one candidate explained that homosexuals "can't produce children. They're like parasites."
In New York City, the Christian Coalition campaigned for 288 seats on 32 boards. During the election, they denied fielding candidates but declared victory when 66 won.
In Lake County, Fla., the new board proposed that American culture be taught as "superior to other foreign or historic cultures."

This map [to come --JBT] is far from exhaustive since stealth campaigning makes tracking difficult. (Citizens for Excellence in Education claims that more than 6,000 of its members were elected in 1993, but the group won't provide names or locations.) Still, certain trends are clear:

Religious-right candidates are running for school boards nationwide, not just in Bible Belt pockets.
They're successful. One-third of last year's candidates won.
Their strategies are developed and nurtured by national groups.
They make a deliberate effort to obscure their views and affiliations.

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