Americans are diverse – ethnically, religiously, ideologically – but all must pay for public schools.
The intention behind this arrangement is largely good: to bring people together and foster social harmony. But rather than build bonds, public schooling often forces people into conflict. Be they over budgets, math curricula, school start times, or myriad other matters, everyone is probably familiar with divisive public schooling battles.
This map aggregates a relatively small, but especially painful, subset of such battles: those pitting educational effectiveness, basic rights, moral values, or individual identities against each other. Think creationism versus evolution, or assigned readings containing racial slurs. They are often intensely personal, and guarantee if one fundamental value wins, another loses.
It is hoped that this site will begin an open and honest discussion about the social effects of public schools. It will also, hopefully, become a tool for people in communities embroiled in values-based controversies to find others who have suffered similar bouts. Finally, it should illustrate that such controversies are often not just one side against another, but are symptomatic of a system that forces conflict between good, but different, people.
How to use this map:
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