A homeschool is under investigation for teaching racist, white supremacist, and pro-Nazi lessons.
After receiving accusations that a pro-Nazi group is operated by a couple living in Ohio, the education department of Ohio has announced that it is investigating the alleged usage of fascist materials by a home-schooling network.
The Anonymous Comrades Collective, a group of anti-fascist researchers, has uncovered information about an organization called Dissident Homeschool, which is alleged to be promoting pro-Nazi ideology through a Telegram channel with over 2,300 subscribers.
Ohio homeschool teaching racist, white supremacist, pro-Nazi lessons
According to The Washington Post, the leaders of the organization, who go by the names Mr. and Mrs. Saxon, have been identified by the Anonymous Comrades research team as Katja and Logan Lawrence from Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
In response to these findings, a state's education agency representative said they are aware of the reports and are currently conducting a review to determine if the organization is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
The material distributed by the homeschool network, as reported by the Anonymous Comrades Collective, contains extremist content, including Nazi ideology, white supremacist beliefs, and racist teachings.
To celebrate reaching 1,000 subscribers, the leaders posted a photo of young boys performing a Nazi salute, with "Mrs. Saxon" expressing her joy at the strong support for homeschooling among Nazi supporters and expressing a desire to turn children into "wonderful Nazis."
Ohio Homeschool by Mr. and Mrs. Saxon
The HuffPost reported that on November 5, 2021, "Mr. and Mrs. Saxon" appeared as guests on the neo-Nazi podcast "Achtung Amerikaner" to promote their new social media channel, Dissident Homeschool.
This channel is intended to provide resources for American parents homeschooling their children.
During the podcast, "Mrs. Saxon" stated their commitment to ensuring that the children being homeschooled become "wonderful Nazis."
They explained that they had spent years searching for and developing "Nazi-approved" material for their children. They now wanted to share these resources with others through the Dissident Homeschool channel.
The resources available on the channel include printable copy work assignments, such as quotes from Adolf Hitler, for children to practice writing in cursive.
The Ohio Department of Education is currently investigating the network in response to reports of parents using messages promoting white supremacy as educational resources.
However, as per CNN, the state's ability to intervene is limited, as while the state mandates certain subjects to be taught, it does not dictate the specific content of homeschooling.
Over the past year, the Dissident Homeschool channel has become a hub for like-minded fascists who see homeschooling as a means of regaining control for white people in America.
The possible downside of this teaching
Many commentators who are parents or even single individuals might not find this news extremely alarming. However, there can be a weighted negative impact to teaching racist, white supremacist, and pro- nazi lessons to young children.
It can have severe negative impacts on their development. These materials promote hateful and harmful ideologies that can lead to discriminatory behavior, prejudice, and intolerance toward others.
Children exposed to such materials at a young age may develop a skewed perspective of the world and grow up to hold racist or fascist beliefs. This can lead to a divide in society and contribute to social and political tensions.
Furthermore, these beliefs can result in discriminatory behavior towards marginalized communities, leading to physical and emotional harm.
