Uphold Democracy, Defend Education

Democracy is under threat. With censorship growing increasingly intense in schools and libraries, large-scale defunding in the education system, and a push to implement religiously biased curricula in public schools, our students are losing access to an unbiased and free education. 

In the US, the Trump Administration has announced its plan to dismantle the Department of Education. Meanwhile, individual state laws such as Florida's “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which is responsible for the firing of teachers for including any mention of LGBTQ+ people and topics in their K-3 lesson plans, directly attack the rights of students and teachers. In higher education, student protestors are being aggressively targeted by the police and the government. International students are being deported for exercising the right to free speech that they received when arriving here. 

These issues aren’t limited to the US either. A law was recently passed in Alberta, Canada that requires any LGBTQ+ educational materials to be approved by the Education Ministry before they can be used in classes and requires parents to be notified if students wish to use a chosen name in school. 

Support The Pearl as we work to create a space where students can learn about the importance of protecting their voice and becoming informed and active members in their communities.

We encourage our students to engage with topics that are personally and culturally relevant and give them the autonomy to take control of what they want to learn. Students study current events, as well as Critical Race Theory, Queer Theory, and the histories of Indigenous peoples and People of Color. They are encouraged to speak up for what they believe, question what they know, and become active members of their communities. With your support, we can reach more students and teachers, grow The Pearl, and provide access to fair and comprehensive education for students who cannot access it through public schools.