PragerU CEO myth-busts curricula concerns in South Carolina

After the announcement that PragerU Kids materials would be available in South Carolina schools ignited controversy last week, CEO Marissa Streit spoke to The Lion to dispel myths about the organization’s educational initiative.

Conservative-leaning PragerU has created videos and other materials it describes as “grounded in traditional American values that inspire self-reliance, patriotism, and resiliency while teaching foundational knowledge in subjects ranging from civics to financial literacy.”

But the liberal ACLU of South Carolina claimed online the curricula amounts to “indoctrination.”

Streit says PragerU is simply standing for the truth and teaching it to kids.

“If indoctrination and inculcation [are] the same thing as standing for truth and teaching it, then I stand by the important concept of having the ability to teach children a certain doctrine,” she told The Lion. “The doctrine that America stands upon, the doctrine of truth, of what American values are, the doctrine of truth, of what American history is, the doctrine of truth, of what American civics are about, what the Constitution is about.” 

In fact, every school indoctrinates. 

“If it’s to teach a doctrine and to inculcate education into young Americans, then every educational institution does that,” Streit says. “The left has had such a stronghold over our education system that when a different perspective is trying to come in as an option, as a free option, they freak out.” 

South Carolina currently ranks No. 42 among states in education, according to the U.S. News and World Report, and the SCDE provided a statement to The Lion from Superintendent Weaver saying that “only 44% of South Carolina high schoolers earned a passing grade,” for the U.S. History End of Course exam scores from last year. 

Streit drew comparisons between South Carolina and Florida which currently ranks No. 1 in education and was the first state to introduce PragerU Kids into schools. She explained how a “partnership with PragerU is an example that there is brave educational leadership that is willing to go against the biggest bullies in schools and do what’s right for the children.” 

PragerU is also pro-parent. 

“What PragerU is doing, first and foremost, is encouraging parents and infusing some bravery into them so that they know that they should and can protect their children against these flawed, evil ideologies,” Streit says.  

The SCDE also defended its decision, pointing out that the PragerU materials are simply one more pre-approved, cost-free resource schools can use to improve instruction. 

“SCDE routinely offers various materials and trainings to Districts that do not require approval by the State Board of Education,” the SCDE told The Lion in a statement. “The goal: to provide a level playing field for all Districts to access materials they might otherwise not have the resources or bandwidth to provide. This partnership is the latest in a newly formed Palmetto Civics Project, an initiative to provide a wide variety of high-quality, standards-aligned civics resources at no cost to local districts.” 

Dawn Pierce, the chairwoman of Moms for Liberty, Lexington County, told The Lion that PragerU is a “great way to add support to all children’s curriculum.” She also expressed concerns about how low the test scores in South Carolina’s public schools are, especially in her county. 

“I’m delighted to have more content to offer to my child. I am thankful that Ellen Weaver has decided to partner with PragerU,” Pierce said.