Staff Reports
In a world where the pendulum of political ideology swings wildly from one extreme to another, Akash Patel found himself navigating the choppy waters of education politics. Once a self-identified center-left educator and a college instructor, Patel has transitioned to a staunch supporter of center-right ideals, and he credits this change to a distressing turn of events during his tenure as the president of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. His experience serves as a striking example of how far the education system has strayed from its original mission, and he shared his story during a recent gathering to discuss the influence of ideology in academia.
Patel drove an impressive hour and a half from Norman to share his insights with a group that included influential figures like the FBI director. He recounted how his leadership role became a battleground for ideological warfare. Upon being elected president, Patel was immediately faced with a situation that highlighted the increasing “wokeness” permeating educational organizations. He was tasked with dealing with a board composed primarily of members holding leftist views who were focused on canceling a contract with a small Mormon business that provided textbooks. The reason? The founder of the business had made a donation against gay marriage many years ago. Such an approach reeks of hypocrisy, as these same individuals champion the cause against book banning.
The culmination of events didn’t stop with textbook contracts. Patel faced backlash when he stood up against what he termed as ideological indoctrination. Stripped of his presidency, he fought back with determination and integrity, ultimately demanding the resignation of the executive director who was pulling the strings while earning a staggering $400,000 a year. This individual was pushing agendas devoid of intellectual diversity, leaving educators like Patel feeling marginalized in institutions designed to foster free thought and open discourse.
Patel described a broader issue affecting nonprofit organizations across the nation, emphasizing that millions in government funding are allocated to institutions promoting radical leftist ideologies. Adding a dash of humor to his passionate talk, he cleverly suggested that there should be a “Name and Shame” initiative to hold these organizations accountable for their extremist views. He unwaveringly supports former President Trump’s efforts to strip funding from colleges that refuse to welcome diverse perspectives. This move, as Patel argues, would encourage a richer dialogue and provide a safe space for all viewpoints, not just the approved narratives.
Wrapping up his heartfelt plea, Patel pointed out that recently, his former organization pushed a controversial policy denying convention contracts to centers located in cities with anti-trans legislation. Once again, politics seeped into every crevice of education, leaving many to wonder how this would affect educators dedicated to teaching languages in an unbiased classroom setting.
The courageous words from Patel are a call to action for conservatives everywhere. It encourages them to be vigilant about the ideologies seeping into various sectors of society, especially the education system. There’s much to do, and as Patel showed through his determination and dedication to restoration, every voice matters. It’s time to engage, hold discussions, and make a stand for the principles that have shaped the nation. The landscape of education should reflect a variety of ideas, not just the loudest voices in the room.
