This article supplied by Troy Media.

By Lee Harding

Parents are ditching progressive education in favour of Christian schools that focus on strong academics and traditional values

Progressive ideologies have reshaped Canadian education, prompting many parents to seek alternatives that align with their values. As gender
ideology and critical race theory become more prominent in schools, organizations like Teach Beyond and the Canadian Christian Education
Movement (CCEM) are working to provide faith based options. But without government support, parental choice remains limited.

For decades, education in Canada has followed a leftward shift rooted in cultural Marxism, a concept introduced by Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci. He argued that cultural institutions—schools, media and churches—must be taken over to reshape society, a strategy known as the “long march through the institutions.” This influence is evident today, particularly in public education.

Schools, once focused primarily on academics and traditional values, have become ideological battlegrounds. Parents increasingly voice concerns about curricula that introduce complex social theories on gender and race at early ages. Many believe these teachings reflect political activism rather than balanced education. As a result, some families are looking for schools that emphasize moral clarity, strong academics and values rooted in faith.

In response to their concerns, Teach Beyond and CCEM are establishing Christian-based education programs as alternatives. Teach Beyond,
founded 70 years ago by Saskatchewan resident Leo Janz, has expanded to 82 countries, supporting thousands of teachers and learners. CCEM, led by Greg Needham, has helped about 40 churches in five provinces start schools in response to growing parental concerns.

Needham says he regularly hears from Christian leaders and laypeople that they’ve long wanted to get involved in education but lacked the capacity, clarity or the right people to make it happen.

CCEM provides the guidance needed to turn interest into sustainable schooling, helping communities launch micro-schools, homeschool networks and collaborative learning spaces. These alternatives allow parents to place their children in learning environments that align with their beliefs, which research suggests can significantly boost academic outcomes.

“We want to make sure that pastors have all the authority, but none of the work,” Needham adds. Many churches use only “15 to 25 per cent of their space,” presenting an opportunity for educational programs tailored to families’ values.

Despite the demand, launching independent schools comes with challenges. One of the biggest obstacles is finding qualified teachers willing to embrace a faith based curriculum. “The government and teachers’ federations have a stranglehold on bachelor of education degrees,” Needham explains. Prospective teachers often face intense ideological pressures in certification programs, which discourages those who hold traditional values. Some educators ultimately leave the profession, exacerbating shortages in both public and private schooling.

To address this issue, CCEM hopes to collaborate with universities to establish alternative teacher certification pathways. These would allow educators to bypass rigid ideological gatekeeping and qualify to teach in independent schools without conforming to progressive academic mandates.

Government policies also play a role in the viability of Christian education. Some provinces, like Manitoba, are more receptive, while others pose bureaucratic challenges. Taxpayer support for Christian schools varies widely, with some provinces providing partial funding while others offer little to no assistance. CCEM is working to ensure financial models minimize barriers, focusing on private donations to relieve financial strain on families who want faith-based education.

To expand its reach, CCEM has partnered with “25 like-minded groups, including homeschool associations, legal defence organizations and Christian educational institutions.” Their goal is not to replace public schools but to give parents real alternatives. As concerns about public education grow, these partnerships help strengthen independent schools and provide essential legal and operational support.

Education shapes society, and those concerned about preserving Western traditions should pay attention to what happens in schools. The current
education system increasingly favours ideological indoctrination over balanced teaching, making parental choice more important than ever. Some teachers see it as their “obligation and moral call to put a different value set in children than held by their parents, that they may create a new society.”

Teachers’ unions and education faculties show little sign of reversing course, but change is possible if parents have access to viable, affordable options.

Governments should support parental choice by funding independent schools and reforming teacher certification processes. These steps would ensure families have access to schools that reflect their values rather than forcing them into a one-size-fits-all education system.

Education reform requires leadership and vision. Without bold action, Canada risks drifting further from its foundational values. Reversing the long march through the institutions is possible if governments give parents meaningful alternatives to the ideological shifts in public schools.

Lee Harding is a Research Fellow for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy

Troy Media empowers Canadian community news outlets by providing independent, insightful analysis and commentary. Our mission is to support local media in helping Canadians stay informed and engaged by delivering reliable content that strengthens community connections and deepens understanding across the country.

President Trump hailed the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing the continued dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and the return of its authority and functions to individual states, “a Major Victory to Parents and Students across the Country.”

In a decision issued on Monday, the high court blocked an order by a federal judge in Massachusetts that would require the Department of Education to reinstate nearly 1,400 employees who had been terminated by the Trump administration in March. 

“The United States Supreme Court has handed a Major Victory to Parents and Students across the Country, by declaring the Trump Administration may proceed on returning the functions of the Department of Education BACK TO THE STATES,” wrote the president on Truth Social.

“Now, with this GREAT Supreme Court Decision, our Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, may begin this very important process,” said Trump. “The Federal Government has been running our Education System into the ground, but we are going to turn it all around by giving the Power back to the PEOPLE.”

“America’s Students will be the best, brightest, and most Highly Educated anywhere in the World. Thank you to the United States Supreme Court!” added the president.

“Today, the Supreme Court again confirmed the obvious: the President of the United States, as the head of the Executive Branch, has the ultimate authority to make decisions about staffing levels, administrative organization, and day-to-day operations of federal agencies,” noted Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon. “While today’s ruling is a significant win for students and families, it is a shame that the highest court in the land had to step in to allow President Trump to advance the reforms Americans elected him to deliver using the authorities granted to him by the U.S. Constitution.”

“The U.S. Department of Education will now deliver on its mandate to restore excellence in American education,” explained McMahon. “We will carry out the reduction in force to promote efficiency and accountability and to ensure resources are directed where they matter most – to students, parents, and teachers. As we return education to the states, this Administration will continue to perform all statutory duties while empowering families and teachers by reducing education bureaucracy.”

When leftist Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren took to X to decry the court’s decision and attempted to take the moral high ground by saying, “Every kid in America deserves access to a good public education,” Sec. McMahon used a deft bit of jujitsu to respond.

“I couldn’t agree more,” said McMahon, “and that’s why we need to return education to the states.”

Sen. Warren wasn’t the only one issuing hyperbolic prophesies of disaster following the court’s decision.

“Trump and his allies” are taking “a wrecking ball to public schools and the futures of the 50 million students in rural, suburban, and urban communities across America,” asserted Becky Pringle, president of the nation’s largest teachers’ union, the National Education Association.

In her written dissent, in which she was joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor predicted nothing short of disaster.

The majority’s decision “will unleash untold harm, delaying or denying educational opportunities and leaving students to suffer from discrimination, sexual assault, and other civil rights violations without the federal resources Congress intended.”

“The Supreme Court has handed Trump one victory after another in his effort to remake the federal government, after lower courts have found the administration’s actions probably violate federal law,” lamented a report by the Associated Press. “Last week, the justices cleared the way for Trump’s plan to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce. On the education front, the high court has previously allowed cuts in teacher-training grants to go forward.”