Reports emerged this week that the Ohio Department of Education is investigating an “overtly anti-Semitic and racist” online homeschooling network that hosts Nazi-related resources.
An education official told CNN that the homeschooling group has more than 3,000 members who share content and lesson plans through the social media platform. According to reports, “many of the racist, anti-Semitic, pro-Nazi and homophobic posts date back to the group’s inception in October 2021.”
Currently, the state Department of Education reviews compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements for homeschooled students, which include 900 hours of instruction per year, informing superintendents that they want to homeschool their children and providing grades on the student’s work. The state Department of Education does not review or approve the curriculum.
According to Nov 8A “Nazi” homeschooling group was started by a couple from Upper Sandusky, Ohio. The pair reportedly uses the Telegram platform to communicate with their members and uses the nicknames “Mr. Saxon” and “Mrs. Sas.” VICE News was the first to report the group’s existence.
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, who represents the district where the couple lives, called on authorities to investigate the homeschool network.
“Hate and bigotry in any form have absolutely no place in America,” he said in a statement.
And state Republican Riordan McClain, who represents Upper Sandusky, told Fox 8 he will “continue to investigate” the “veracity” of reports about the homeschooling group.
“I have lived in and around Upper Sandusky my entire life and can say with complete certainty that the actions described in the recent article are not representative of our community or home educators across the state of Ohio,” McClain said in a statement.
“I condemn the details described in this article regarding teachings of a Nazi nature. “Any curriculum based on racial superiority should be unthinkable,” he added. “The article details a recently naturalized Dutch citizen and her local husband who have organized an international online community promoting racial hatred and ideals that we should all condemn.”
In a statement to CNN, Stephanie Siddens, Ohio’s interim superintendent of public instruction, said she was “outraged and saddened” by the reports.
“Hateful, divisive and harmful teaching has absolutely no place in Ohio schools, including the homeschooling community. “I firmly and categorically condemn the racist, anti-Semitic and fascist ideology and materials disseminated as reported in recent media reports,” she said.
