Parents as Stakeholders in Education and Defending the Constitutional Republic

On Friday, August 26, 2022, Kim Monson welcomes two guests who share a common theme: the importance of civic engagement and accountability. Featured author Allen Thomas presents his essay “The Stakeholder in Education,” while retired U.S. Army Major General Joe Arbuckle sounds the alarm on domestic and foreign threats to the constitutional republic.

The Stakeholder Role in Education

Start listening at 04:00 – Hour 1

Allen Thomas challenges conservatives to move beyond opposition and articulate what they support in education. His essay “The Stakeholder in Education” argues that parents must reclaim their rightful position as primary stakeholders in their children’s education, not passive observers deferring to educational bureaucrats.

Thomas traces how progressive ideology has infiltrated K-12 schools over decades, transforming them into “higher education feeder schools” focused on college preparation rather than practical life skills. He advocates for vocational training, job shadowing, and curricula that prepare students for real-world success. The discussion touches on the Douglas County School Board mill levy override proposal, with Thomas and Kim expressing frustration that newly-elected conservative board members are pushing tax increases while excluding state-authorized charter schools like Ascent from funding.

Thomas emphasizes that parents must play the long game, working to flip school boards and influence curriculum decisions over time. He notes that progressives took decades to infiltrate educational institutions, and conservatives should expect a similar timeline to restore parental authority and academic fundamentals.

“We as parents need to make these politicians, these bureaucrats, these teachers and teachers unions understand we are stakeholders and we will be stakeholders for our kids’ lives and we have our kids’ best interests at heart.”

Allen Thomas, Featured Author

Defending the Constitutional Republic

Start listening at 69:06 – Hour 2

Major General Joe Arbuckle (Ret.) outlines the cascading crises threatening America’s constitutional foundations. The retired Army strategist catalogs domestic failures from energy dependence to open borders to inflation, warning that without election integrity and rule of law, the constitutional republic cannot survive.

Arbuckle describes his involvement with Flag Officers 4 America, a group of over 220 retired generals and admirals who signed an open letter warning about the nation’s direction. A new letter is being drafted to address the accelerating pace of harmful policies. The organization’s Citizens Action Plan prioritizes education reform, political engagement at all levels, law enforcement support, and media accountability.

The discussion turns to leadership philosophy, with Arbuckle defining it as “the ability to motivate others to accomplish a certain task” through example rather than fear. He references Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” to explain how adversaries are using psychological warfare and infiltration to undermine American institutions from within. Arbuckle concludes by emphasizing that recovery requires both grassroots action and divine intervention through prayer.

“We’re not going to get out of this without some divine intervention. And so we need to be praying for help to get our country back on the right track.”

Major General Joe Arbuckle (Ret.), Flag Officers 4 America