A married couple in the US made a brave decision. They quit their teaching jobs to start their own school.
They wanted to challenge the things kids learn that they believe are not true. Their school is called the Exodus Institute and it's in Florida.
US couple quit teaching jobs to establish their own school due to public schools' political teachings.
A married couple in the United States made the bold decision to resign from their teaching positions and embark on a new venture by establishing their own school.
Kali Fontanilla, who is 41 years old, and her husband Joshua, who is 42 years old, decided to start their own school.
They wanted to challenge the things kids are taught in regular schools that they think are not true.
Kali and Joshua were unhappy with how public schools were becoming too political. So, they started their own online school called the Exodus Institute in Florida.
They wanted to make a different kind of school that focuses on what they call "traditional American values."
They thought that topics like gender, race, and slavery were being taught in the wrong way and wanted to fix that.
Since its inception in May 2022, the Exodus Institute has experienced remarkable growth.
Starting with just one student, the school now boasts nearly 200 enrolled students across two distinct programs: a K-12 program and a supplementary "Young Patriots Academy."
Many conservatives are not happy with how schools are becoming more political. They think that school lessons are being influenced by political ideas.
Even Florida Governor Ron DeSantis supports laws to stop this trend. One of these laws is called the Stop WOKE act.
Joshua talked about the difficulties faced by people with conservative or traditional American values in public schools.
He said it's hard to stick to your own political beliefs without being forced to support liberal ideas.
Kali, who used to teach in California, talked about the problems she saw in public schools, especially after George Floyd's death.
She didn't feel comfortable with things like giving gifts based on race and being pressured to talk about personal pronouns.
Feeling more and more disappointed, Kali and Joshua decided to leave their teaching jobs and move to the East Coast.
They were inspired by Florida's efforts to protect traditional values in schools.
In October 2021, they started the Exodus Institute with the motto "Exit Public Education."
The school provides different classes for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. They teach subjects like math, science, French, and business.
The cost of attending the school ranges from $2,000 to $8,000 per year, and some parents can use vouchers to help with the expenses.
In addition to the K-12 program, the Exodus Institute provides the Young Patriots Academy, a supplementary course aimed at homeschooling parents.
The program costs $29 each month. It concentrates on important skills like critical thinking, writing, and reading.
It also aims to challenge what the school thinks are wrong ideas taught in public schools.
The program has more than 100 recorded lessons about various topics, including race, culture, and the American dream.
