Nightly Scroll with Hayley - Episode 35: Protecting Kids From WOKE Ideology in School

Release Date: April 25, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 35 of Nightly Scroll with Hayley, host Hayley Caronia tackles a pressing and controversial topic: the infiltration of "woke" ideology within American schools and its impact on children. The episode delves into instances of forced medical treatments without parental consent, the role of mental health programs in promoting specific agendas, and the broader implications for American families and education systems.

1. The Tanner Smith Case and Legal Implications (01:00 - 03:36)

Hayley Caronia opens the discussion by recounting the alarming case of Tanner Smith, a 14-year-old North Carolina high school student who was administered the COVID-19 vaccine at school without parental consent. Despite attempts to contact his mother, the school proceeded with the vaccination. This act has spurred legal action, with Tanner's family suing the school board and the associated clinic for violating constitutional rights.

• Notable Quote:
  • "The North Carolina Supreme Court sided with the family allowing them to go through with the lawsuit." [H:C, 02:15]

Chief Justice Paul Newby's ruling emphasized parental rights over children's medical treatments, citing the right to control a child's upbringing and the authority of competent individuals to refuse non-mandatory medical interventions.

Hayley highlights that such incidents are not isolated, pointing out similar cases across various states that are often dismissed or downplayed by mainstream media through fact-checks and misinformation.

2. Introducing Alvin Louie and the Mission of Courage is a Habit (04:26 - 05:12)

To provide deeper insights, Hayley welcomes Alvin Louie, the president of Courage is a Habit, an organization dedicated to equipping parents and legislators with strategies to safeguard children's innocence against governmental and ideological overreach.

• Notable Quote:
  • "We often say when it comes to the indoctrination of government K12, it doesn't matter if you're in a red or blue state, it is equally present." [A:L, 07:50]

Alvin shares his personal journey from California to the Midwest, citing California as a "crystal ball" reflecting national trends in policies related to open borders, transgender issues, and other contentious topics. His relocation to Indiana was motivated by a desire to protect his children from the pervasive influences he witnessed in California's education system.

3. Indoctrination through Mental Health Programs and School-Based Clinics (05:12 - 16:41)

Alvin Louie discusses how mental health initiatives, specifically Social Emotional Learning (SEL), have been co-opted to introduce and normalize woke ideologies in schools. Programs intended to teach empathy and emotional management are, according to Louie, gateways to promoting critical race theory, transgender ideology, and other progressive agendas.

• Notable Quotes:
  • "If you're teaching empathy through your grandmother's lens, that's very different than someone who believes that America's racist, oppressive." [A:L, 08:07]
  • "These medical clinics can give invasive IUDs to the girls." [A:L, 12:55]

He further explains the establishment of school-based health clinics that dispense not only standard medical care but also gender-affirming treatments without parental consent. These clinics often justify their actions by labeling dissenting parents as "abusive and unsafe," thereby bypassing traditional parental oversight.

Hayley references specific incidents, such as a Maine father's discovery of his daughter's Zoloft in her school bag, which led to Child Protective Services (CPS) labeling him as abusive for questioning the school's actions.

• Notable Quote:
  • "We're trained. Everything in the ecosystem of government K12 is designed to separate the children from their parents." [A:L, 07:55]

4. The Dark Future: Detransitioners and Mental Health Crisis (17:29 - 23:53)

The conversation shifts to the long-term consequences of enforced gender transitions on minors. Alvin Louie predicts a surge in mental health crises and suicides among those who undergo such treatments, emphasizing the irreversible nature of medical decisions like cross-sex hormones and surgeries.

• Notable Quotes:
  • "There's going to be a lot of mass suicides from these kids." [A:L, 22:01]
  • "Detransitioners are hugely courageous because they're screaming from the rooftops about what's happening." [A:L, 23:26]

He draws parallels between gender-affirming treatments and grooming tactics, suggesting that early medical interventions are part of a broader agenda to exploit and control vulnerable youth.

5. Funding and Expansion of School-Based Clinics (30:44 - 33:14)

Alvin explains that these school-based clinics are funded primarily through taxpayer money, leveraging federal funds such as those from the Department of Education and Health and Human Services. He criticizes the use of funds from the American Rescue Recovery Act (intended for COVID relief) to establish these clinics, thereby circumventing parental consent and financial transparency.

• Notable Quote:
  • "They're using federal funding to stand up these clinics... so literally everyone's paying for it." [A:L, 32:39]

Additionally, he warns that local taxpayers will eventually bear the financial burden as initial federal funding wanes, leading to proposed tax increases under misleading pretenses.

6. Restorative Justice and Its Impact on Schools and Communities (33:37 - 35:40)

The discussion moves to restorative justice policies implemented in schools, a framework introduced during the Obama administration meant to replace zero-tolerance disciplinary actions. Alvin Louie argues that restorative justice has led to increased violence and a decline in teacher retention, contrary to official claims of improved school environments.

• Notable Quote:
  • "Before restorative justice, it was zero tolerance. After restorative justice, expulsions and suspensions have gone down because they're not doing it anymore." [A:L, 35:40]

He contends that these policies have inadvertently created more violent and troubled students, contributing to broader societal issues like increased crime in communities where restorative justice is prevalent.

7. Strategies for Parental Protection and Organizational Resources (37:27 - 39:37)

In the concluding segment, Alvin Louie provides actionable steps for parents to protect their children from unwanted ideological indoctrination and medical interventions:

1. Opt-Out of Mental Health Professional Interactions:

   • Parents can find opt-out forms on the Courage is a Habit website to prevent their children from being mandated to meet with school counselors and mental health professionals.

2. Opt-Out of SEL Surveys:

   • By declining participation in SEL data collection, parents can hinder the manipulation of data used to justify further indoctrination.

• Notable Quote:
  • "If you do nothing else, opt them out of meeting with the health, mental health professionals and then opt them out of the SEL surveys." [A:L, 38:09]

Hayley emphasizes the importance of these measures, highlighting the vulnerability of children and the necessity for parental vigilance. Alvin directs listeners to courageisahabit.org for comprehensive resources, tools, and strategies tailored to empower parents and legislators.

Conclusion

Episode 35 of Nightly Scroll serves as a clarion call to parents and concerned citizens to recognize and combat the subtle yet pervasive infiltration of progressive ideologies in the American education system. Through the expert insights of Alvin Louie and real-world examples, Hayley Caronia underscores the urgent need for parental involvement and awareness to safeguard the innocence and well-being of children amidst escalating cultural wars.

For more resources and to get involved, parents are encouraged to visit courageisahabit.org and engage with the tools and strategies provided to protect their children effectively.

End of Summary