Education is clearly key to a child’s future. Unless a parent homeschools, there has to be a very high level of trust that a child is being well-taught at school, but we are seeing increasing reports of political indoctrination. Yesterday, Baltimore Public Schools issued a press release that should have parents concerned.

The statement is entitled Statement on Current Unrest in Baltimore City. “Unrest” is, of course, an understatement, and it doesn’t get better from there. It talks of providing counselors for students and having staff on-site to escort children safely from bus stops to school, measures surely motivated by more than mere “unrest.”

It begins, “We are also communicating with each one of our school leaders around effective instructional strategies to heighten student awareness and understanding of social justice issues.” Let’s start by looking at the term “social justice.” On the face, it would seem to mean simply justice across society, a way to provide equality before the law for all. If that is what they meant, this would, of course, be a welcome lesson in schools. In practice, however, that is rarely what is meant by the term “social justice.”

As Jonathan Witt, The Stream’s managing editor, has noted, “Often the popular call for ‘social justice’ boils down to an ill-conceived call for coercive wealth transfers.” Or as Acton Institute’s Dylan Pahman wrote, “The problem with including issues of race, gender, sexuality, the environment, economics and so on under social justice is certainly not that these issues somehow fall outside of society or the reach of justice. Disagreements arise, rather, when it comes to determining who has a duty to whom, concerning what, and by what means one most prudently fulfill those duties.”

Liberals have wrapped much of their government growth agenda into the term “social justice” in an attempt to render it unassailable. I mean who could be opposed to justice in a society? In reality,  the “social justice” agenda largely consists of blame, envy and dependency, which is a big part of how many of our communities have gotten as dysfunctional as they have.

To see how the term is really used, just search for the term on Twitter. Here is a sample of what you might find:

It’s a fact: Our justice system unfairly targets people of color. Help end mass incarceration. https://t.co/Pe0z06gBOK

— ACLU (@ACLU) April 14, 2015

Wealth distribution in action #socialjustice in ELP @giannahelling #mathschat pic.twitter.com/EA7nVWPU1r

— Mrs. Marques (@MsSilvie) April 29, 2015

Slavery / Oppression / Exploitation is wrong no matter what species! #farm365 #socialjustice #foodie #speciesism pic.twitter.com/OPGn8oejvA

— Farm365 Ⓥ (@FarmVoice365) April 21, 2015

Social Justice is the socialism of the 1%.

— St. Rev. Dr. Rev (@St_Rev) April 21, 2015

@NeilJIrving24 not a jealous or wishful bone in me – social justice is required and redistribution of wealth needed.

— Wreck The Hoose (@WreckTheHoose) April 26, 2015

Policies for change, social justice & a move forwards to redistribution of wealth if we win.#snpmanifesto

— Robert Buntin (@BuntinRobert) April 20, 2015

Given how the term “social justice” is really applied, does it make sense to spend tax money on it? While schools should not hide true injustices from civics and history students, it also shouldn’t push doubtful and highly partisan leftwing agendas under the guise of teaching justice.