The problem with our nation’s schools today is not just the low-test scores in basic reading and math—which are an obstacle for the economy, not to mention students’ futures. The challenge is that K-12 instruction has been hijacked by Critical Theorists who are “skeptical” of representative government and the freedoms we cherish.

The debates over the retelling of America’s past, on display in local school board meetings as well as conflicts between the New York Times’ 1619 Project and President Donald Trump’s 1776 Commission, involve not just historical facts, but how Americans define their nation. This battle over our national identity is a cultural battle, involving schools—cultural institutions—and the ideas we all need to share to get along with our neighbors, raise families, and pursue the American Dream.

We can all agree that some Americans of prior generations failed to live up to the national promise of freedom and opportunity for everyone regardless of skin color. But teaching our children—the next generation of neighbors, co-workers, teachers, and policymakers—that their race is more important than anything else is a recipe for disaster. We must help our children understand what it means to have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and that these opportunities should be available to everyone, no matter the color of their skin.