By Steve Thurston
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has grown from a niche academic concern to a dominant paradigm shaping schools, the criminal justice system, and government policy. DEI, in theory, seeks to correct historic injustices and create a fairer, more inclusive society. Instead it has led to failing schools, rising crime, and unchecked immigration.
Generations of struggling readers
Progressive reforms in education, with DEI at their core, have radically transformed curricula and teaching methods. Rather than prioritizing basic literacy and numeracy, many schools have embraced pedagogies that emphasize identity and representation above academic rigor.
The results are difficult to ignore: declining reading scores and students ill-prepared for the demands of the modern workforce. Three generations of Americans have now grappled with functional illiteracy, a crisis rooted not in lack of funding, but in an ideological shift that places social justice ahead of scholastic achievement.
Failing to teach students the rules of language has produced generations of students who will underachieve for their entire lives. The ranks of special education students are swollen with readers ‘disabled’ only by poor teaching methods. Prisons are full of people who cannot read above fourth grade level. The cost to society has been great and DEI supporters must take responsibility, however well-intentioned they believe themselves to be.
Communities must fend for themselves against crime
On city streets, the impact of DEI-driven criminal justice reforms is painfully clear. In the name of equity, jurisdictions across the country have relaxed prosecution, reduced policing, and championed alternatives to incarceration for repeat offenders.
The result? Many urban communities have seen a surge in crime, with repeat offenders cycling in and out of the system, emboldened by a lack of consequences. While the intention is to create a fairer system, the reality is often more dangerous neighborhoods and communities left to fend for themselves. We see the results of Progressive ideology in Burlington, where the mayor has begged the governor for help because crime is out of control.
Immigration without limits
Progressive policies informed by DEI have likewise transformed the country’s approach to immigration. Efforts to dismantle barriers and open doors to marginalized groups have resulted in a lack of oversight and enforcement at the nation’s borders.
“Uncontrolled illegal immigration” is not just a talking point; it has become a lived reality in many cities, straining public resources and sowing discord between established residents and newcomers. Unvetted immigrants might be less likely to commit crimes for fear of deportation, but those who come to this country with ill-will toward America pose real threats to public safety, as we have seen in the attack on two young National Guard members in Washington DC on Thanksgiving eve. Once again, the aspiration for inclusion and compassion collides with the practical need for order and security.
Is the trade-off worth it?
Advocates of DEI argue that these sacrifices are necessary to build a more just society. But for parents whose children can’t read, for children who have been denied the potential they were born with, for residents who fear to walk their neighborhoods, and for communities overwhelmed by new arrivals, and for the victims and their families who have experienced the wrath of violent unvetted immigrants, these changes feel less like progress and more like an abdication of common-sense governance. Are we willing to pay this price? Must the pursuit of equity always entail the erosion of standards, discipline, and borders?
Perhaps it is time to reconsider whether DEI, as currently implemented, delivers on its promises. A truly inclusive society need not sacrifice excellence, safety, or the rule of law. We must find a way to encourage the diversity that has made this country great without denying reality—and to ensure that the cost of progress is not borne disproportionately by the very people DEI seeks to help.
The author is an Addison County resident.