'Children Belong to the Parents': Texas Education Board Member Julie Pickren

Texas State Board of Education member Julie Pickren outlines the two schools of thought on child "ownership": parents or government.
Published: 6/14/2026, 10:18:15 PM EDT
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Texas State Board of Education member Julie Pickren outlines the two schools of thought on child "ownership": parents or government.

Julie shares her experience in Texas, where she chaired the Parental Rights Committee, resulting in a 75-page document codifying parental rights into law.

She also shares her perspective on the federal government's role in education, arguing that the U.S. Department of Education primarily functions as a funding mechanism rather than an educational institution. She discusses proposals to redistribute education-related responsibilities to agencies such as Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice, and explains why she believes this restructuring would improve services for students, parents, and communities.