EdWatch

EdWatch, previously known as the Maple River Education Coalition, is a Minnesota-based Christian conservative activist group for education arguing for reforms in line with their moral and religious beliefs.

Positions

The group (which has been labelled "a religious conservative think tank") coalesced with one of its main goals being overturning Minnesota's previous education standards the Profile of Learning.

Edwatch also advocates equal time for Intelligent design in Science classes and objects to History Classes using BCE & CE (Before Common Era & Common Era) instead of BC & AD (Before Christ & anno Domini - "In the year of our Lord")

EdWatch represents the belief among some Christian conservatives that aspects of the Profiles and the School-to-Work programs are attacks on their faith. An example of such are the lectures of Michael J. Chapman, a member of EdWatch's Board of Directors.

Chapman spoke of the Profiles as against Christianity, “Our children - the citizens, voters, and leaders of tomorrow, are being prepared to accept a future new society incompatible with America's founding principles and our founder’s Christian worldview…secular humanism and postmodernism redefined the focus and purpose of education away from 'knowledge' for the maintenance of freedom; to 'politically-correct attitudes, values, and beliefs' for the transformation of society.”

Edwatch has often worked closely with Michele Bachmann and they have supported her at every stage of her political career.