"Schools as a Key Battleground" – Meeting with Tina Descovich from Moms for Liberty (USA)

Ordo Iuris

• The event, organized by the Ordo Iuris Institute on March 4 in Warsaw, was attended by representatives of the Coalition for the Salvation of Polish Schools (KROPS).

• Uniting parents, informing them about threats, advocating for the restoration of parental rights in school councils and local governments, and influencing legislation and politicians are Moms for Liberty’s priorities.

• The experience of the American organization holds particular significance for Polish parents and teachers at a time when the current Polish government is pushing the leftist agenda in schools.

• A day before the event, Tina Descovich, along with representatives of Ordo Iuris, the Center for Life and Family, and KROPS, participated in a panel discussion on the Polish left-liberal government's new sex education program during the European Congress of Local Governments.

Tina Descovich’s Visit to Poland

Tina Descovich, who has Polish roots, is a wife and mother of five. She visited Poland to share her experiences in building an organization that unites, educates, and empowers parents—especially mothers—to defend their fundamental right to raise their children. Her organization also supports students in American schools.

Moms for Liberty is composed of 85% women—mostly mothers—but also includes fathers and grandparents who care about the well-being of children and the future of the United States.

The Expansion of Gender Ideology

Moms for Liberty was founded in response to the increasing interference of public schools in parental rights—such as making decisions about children behind parents’ backs. Over five years, the organization has grown to 340 chapters across 48 states, rallying 130,000 members in the fight for freedom.

“Our vision is that America is thriving in a culture of liberty. And what I’m learning by being here in Poland is that it’s not just America. The Western civilization needs to thrive in a culture of liberty. The world needs to thrive in a culture of liberty,” stressed Tina Descovich.

She pointed out that the quality of education is deteriorating, as is the mental health of young people—exacerbated by prolonged school closures during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Those restrictions exposed the systematic violations of parental rights.

“We got involved over small issues that we thought we had with education. And once we started serving in the capacity, we started seeing the much larger issues. And what we saw is that parental rights were being stepped on everywhere. They were being taken away slowly,” she explained.

Descovich described how local and federal policies allowed schools to interfere with parental decision-making.

“We were going to fight for parental rights because parents have the fundamental right given to you by God. That you get to direct the upbringing of your children whether that be education, medical care or moral and religious upbringing,” she emphasized.

The Mission of Moms for Liberty

The idea to establish a local organization in Florida to support parents and students emerged in 2020. Before that, Tina Descovich had been involved in a school district’s parent council, overseeing over 100 schools, 9,000 employees, and 75,000 students. Her experience and the support of like-minded women enabled the creation of Moms for Liberty during the COVID-19 pandemic—an initiative that far exceeded expectations.

“We launched on January 1, 2021. Within two weeks, mothers from across the country were calling us for help, leaving their contact information. We decided to build a national organization,” she recalled.

The key to the organization’s success lies in relationships, strong bonds, and shared values among parents who refuse to give up in their fight for truth and the future—not only of their children but also of their local communities and, ultimately, the nation.

Descovich emphasized the importance of parents and guardians being informed and courageous. Members of Moms for Liberty also establish connections with politicians at various levels and participate in legislative processes at the local, state, and federal levels.

Challenges and Political Influence

Moms for Liberty has faced numerous attacks, with its members being labeled as fascists and Nazis for opposing gender ideology. However, the mothers’ determination to fight for truth, parental rights, and their children’s future remains strong. They place high hopes on the first decisions made by Donald Trump’s administration.

Local Government in the Age of Sex Education

Tina Descovich also participated in the 10th European Congress of Local Governments in Mikołajki, in the north of Poland. As part of the event, the Ordo Iuris Institute organized a panel discussion titled “Family-Friendly Schools – Local Government in the Age of Sex Education.”

The panel was moderated by Ordo Iuris President, Attorney Jerzy Kwaśniewski, and featured panelists including Tina Descovich, Marcin Perłowski (Director of the Center for Life and Family), Hanna Dobrowolska (an education expert from the School Protection Movement), and Zbigniew Barciński (President of the Natan Association of Educators).

The panelists urged local government representatives to take a stand against ideological indoctrination in schools and provided parents and local officials with specific action strategies.

Photo: Tomasz Daniluk/Ordo Iuris