Personal experiences in my school have made it abundantly clear that we are facing a crisis of ignorance. I know a student who, at 14, is unable to read and is held back in the 6th grade. Another constantly argues and rudely denies allegations. These incidences underline a deeply rooted problem. The issue is not limited to schools. It seeps into society, leading to uninformed judgements in significant events - politics, leadership, and even incidences such as plane crashes. Today, it's concerning to witness how easily falsehoods are disseminated among us, leading to beliefs like "It's Trump's fault" for problems that aren't even remotely American.

According to UNESCO, 617 million children and adolescents around the world are unable to read or do basic mathematics. This statistic is appalling. Education is a basic necessity. Ignorance, while sometimes harmless, can have devastating effects when it comes to matters of importance. We need to ensure that our future generations are equipped with the tools needed to differentiate facts from falsehoods.

This petition calls for increased effort and focus on quality education. Particularly, we need to re-emphasise critical thinking in the curriculum. It's about time we strived to cleanse away the reign of stupidity in moments that matter. Education should not be a privilege, but an accessible right. It’s not just about delivering information, but about nurturing young minds to think, question, and understand the world around them.

Not just for our children and students, not just for Democrats or Republicans, it's a necessity for a society aiming to thrive in reality, not in the darkness of ignorance.

Please support this cause. Sign the petition for a better informed, educated society.