Michele Bachmann in The New York Times 2010s

On Education: Charter school ran afoul due to Christian teaching

Bachmann's political awakening began with her deep disenchantment with the public school system. She helped found a charter school that briefly ran afoul of the state when some parents contended that its curriculum was infused with Christian teachings, and her first run for office was a failed bid for the local school board. Her career has been deeply interwoven with her evangelical Christian beliefs--opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage were central to her agenda as a state legislator. Source: Sheryl Gay Stolberg in New York Times, on 2012 election Jun 21, 2011

On Families & Children: Raised 23 foster kids, with her own kids,as "treatment home"

Mrs. Bachmann has offered few details about her foster children, and for privacy reasons their names have never been made public. Over time, Mrs. Bachmann's husband has said, their home grew so full that they expanded their kitchen. In choosing to leave work, she said, "I finally realized my dream, which was to be mom of a big, happy family."

The Bachmanns were licensed by the state from 1992 to 2000 to handle up to three foster children at a time; the last child arrived in 1998. They began by offerin short-term care for girls with eating disorders who were treated through a program at the University of Minnesota, said the CEO of the private agency that handled the placements. He said the Bachmann home was "technically considered a treatment home," which offered a higher level of reimbursement. Critics point out that the couple had not "raised" the children, as Mrs. Bachmann has said. But, the CEO said, "From our agency's perspective, I thought they did a very nice job."

Source: Sheryl Gay Stolberg in New York Times, on 2012 election Jun 21, 2011

The above quotations are from Media coverage of political races in The New York Times, 2010-2019. Click here for other excerpts from Media coverage of political races in The New York Times, 2010-2019. Click here for other excerpts by Michele Bachmann. Click here for a profile of Michele Bachmann.
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Page last updated: Dec 02, 2021