For the second time in two days I have read a post from a teacher who is considering leaving the profession. She wrote that today’s politics is coming in to her classroom, and she can not continue on with the restrictions certain politicians are pushing on an already difficult job. Both teachers are not new at teaching. Both care greatly about their students. Both chose to teach to truly make a positive difference in young people’s lives.
And, this morning I read a news piece about a Frederick County, Maryland meeting last night that had to be stopped because a group of parents who attended it were yelling at a committee tasked to update policy.
Disruptions are happening at school board meetings across the country. The parents are taking sides on a politically started issue about using the word ‘gay’ in classrooms, and on when it is acceptable to teach about gender identity. The main focus is with young children, kindergarten through 3rd grade. Here’s a reminder: Public education has standardized requirements, and in those early years of school a class on sex education is not a part of it. Never has been. The children instead are busy learning letters and numbers, and then sentence structure and reading and math skills. They are learning basics needed to continue on in to the upper grade levels. So, the hoopla (or loud noise) seems to be created on purpose – and it’s about the worries that children ‘may’ hear that a teacher is gay, or in a relationship with a same gender person, or that little Johnny has two moms, or that Billy likes to plays with dolls, and Suzie dresses like a boy.
Let me say it again: This is a MADE UP effort by conservative politicians who want to push an agenda on to others. I recently watched the Netflix documentary called “The Family” and I encourage everone to watch it. It’s about a group of Republican Congressmen who quietly have banned together in efforts to promote Christian leadership in government. They are supported by a ‘secret style’ organization that wants to elevate Christian men in to the roles of power, and they truly believe they are chosen to do this. They believe that God has selected them. .
This group goes against the idea of the separation of church and state, which has been part of the foundation of the country. We do not have a national religion. In fact, all religions are allowed to be worshipped in the United States. Lately the efforts of ‘the family’ are dangerously seeping in to our public systems in ways we haven’t seen before. The gay/don’t say gay issue in the classroom is one right now. Look at Florida, Texas, and now Ohio.
Step back and be rational for a moment. Think back when you were in public school. Do you EVER recall a teacher or another student addressing sexual identity in elementary school? Did a person of authority try to sway your identity? Do you remember making fun of child for having two moms? Do you really think even that someone’s sexual identity was talked about in the classroom of young children and that it would ‘change’ who they are?
No – of course not.
Unfortunately our public educational system already has a list of issues – buildings are falling apart, there is race and economic inequality in districts, low academic scores, low pay for teachers, etc . The teachers already have plenty of pressure put on them – like having to teach towards test results, to sometimes be ‘second parents’ when children need help, etc. And now this – a made up fear from politicians and parents that the children will be influenced – to what? Accept everyone?
I don’t blame these two teachers for saying ‘enough.’
They are not the only two. Our American educational system will be hurt tremendously by the loss of dedicated, wonderful teachers. Children will lose out on having them, and classroom sizes may have to increase to fill the void. We all will suffer, not because Ms. Smith lives with Ms.Jones, but because some people are spending way too much time on a non issue.
Get over it.
If you attend a school board meeting and want to fight (civilly) do it for better teacher pay, and for computers for all kids, and for safe school buildings and environments. Care about the real stuff.
Care about teachers.
Marla’s Musings 