Community Message Concerning Access to the Carver Educational Services Center on Thursday, July 20

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

If the same material about gender identity is taught in the Family Life unit, people can opt out. But when it's taught in the English Language Arts unit, people cannot. This does not make any sense.

I predict this case will go to the Supreme Court and MCPS will lose there. It will take a few years, after MCPS spends millions of dollars defending it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

If the same material about gender identity is taught in the Family Life unit, people can opt out. But when it's taught in the English Language Arts unit, people cannot. This does not make any sense.

I predict this case will go to the Supreme Court and MCPS will lose there. It will take a few years, after MCPS spends millions of dollars defending it.

The MCPS response filed in the lawsuit will help clear up your confusion. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L0BKX9u-EuvS8B2pkvB0zY58eqUsDSfg/view

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

+1. No one is being blocked from submitting testimony or putting themselves on the schedule for public comment. Nor are they being prevented from reaching out to their district representative on the BoE or Central Office itself. If anything MCPS is making sure this is done in an orderly and safe way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

Yup. They literally are pulling back on the opt-out option because it was so popular. That does not suggest these people are a minority voice you can just ignore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

What concessions did MCPS and the BOE make after they had their say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

If the same material about gender identity is taught in the Family Life unit, people can opt out. But when it's taught in the English Language Arts unit, people cannot. This does not make any sense.

I predict this case will go to the Supreme Court and MCPS will lose there. It will take a few years, after MCPS spends millions of dollars defending it.

The MCPS response filed in the lawsuit will help clear up your confusion. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L0BKX9u-EuvS8B2pkvB0zY58eqUsDSfg/view

The teacher is not just going to read with the class a book about "a prince falling in love with a knight" (one of the books MCPS uses to teach English Language Arts). The teacher will have a discussion about gender identity with elementary school students about that story after reading the book. That discussion will cover the same material used in the Family Life and Human Sexuality curriculum that a family can opt out. But now in the ELA part, people cannot opt out. That's a clear inconsistency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

If the same material about gender identity is taught in the Family Life unit, people can opt out. But when it's taught in the English Language Arts unit, people cannot. This does not make any sense.

I predict this case will go to the Supreme Court and MCPS will lose there. It will take a few years, after MCPS spends millions of dollars defending it.

The MCPS response filed in the lawsuit will help clear up your confusion. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L0BKX9u-EuvS8B2pkvB0zY58eqUsDSfg/view

The teacher is not just going to read with the class a book about "a prince falling in love with a knight" (one of the books MCPS uses to teach English Language Arts). The teacher will have a discussion about gender identity with elementary school students about that story after reading the book. That discussion will cover the same material used in the Family Life and Human Sexuality curriculum that a family can opt out. But now in the ELA part, people cannot opt out. That's a clear inconsistency.

Well they likely wouldn't have gender identity discussions with the prince book since both the prince and the knight identify as male in that book. But it does come up with a Boy Named Penelope, where gender identity theory is central to the theme and plot of the book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

+1. No one is being blocked from submitting testimony or putting themselves on the schedule for public comment. Nor are they being prevented from reaching out to their district representative on the BoE or Central Office itself. If anything MCPS is making sure this is done in an orderly and safe way.

Let's be careful not to hyperbolize, here. Speaking slots are capped at 20 & at a premium, leaving many out in the cold (many speaking on one subject, saying the same/similar things, keep other subjects entirely off the table -- for months, if not entirely). Further, slots were reduced to 2 minutes from 3 minutes -- already far to little to make meaningful/detailed enough arguments to counter anything MCPS presents with no effective time limitation of their own (and with no opportunity for timely rebuttal by the community). Those providing testimony have to speed-read their way through, rarely able to properly puctuate/emphasize/elicit audience empathy, a few talented orators excepted, let alone present counter-arguments to anticipated MCPS responses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

+1. No one is being blocked from submitting testimony or putting themselves on the schedule for public comment. Nor are they being prevented from reaching out to their district representative on the BoE or Central Office itself. If anything MCPS is making sure this is done in an orderly and safe way.

Let's be careful not to hyperbolize, here. Speaking slots are capped at 20 & at a premium, leaving many out in the cold (many speaking on one subject, saying the same/similar things, keep other subjects entirely off the table -- for months, if not entirely). Further, slots were reduced to 2 minutes from 3 minutes -- already far to little to make meaningful/detailed enough arguments to counter anything MCPS presents with no effective time limitation of their own (and with no opportunity for timely rebuttal by the community). Those providing testimony have to speed-read their way through, rarely able to properly puctuate/emphasize/elicit audience empathy, a few talented orators excepted, let alone present counter-arguments to anticipated MCPS responses.

MCPS and the board don't even respond to the opt-out testimonies at this point. They just ignore them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

+1. No one is being blocked from submitting testimony or putting themselves on the schedule for public comment. Nor are they being prevented from reaching out to their district representative on the BoE or Central Office itself. If anything MCPS is making sure this is done in an orderly and safe way.

Let's be careful not to hyperbolize, here. Speaking slots are capped at 20 & at a premium, leaving many out in the cold (many speaking on one subject, saying the same/similar things, keep other subjects entirely off the table -- for months, if not entirely). Further, slots were reduced to 2 minutes from 3 minutes -- already far to little to make meaningful/detailed enough arguments to counter anything MCPS presents with no effective time limitation of their own (and with no opportunity for timely rebuttal by the community). Those providing testimony have to speed-read their way through, rarely able to properly puctuate/emphasize/elicit audience empathy, a few talented orators excepted, let alone present counter-arguments to anticipated MCPS responses.

BoE is providing everybody exactly the same opportunity to speak to the BoE. Same sign-up rules, same time limits, same everything, for everyone.

If you want to say everything you want to say, at whatever length you want to say it, on whatever topic you want to say something about, at any time you want you might want to say it - you can go stand outside the Carver High School & Junior College building and do it. Or you can put it in writing and e-mail or snail mail it to the BoE. Just like everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

If the same material about gender identity is taught in the Family Life unit, people can opt out. But when it's taught in the English Language Arts unit, people cannot. This does not make any sense.

I predict this case will go to the Supreme Court and MCPS will lose there. It will take a few years, after MCPS spends millions of dollars defending it.

The MCPS response filed in the lawsuit will help clear up your confusion. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L0BKX9u-EuvS8B2pkvB0zY58eqUsDSfg/view

The teacher is not just going to read with the class a book about "a prince falling in love with a knight" (one of the books MCPS uses to teach English Language Arts). The teacher will have a discussion about gender identity with elementary school students about that story after reading the book. That discussion will cover the same material used in the Family Life and Human Sexuality curriculum that a family can opt out. But now in the ELA part, people cannot opt out. That's a clear inconsistency.

Well they likely wouldn't have gender identity discussions with the prince book since both the prince and the knight identify as male in that book. But it does come up with a Boy Named Penelope, where gender identity theory is central to the theme and plot of the book.

I've read the book. It is a picture book. There is no discussion of any theory of any sort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

+1. No one is being blocked from submitting testimony or putting themselves on the schedule for public comment. Nor are they being prevented from reaching out to their district representative on the BoE or Central Office itself. If anything MCPS is making sure this is done in an orderly and safe way.

Let's be careful not to hyperbolize, here. Speaking slots are capped at 20 & at a premium, leaving many out in the cold (many speaking on one subject, saying the same/similar things, keep other subjects entirely off the table -- for months, if not entirely). Further, slots were reduced to 2 minutes from 3 minutes -- already far to little to make meaningful/detailed enough arguments to counter anything MCPS presents with no effective time limitation of their own (and with no opportunity for timely rebuttal by the community). Those providing testimony have to speed-read their way through, rarely able to properly puctuate/emphasize/elicit audience empathy, a few talented orators excepted, let alone present counter-arguments to anticipated MCPS responses.

MCPS and the board don't even respond to the opt-out testimonies at this point. They just ignore them.

You are entitled to make your comment, if you get a comment spot. You are not entitled to a response to your comment from BoE members.

[Anonymous]

MCPS uses these books to teach English Language Arts:

a family attending a Pride parade

a niece meeting her uncle’s husband-to-be

a prince falling in love with a knight as they work together to battle a dragon in a mythical kingdom

a girl racing through the snow with her crush

a transgender boy sharing his gender identity with his family

In my option, Aesop's fables are much, much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new piece from Em Espey in MoCo360, this morning:

https://moco360.media/2023/07/20/volume-of-lgbtq-opt-out-requests-caused-significant-disruptions-mcps-says-in-legal-filing/

Clearly there are quite a few people who agree with the protestors. MCPS and the BOE might want to at least hear them out.

MCPS and the BoE has heard them out. They have had a lot of opportunity to have their say, and they are continuing to have that opportunity. You need to distinguish between "having your say" and "getting your way."

What concessions did MCPS and the BOE make after they had their say?

say (noun)
1
: an expression of opinion
had my say

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/say