MCPS elementary school principals signed an internal memo expressing concerns about LGBTQ curriculum last November

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no way MCPS published curriculum with instructions to “make a shaming comment” to a child. Either someone internal to the school put their own spin into instructions, or the principals are reframing.

Regardless of how these religious groups try to spin this, MCPS isn’t trying to indoctrinate elementary kids regarding LGBTQ topics. They are trying to give them context about the other kids sitting next to them in the classroom, because they sure aren’t learning about it at home.

Like it or not, in public school in MCPS there will be children of every possible diversity in the classrooms, including children who are transgender and who have family members in the LGBTQ community.

Yep.

What percent of elementary school students are trans? Gay? I mean, do elementary school students even have a concept of sexual orientation? It is probably such a small percentage that it doesn't warrant such a disruption in the curriculum. The amount of energy being spent on this is over the top.

I don't know the percentages, but I will say I was stunned to learn that a girl in my child's 4th grade class openly identified as a lesbian and was "dating" another girl in another 4th grade class.

That's the kind of thing I'd expect in middle and high school, but not elementary school. But here we are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no way MCPS published curriculum with instructions to “make a shaming comment” to a child. Either someone internal to the school put their own spin into instructions, or the principals are reframing.

Regardless of how these religious groups try to spin this, MCPS isn’t trying to indoctrinate elementary kids regarding LGBTQ topics. They are trying to give them context about the other kids sitting next to them in the classroom, because they sure aren’t learning about it at home.

Like it or not, in public school in MCPS there will be children of every possible diversity in the classrooms, including children who are transgender and who have family members in the LGBTQ community.

Most kids, especially at the elementary age don't care but they don't want it constantly down their throat either nor is it developmentally appropriate. The majority of my child's MS home room lessons were centered around LGBTQ and it was excessive and made the kids very uncomfortable. Some teachers heavily push it and their agenda and when the kids don't participate and just stay quiet they find other ways to punish them.

There is lots of diversity in MCPS that is ignored so targeting one community is not exactly diversity for its diversity training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:" For example, family life isn’t taught until fifth grade,"?! That's just factually incorrect. Here's the kindergarten curriculum, for example: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/health/elementary/kindergarten/familylife

Plus THIS IS THE ELA CURRICULUM. Are there books in the ELA curriculum that portray non-LGBTQ people or families? Yes, there are. So that must be inappropriate too, right? Should I demand to be notified, and have my child opt out, whenever there's a book with non-LGBTQ people or families?

A Boy Named Penelope, which is one of the books that's causing a lot of the pushback, is not a book that merely mentions an LGBTQ person. It is a book that centers and normalizes a theory of gender identity that is CONTROVERSIAL, as the whole premise and plot of the book is that a little girl named Penelope wakes up one day and feels like she is a boy and then is affirmed and enabled by all the adults around her.

Many parents disagree with this premise and with the objective and teaching their children that such as a drastic identity shift should be widely accepted.

Yeah yeah yeah. Do you have this on copy paste? The book is not about "a theory of gender identity." The book is about a child's experiences. It seems that you are worried about what children might think or do if they read this book about a child's experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no way MCPS published curriculum with instructions to “make a shaming comment” to a child. Either someone internal to the school put their own spin into instructions, or the principals are reframing.

Regardless of how these religious groups try to spin this, MCPS isn’t trying to indoctrinate elementary kids regarding LGBTQ topics. They are trying to give them context about the other kids sitting next to them in the classroom, because they sure aren’t learning about it at home.

Like it or not, in public school in MCPS there will be children of every possible diversity in the classrooms, including children who are transgender and who have family members in the LGBTQ community.

Yep.

What percent of elementary school students are trans? Gay? I mean, do elementary school students even have a concept of sexual orientation? It is probably such a small percentage that it doesn't warrant such a disruption in the curriculum. The amount of energy being spent on this is over the top.

I don't know the percentages, but I will say I was stunned to learn that a girl in my child's 4th grade class openly identified as a lesbian and was "dating" another girl in another 4th grade class.

That's the kind of thing I'd expect in middle and high school, but not elementary school. But here we are.

The schools and a select group of parents are pushing it and the kids feel pressured to be apart of it and date same gender.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy crap. CAIR is on it and they're uncovering the rot and corruption in MCPS. There's clearly a powerful group within MCPS who has an agenda and they refuse to be deterred, even when their co-workers and parent community tell them they have concerns and feedback on what they're pushing.

I have a feeling this won't end in MCPS's favor.

Wrong. Courts in Maryland have already ruled that Public schools are not obliged to shield students from ideas which potentially are religiously offensive, particularly when the school imposes no requirement that the student agree with or affirm those ideas.

How would CAIR feel if people were requesting to Opt-out of books with Muslim characters? Do they let their kids watch TV or read fairytale stories with straight married characters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no way MCPS published curriculum with instructions to “make a shaming comment” to a child. Either someone internal to the school put their own spin into instructions, or the principals are reframing.

Regardless of how these religious groups try to spin this, MCPS isn’t trying to indoctrinate elementary kids regarding LGBTQ topics. They are trying to give them context about the other kids sitting next to them in the classroom, because they sure aren’t learning about it at home.

Like it or not, in public school in MCPS there will be children of every possible diversity in the classrooms, including children who are transgender and who have family members in the LGBTQ community.

Most kids, especially at the elementary age don't care but they don't want it constantly down their throat either nor is it developmentally appropriate. The majority of my child's MS home room lessons were centered around LGBTQ and it was excessive and made the kids very uncomfortable. Some teachers heavily push it and their agenda and when the kids don't participate and just stay quiet they find other ways to punish them.

There is lots of diversity in MCPS that is ignored so targeting one community is not exactly diversity for its diversity training.

Six (6) books about LGBTQ characters are in the approved K-6 ELA curriculum. How many books, total, are in the approved K-6 ELA curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:" For example, family life isn’t taught until fifth grade,"?! That's just factually incorrect. Here's the kindergarten curriculum, for example: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/health/elementary/kindergarten/familylife

Plus THIS IS THE ELA CURRICULUM. Are there books in the ELA curriculum that portray non-LGBTQ people or families? Yes, there are. So that must be inappropriate too, right? Should I demand to be notified, and have my child opt out, whenever there's a book with non-LGBTQ people or families?

A Boy Named Penelope, which is one of the books that's causing a lot of the pushback, is not a book that merely mentions an LGBTQ person. It is a book that centers and normalizes a theory of gender identity that is CONTROVERSIAL, as the whole premise and plot of the book is that a little girl named Penelope wakes up one day and feels like she is a boy and then is affirmed and enabled by all the adults around her.

Many parents disagree with this premise and with the objective and teaching their children that such as a drastic identity shift should be widely accepted.

Yeah yeah yeah. Do you have this on copy paste? The book is not about "a theory of gender identity." The book is about a child's experiences. It seems that you are worried about what children might think or do if they read this book about a child's experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no way MCPS published curriculum with instructions to “make a shaming comment” to a child. Either someone internal to the school put their own spin into instructions, or the principals are reframing.

Regardless of how these religious groups try to spin this, MCPS isn’t trying to indoctrinate elementary kids regarding LGBTQ topics. They are trying to give them context about the other kids sitting next to them in the classroom, because they sure aren’t learning about it at home.

Like it or not, in public school in MCPS there will be children of every possible diversity in the classrooms, including children who are transgender and who have family members in the LGBTQ community.

Yep.

What percent of elementary school students are trans? Gay? I mean, do elementary school students even have a concept of sexual orientation? It is probably such a small percentage that it doesn't warrant such a disruption in the curriculum. The amount of energy being spent on this is over the top.

I don't know the percentages, but I will say I was stunned to learn that a girl in my child's 4th grade class openly identified as a lesbian and was "dating" another girl in another 4th grade class.

That's the kind of thing I'd expect in middle and high school, but not elementary school. But here we are.

Kids did this boy-girl when I was in fourth grade in the 1970s. How is it different when it's girl-girl?

[Anonymous]

Teaching kids that some kids, like peppa, have two moms instead of a mom and a dad is hardly "indoctrinating" lol. No more so than when you see two het people walking down the street holding hands. Learning that people EXIST isnt shoving it down anyones throat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no way MCPS published curriculum with instructions to “make a shaming comment” to a child. Either someone internal to the school put their own spin into instructions, or the principals are reframing.

Regardless of how these religious groups try to spin this, MCPS isn’t trying to indoctrinate elementary kids regarding LGBTQ topics. They are trying to give them context about the other kids sitting next to them in the classroom, because they sure aren’t learning about it at home.

Like it or not, in public school in MCPS there will be children of every possible diversity in the classrooms, including children who are transgender and who have family members in the LGBTQ community.

Most kids, especially at the elementary age don't care but they don't want it constantly down their throat either nor is it developmentally appropriate. The majority of my child's MS home room lessons were centered around LGBTQ and it was excessive and made the kids very uncomfortable. Some teachers heavily push it and their agenda and when the kids don't participate and just stay quiet they find other ways to punish them.

There is lots of diversity in MCPS that is ignored so targeting one community is not exactly diversity for its diversity training.

Six (6) books about LGBTQ characters are in the approved K-6 ELA curriculum. How many books, total, are in the approved K-6 ELA curriculum?

How many books are on the list for other groups?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teaching kids that some kids, like peppa, have two moms instead of a mom and a dad is hardly "indoctrinating" lol. No more so than when you see two het people walking down the street holding hands. Learning that people EXIST isnt shoving it down anyones throat.

Except that's not what they are teaching that different families look different and there are better books to teach that that he ones they choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:" For example, family life isn’t taught until fifth grade,"?! That's just factually incorrect. Here's the kindergarten curriculum, for example: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/health/elementary/kindergarten/familylife

Plus THIS IS THE ELA CURRICULUM. Are there books in the ELA curriculum that portray non-LGBTQ people or families? Yes, there are. So that must be inappropriate too, right? Should I demand to be notified, and have my child opt out, whenever there's a book with non-LGBTQ people or families?

I think the PP meant "family life" as it pertains to sexuality, not about "who makes up a family".

Family life curriculum should be age appropriate, and I think talking about transgender and drag queens is not appropriate for a 5 yr old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a European centrist (meaning, more to the left than most US Democrats), but I find this entire "inclusion" push surprisingly useless in MCPS. Why can't we stick to a general message that just because someone looks different, it's not a reason for bullying or teasing? That slurs such as "gay" or "homo" are never appropriate? Why can't schools focus on teaching academics, instead of wasting everyone's time with assemblies and feel-good sessions, like my kids keep having in their middle and high schools? At this point, they identify the wellbeing blocks on the calendar and tell me those are the days they'd rather finish their homework at home. It never crossed their mind to be mean to LGBTQ+ kids (or Jews, or African-Americans, or anyone else). They don't like to be hit over the head with it regularly.

This is exactly it. If you teach the right VALUES everything else falls into place!!! We have always supported LBGHQ community but have really been repelled by the push to impose trans acceptance and incorrect pronouns on children. Children have a right to freedom of expression and their own beliefs!!! For example if a girl wants to say I am a boy, OK child you do you! If another kid wants to say Sorry I have eyes and I can see you are not a boy, well shoot people that kid is right! What MCPS doing is sick and wrong and every time I hang out with school groups parents are discussing this with real sadness and concern. These books are gross and ineffective. Stop!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:" For example, family life isn’t taught until fifth grade,"?! That's just factually incorrect. Here's the kindergarten curriculum, for example: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/health/elementary/kindergarten/familylife

Plus THIS IS THE ELA CURRICULUM. Are there books in the ELA curriculum that portray non-LGBTQ people or families? Yes, there are. So that must be inappropriate too, right? Should I demand to be notified, and have my child opt out, whenever there's a book with non-LGBTQ people or families?

I think the PP meant "family life" as it pertains to sexuality, not about "who makes up a family".

Family life curriculum should be age appropriate, and I think talking about transgender and drag queens is not appropriate for a 5 yr old.

You're wrong. It's perfectly easy to discuss trans/cis w/ kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a European centrist (meaning, more to the left than most US Democrats), but I find this entire "inclusion" push surprisingly useless in MCPS. Why can't we stick to a general message that just because someone looks different, it's not a reason for bullying or teasing? That slurs such as "gay" or "homo" are never appropriate? Why can't schools focus on teaching academics, instead of wasting everyone's time with assemblies and feel-good sessions, like my kids keep having in their middle and high schools? At this point, they identify the wellbeing blocks on the calendar and tell me those are the days they'd rather finish their homework at home. It never crossed their mind to be mean to LGBTQ+ kids (or Jews, or African-Americans, or anyone else). They don't like to be hit over the head with it regularly.

This is exactly it. If you teach the right VALUES everything else falls into place!!! We have always supported LBGHQ community but have really been repelled by the push to impose trans acceptance and incorrect pronouns on children. Children have a right to freedom of expression and their own beliefs!!! For example if a girl wants to say I am a boy, OK child you do you! If another kid wants to say Sorry I have eyes and I can see you are not a boy, well shoot people that kid is right! What MCPS doing is sick and wrong and every time I hang out with school groups parents are discussing this with real sadness and concern. These books are gross and ineffective. Stop!

No, we won't stop.