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

[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.

Is a preK kid sitting next to a drag queen? Why are three and four year olds being taught about drag queens?

As per the current trend, if the preK kid says that zhey are a drag queen then we affirm it, so it is quite possible that some of them are.

Except that’s not true, but I’m sure you know that.
One or two books featuring a drag Queen will not make your kid a drag Queen…

True, but I don’t want to have to explain what a drag queen is. How do you even begin? It’s a man that dresses like a girl, except dresses aren’t just for girls because gender doesn’t exist. We adults can’t figure it out so how can we explain it to a child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is a preK kid sitting next to a drag queen? Why are three and four year olds being taught about drag queens?

As per the current trend, if the preK kid says that zhey are a drag queen then we affirm it, so it is quite possible that some of them are.

Except that’s not true, but I’m sure you know that.
One or two books featuring a drag Queen will not make your kid a drag Queen…

True, but I don’t want to have to explain what a drag queen is. How do you even begin? It’s a man that dresses like a girl, except dresses aren’t just for girls because gender doesn’t exist. We adults can’t figure it out so how can we explain it to a child.

A drag queen is when a man does dress up for fun.. he might wear sparkly make up and glitter and wear a wig and then sometimes he tells jokes or sings songs for adults. And sometimes he’ll read a book to kids. It’s just for fun.
That’s literally what I said to my 4yo when we say a drag Queen at a restaurant in Rehoboth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You realize some of us just listen and humor you. This isn't ok for 5 year olds. Why do you have to push your agenda onto others and why can't you be respectful of others beliefs. There are plenty of books to teach families look different and yet, none of those are in MCPS schools - different religion, adoption/foster care/kinship care, mixed race families, etc.

MCPS needs to keep out of politics and advocacy group agendas and get back to teaching kids the basics and allow parents to teach that stuff at home. No wonder our kids are failing in math and english. They aren't being taught the basics as advocates like yourself feel it's more important to indoctrinate our kids with your beliefs and no one else's believes or concerns matter to people like you.

There are lots of issues in MCPS in terms of hate and racism and yet, MCPS does nothing for those groups - Muslim, Jews, Asians and many others.

I entirely agree. We are staunchly liberal and will never vote another way, but anything not strictly academic done by MCPS is just really badly done. Their required health class, for example. It used to be one semester, now it's two, but they haven't actually expanded the curriculum, so high schoolers find themselves forced to take a second semester of health, instead of more interesting things, to sit and listen to a repeat of health A. It's STUPID. Same for every wellness session - it's repetitive and boring and doesn't really get at the causes of tribalism and hate. If MCPS offered a mandatory high school certification for CPR, instead of health B, and offered high school students a chance to delve into recent history of civil rights and sexual orientation, with actual academic papers and debate, that might be interesting. But no. Everything is dumbed down drivel. My other kid in an IB middle school is required to read the most inane, obvious book every summer about some trendy topic. Last year, something about an LGBTQ+ finding acceptance in school, this year, a hate crime in school and the resulting restorative justice circle that makes everyone feel good again. Not one little bit of it is realistic or remotely sensitive or intelligent. These books seem made to appeal to the lowest common denominator of central office staff who has been hired to promote equity and inclusion but has no clue what's happening on the ground, and no clue how adolescents actually feel. It's all... excruciatingly cringeworthy. My 13 year old DD sees so clearly how moronic it is. It doesn't make her respect her school, or make her excited about attending school. And don't get me started on introducing those topics in elementary.

The academics are OK, and at least MCPS has some decent programs for gifted students and special needs students (my other kid participated in one of them). MCPS is by no means all bad. But this inclusion effort is really, really, pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is a preK kid sitting next to a drag queen? Why are three and four year olds being taught about drag queens?

As per the current trend, if the preK kid says that zhey are a drag queen then we affirm it, so it is quite possible that some of them are.

Except that’s not true, but I’m sure you know that.
One or two books featuring a drag Queen will not make your kid a drag Queen…

True, but I don’t want to have to explain what a drag queen is. How do you even begin? It’s a man that dresses like a girl, except dresses aren’t just for girls because gender doesn’t exist. We adults can’t figure it out so how can we explain it to a child.

It's a man who dresses up for fun in fancy clothes, like princess costumes.

There, now you don't have to be afraid of "Pride Puppy" anymore! Hooray!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I entirely agree. We are staunchly liberal and will never vote another way, but anything not strictly academic done by MCPS is just really badly done. Their required health class, for example. It used to be one semester, now it's two, but they haven't actually expanded the curriculum, so high schoolers find themselves forced to take a second semester of health, instead of more interesting things, to sit and listen to a repeat of health A. It's STUPID. Same for every wellness session - it's repetitive and boring and doesn't really get at the causes of tribalism and hate. If MCPS offered a mandatory high school certification for CPR, instead of health B, and offered high school students a chance to delve into recent history of civil rights and sexual orientation, with actual academic papers and debate, that might be interesting. But no. Everything is dumbed down drivel. My other kid in an IB middle school is required to read the most inane, obvious book every summer about some trendy topic. Last year, something about an LGBTQ+ finding acceptance in school, this year, a hate crime in school and the resulting restorative justice circle that makes everyone feel good again. Not one little bit of it is realistic or remotely sensitive or intelligent. These books seem made to appeal to the lowest common denominator of central office staff who has been hired to promote equity and inclusion but has no clue what's happening on the ground, and no clue how adolescents actually feel. It's all... excruciatingly cringeworthy. My 13 year old DD sees so clearly how moronic it is. It doesn't make her respect her school, or make her excited about attending school. And don't get me started on introducing those topics in elementary.

The academics are OK, and at least MCPS has some decent programs for gifted students and special needs students (my other kid participated in one of them). MCPS is by no means all bad. But this inclusion effort is really, really, pathetic.

This a state requirement.

Also, I personally find it excruciatingly cringeworthy when a person refers to a person who is LGBTQ+ as "an LGBTQ". Who does that?! So embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I entirely agree. We are staunchly liberal and will never vote another way, but anything not strictly academic done by MCPS is just really badly done. Their required health class, for example. It used to be one semester, now it's two, but they haven't actually expanded the curriculum, so high schoolers find themselves forced to take a second semester of health, instead of more interesting things, to sit and listen to a repeat of health A. It's STUPID. Same for every wellness session - it's repetitive and boring and doesn't really get at the causes of tribalism and hate. If MCPS offered a mandatory high school certification for CPR, instead of health B, and offered high school students a chance to delve into recent history of civil rights and sexual orientation, with actual academic papers and debate, that might be interesting. But no. Everything is dumbed down drivel. My other kid in an IB middle school is required to read the most inane, obvious book every summer about some trendy topic. Last year, something about an LGBTQ+ finding acceptance in school, this year, a hate crime in school and the resulting restorative justice circle that makes everyone feel good again. Not one little bit of it is realistic or remotely sensitive or intelligent. These books seem made to appeal to the lowest common denominator of central office staff who has been hired to promote equity and inclusion but has no clue what's happening on the ground, and no clue how adolescents actually feel. It's all... excruciatingly cringeworthy. My 13 year old DD sees so clearly how moronic it is. It doesn't make her respect her school, or make her excited about attending school. And don't get me started on introducing those topics in elementary.

The academics are OK, and at least MCPS has some decent programs for gifted students and special needs students (my other kid participated in one of them). MCPS is by no means all bad. But this inclusion effort is really, really, pathetic.

This a state requirement.

Also, I personally find it excruciatingly cringeworthy when a person refers to a person who is LGBTQ+ as "an LGBTQ". Who does that?! So embarrassing.

Sorry, typing fast. I re-read after posting and saw that mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is a preK kid sitting next to a drag queen? Why are three and four year olds being taught about drag queens?

As per the current trend, if the preK kid says that zhey are a drag queen then we affirm it, so it is quite possible that some of them are.

Except that’s not true, but I’m sure you know that.
One or two books featuring a drag Queen will not make your kid a drag Queen…

True, but I don’t want to have to explain what a drag queen is. How do you even begin? It’s a man that dresses like a girl, except dresses aren’t just for girls because gender doesn’t exist. We adults can’t figure it out so how can we explain it to a child.

A drag queen is when a man does dress up for fun.. he might wear sparkly make up and glitter and wear a wig and then sometimes he tells jokes or sings songs for adults. And sometimes he’ll read a book to kids. It’s just for fun.
That’s literally what I said to my 4yo when we say a drag Queen at a restaurant in Rehoboth.

It's basically the same as what I said to my then-four-year-old when we saw a lot of drag queens at a Pride parade. By the way, the only things my now-20-year-old remembers about the Pride parade are that the curb we sat on to watch the parade was gravelly, and we had mango lassis. So I don't think it caused either of us any trauma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is a preK kid sitting next to a drag queen? Why are three and four year olds being taught about drag queens?

As per the current trend, if the preK kid says that zhey are a drag queen then we affirm it, so it is quite possible that some of them are.

Except that’s not true, but I’m sure you know that.
One or two books featuring a drag Queen will not make your kid a drag Queen…

True, but I don’t want to have to explain what a drag queen is. How do you even begin? It’s a man that dresses like a girl, except dresses aren’t just for girls because gender doesn’t exist. We adults can’t figure it out so how can we explain it to a child.

It's a man who dresses up for fun in fancy clothes, like princess costumes.

There, now you don't have to be afraid of "Pride Puppy" anymore! Hooray!

This is okay so long as you add “often the men make fun of women when they are doing the dress-up and it’s not very nice.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is a preK kid sitting next to a drag queen? Why are three and four year olds being taught about drag queens?

As per the current trend, if the preK kid says that zhey are a drag queen then we affirm it, so it is quite possible that some of them are.

Except that’s not true, but I’m sure you know that.
One or two books featuring a drag Queen will not make your kid a drag Queen…

True, but I don’t want to have to explain what a drag queen is. How do you even begin? It’s a man that dresses like a girl, except dresses aren’t just for girls because gender doesn’t exist. We adults can’t figure it out so how can we explain it to a child.

It's a man who dresses up for fun in fancy clothes, like princess costumes.

There, now you don't have to be afraid of "Pride Puppy" anymore! Hooray!

What about drag queens that are non-binary? Not all drag queens are men. Also, if you’re introducing drag queens, what about drag kings?

Furthermore, if you argue that gender actually isn’t binary, drag doesn’t really make sense since there’s no such thing. Drag existed as a transgressive act because a person of one gender played dress up as the other, but men can wear dresses and make up, there is no more meaning to “dressing like a man” or “dressing like a woman.”

Explain all of that to a 5 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is a preK kid sitting next to a drag queen? Why are three and four year olds being taught about drag queens?

As per the current trend, if the preK kid says that zhey are a drag queen then we affirm it, so it is quite possible that some of them are.

Except that’s not true, but I’m sure you know that.
One or two books featuring a drag Queen will not make your kid a drag Queen…

True, but I don’t want to have to explain what a drag queen is. How do you even begin? It’s a man that dresses like a girl, except dresses aren’t just for girls because gender doesn’t exist. We adults can’t figure it out so how can we explain it to a child.

It's a man who dresses up for fun in fancy clothes, like princess costumes.

There, now you don't have to be afraid of "Pride Puppy" anymore! Hooray!

This is okay so long as you add “often the men make fun of women when they are doing the dress-up and it’s not very nice.”

And they often talk and engage in lewd and crude sexual play while in drag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is a preK kid sitting next to a drag queen? Why are three and four year olds being taught about drag queens?

As per the current trend, if the preK kid says that zhey are a drag queen then we affirm it, so it is quite possible that some of them are.

Except that’s not true, but I’m sure you know that.
One or two books featuring a drag Queen will not make your kid a drag Queen…

True, but I don’t want to have to explain what a drag queen is. How do you even begin? It’s a man that dresses like a girl, except dresses aren’t just for girls because gender doesn’t exist. We adults can’t figure it out so how can we explain it to a child.

It's a man who dresses up for fun in fancy clothes, like princess costumes.

There, now you don't have to be afraid of "Pride Puppy" anymore! Hooray!

What about drag queens that are non-binary? Not all drag queens are men. Also, if you’re introducing drag queens, what about drag kings?

Furthermore, if you argue that gender actually isn’t binary, drag doesn’t really make sense since there’s no such thing. Drag existed as a transgressive act because a person of one gender played dress up as the other, but men can wear dresses and make up, there is no more meaning to “dressing like a man” or “dressing like a woman.”

Explain all of that to a 5 year old.

There is such a thing as drag, though. And apparently you're afraid that five-year-olds will find out about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is a preK kid sitting next to a drag queen? Why are three and four year olds being taught about drag queens?

As per the current trend, if the preK kid says that zhey are a drag queen then we affirm it, so it is quite possible that some of them are.

Except that’s not true, but I’m sure you know that.
One or two books featuring a drag Queen will not make your kid a drag Queen…

True, but I don’t want to have to explain what a drag queen is. How do you even begin? It’s a man that dresses like a girl, except dresses aren’t just for girls because gender doesn’t exist. We adults can’t figure it out so how can we explain it to a child.

It's a man who dresses up for fun in fancy clothes, like princess costumes.

There, now you don't have to be afraid of "Pride Puppy" anymore! Hooray!

What about drag queens that are non-binary? Not all drag queens are men. Also, if you’re introducing drag queens, what about drag kings?

Furthermore, if you argue that gender actually isn’t binary, drag doesn’t really make sense since there’s no such thing. Drag existed as a transgressive act because a person of one gender played dress up as the other, but men can wear dresses and make up, there is no more meaning to “dressing like a man” or “dressing like a woman.”

Explain all of that to a 5 year old.

There is such a thing as drag, though. And apparently you're afraid that five-year-olds will find out about it.

You failed to answer a single question. Stay on task, Jack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is a preK kid sitting next to a drag queen? Why are three and four year olds being taught about drag queens?

As per the current trend, if the preK kid says that zhey are a drag queen then we affirm it, so it is quite possible that some of them are.

Except that’s not true, but I’m sure you know that.
One or two books featuring a drag Queen will not make your kid a drag Queen…

True, but I don’t want to have to explain what a drag queen is. How do you even begin? It’s a man that dresses like a girl, except dresses aren’t just for girls because gender doesn’t exist. We adults can’t figure it out so how can we explain it to a child.

A drag queen is when a man does dress up for fun.. he might wear sparkly make up and glitter and wear a wig and then sometimes he tells jokes or sings songs for adults. And sometimes he’ll read a book to kids. It’s just for fun.
That’s literally what I said to my 4yo when we say a drag Queen at a restaurant in Rehoboth.

And, that's fine for when you go to the restaurant but for those of us not doing that, why does a four year old need to know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is a preK kid sitting next to a drag queen? Why are three and four year olds being taught about drag queens?

As per the current trend, if the preK kid says that zhey are a drag queen then we affirm it, so it is quite possible that some of them are.

Except that’s not true, but I’m sure you know that.
One or two books featuring a drag Queen will not make your kid a drag Queen…

True, but I don’t want to have to explain what a drag queen is. How do you even begin? It’s a man that dresses like a girl, except dresses aren’t just for girls because gender doesn’t exist. We adults can’t figure it out so how can we explain it to a child.

It's a man who dresses up for fun in fancy clothes, like princess costumes.

There, now you don't have to be afraid of "Pride Puppy" anymore! Hooray!

This is okay so long as you add “often the men make fun of women when they are doing the dress-up and it’s not very nice.”

And mock women in a very vulgar way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You realize some of us just listen and humor you. This isn't ok for 5 year olds. Why do you have to push your agenda onto others and why can't you be respectful of others beliefs. There are plenty of books to teach families look different and yet, none of those are in MCPS schools - different religion, adoption/foster care/kinship care, mixed race families, etc.

MCPS needs to keep out of politics and advocacy group agendas and get back to teaching kids the basics and allow parents to teach that stuff at home. No wonder our kids are failing in math and english. They aren't being taught the basics as advocates like yourself feel it's more important to indoctrinate our kids with your beliefs and no one else's believes or concerns matter to people like you.

There are lots of issues in MCPS in terms of hate and racism and yet, MCPS does nothing for those groups - Muslim, Jews, Asians and many others.

I entirely agree. We are staunchly liberal and will never vote another way, but anything not strictly academic done by MCPS is just really badly done. Their required health class, for example. It used to be one semester, now it's two, but they haven't actually expanded the curriculum, so high schoolers find themselves forced to take a second semester of health, instead of more interesting things, to sit and listen to a repeat of health A. It's STUPID. Same for every wellness session - it's repetitive and boring and doesn't really get at the causes of tribalism and hate. If MCPS offered a mandatory high school certification for CPR, instead of health B, and offered high school students a chance to delve into recent history of civil rights and sexual orientation, with actual academic papers and debate, that might be interesting. But no. Everything is dumbed down drivel. My other kid in an IB middle school is required to read the most inane, obvious book every summer about some trendy topic. Last year, something about an LGBTQ+ finding acceptance in school, this year, a hate crime in school and the resulting restorative justice circle that makes everyone feel good again. Not one little bit of it is realistic or remotely sensitive or intelligent. These books seem made to appeal to the lowest common denominator of central office staff who has been hired to promote equity and inclusion but has no clue what's happening on the ground, and no clue how adolescents actually feel. It's all... excruciatingly cringeworthy. My 13 year old DD sees so clearly how moronic it is. It doesn't make her respect her school, or make her excited about attending school. And don't get me started on introducing those topics in elementary.

The academics are OK, and at least MCPS has some decent programs for gifted students and special needs students (my other kid participated in one of them). MCPS is by no means all bad. But this inclusion effort is really, really, pathetic.

All through middle school, we had constant lessons on it. Health A went into more detail than the MS school but if they need more, put it in the one class. I'd love to see a CPR certification as well as financial literacy and other life skills.

We hardly saw a book in MS, it was all short excerpts. I'd actually be impressed if we had more books. Not reading a book every few weeks or even once a month is why we are seeing such the decline.