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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all the testimonies, this one was the most on point.

She's welcome to send her kids to a private school or home school.

Imagine if everyone who is against this does that. What would happen to the MCPS budget? Think again.

You are acting like MCPS is a for profit corporation. It's not. Parents are not required to enroll their students in public school. If these parents removed their kids it would relieve some of the enrollment pressure that we can't build fast enough to relieve.

As far as that parent is concerned saying “I will not strip my children of this innocence…they are mine, not yours!” - she stripped them of their innocence the moment she sent them to public school. They are surrounded by peers who are members of the LGBTQ+ community and who will talk about the fact that they have 2 mommies or 2 daddies or their dad now is now a woman or whatever. If she wants to isolate her kids from the topic, she needs to send them to private school or home school them.

Kids hang out with kids like themselves, so I doubt they are listening or going near the kids with two dads. Even if they did, it's not a big deal. The big deal is books targeting kids in kindergarten that tell them that you can change your gender if you want or that you can be romantic with someone of the same gender. There shouldn't be any books about young kids having crushes being read to kids that young, regardless of the gender. It is really inappropriate.

This.

The issue is not acknowledging the mere existence of someone who is LGBTQ. It is shoving the ideology and lifestyles in the form of CURRICULUM that is causing the pushback.

No one cares if gay kids are in school. But pushing an ideology and theory that is incredibly politically divisive is not ok.

So we should get rid of books with any kind of crushes or falling in love(ie a lot of fairy tales)?

Most fairy tales that do feature romance and crushes, do so with ADULT characters.

Books that encourage young kids to engage or have crushes are not something all parents are comfortable with.

Again, even when it comes to these LGBT books, the FIGHT is about elementary schools. Most parents have less opposition to this subject matter at the middle and high school level. So it's not just the subject matter, it's the AGE at which this subject matter is being introduced as curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all the testimonies, this one was the most on point.

She's welcome to send her kids to a private school or home school.

Imagine if everyone who is against this does that. What would happen to the MCPS budget? Think again.

You are acting like MCPS is a for profit corporation. It's not. Parents are not required to enroll their students in public school. If these parents removed their kids it would relieve some of the enrollment pressure that we can't build fast enough to relieve.

As far as that parent is concerned saying “I will not strip my children of this innocence…they are mine, not yours!” - she stripped them of their innocence the moment she sent them to public school. They are surrounded by peers who are members of the LGBTQ+ community and who will talk about the fact that they have 2 mommies or 2 daddies or their dad now is now a woman or whatever. If she wants to isolate her kids from the topic, she needs to send them to private school or home school them.

Kids hang out with kids like themselves, so I doubt they are listening or going near the kids with two dads. Even if they did, it's not a big deal. The big deal is books targeting kids in kindergarten that tell them that you can change your gender if you want or that you can be romantic with someone of the same gender. There shouldn't be any books about young kids having crushes being read to kids that young, regardless of the gender. It is really inappropriate.

This.

The issue is not acknowledging the mere existence of someone who is LGBTQ. It is shoving the ideology and lifestyles in the form of CURRICULUM that is causing the pushback.

No one cares if gay kids are in school. But pushing an ideology and theory that is incredibly politically divisive is not ok.

So we should get rid of books with any kind of crushes or falling in love(ie a lot of fairy tales)?

Most fairy tales that do feature romance and crushes, do so with ADULT characters.

Books that encourage young kids to engage or have crushes are not something all parents are comfortable with.

Again, even when it comes to these LGBT books, the FIGHT is about elementary schools. Most parents have less opposition to this subject matter at the middle and high school level. So it's not just the subject matter, it's the AGE at which this subject matter is being introduced as curriculum.

Don't let your kids read Peanuts.

[Anonymous]

Finally watched the board meeting: Monifa said she is committed to listening, hearing the opt-out parents and making sure that they feel heard and valued. But then, she doesn't say how or what that looks like. Nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

Today there were 17 people who testified for the opt-out to be reinstated. Only 2 testified to keep it. There were over 300 protesters for the opt out. There were only 7 counter protesters. I think we can say that the opt out is a popular demand.

We know opt out is a popular demand because even MCPS stated it is. Apparently so many people opted out, it was getting difficult to administer all of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So acknowledging that there are people different from you = stripping of innocence? I just can't wrap my mind around why regular people who happen to be LGBTQ+ are so terrifying. It's so sad.

LGBTQ parents have rights to tell their 5 years old kids that changing gender is no big deal.

Normal population does not think that 5 year old kid should be getting such ideas.

It's very simple and every parent wants to protect their child.

[Anonymous]

I am not religious person, but I wouldn't want gender change ideas being taught to my 6 years old son. Thankfully some parents are fighting the good cause and MCPS is the problem here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all the testimonies, this one was the most on point.

She's welcome to send her kids to a private school or home school.

Imagine if everyone who is against this does that. What would happen to the MCPS budget? Think again.

You are acting like MCPS is a for profit corporation. It's not. Parents are not required to enroll their students in public school. If these parents removed their kids it would relieve some of the enrollment pressure that we can't build fast enough to relieve.

As far as that parent is concerned saying “I will not strip my children of this innocence…they are mine, not yours!” - she stripped them of their innocence the moment she sent them to public school. They are surrounded by peers who are members of the LGBTQ+ community and who will talk about the fact that they have 2 mommies or 2 daddies or their dad now is now a woman or whatever. If she wants to isolate her kids from the topic, she needs to send them to private school or home school them.

Kids hang out with kids like themselves, so I doubt they are listening or going near the kids with two dads. Even if they did, it's not a big deal. The big deal is books targeting kids in kindergarten that tell them that you can change your gender if you want or that you can be romantic with someone of the same gender. There shouldn't be any books about young kids having crushes being read to kids that young, regardless of the gender. It is really inappropriate.

Inappropriate, how? It's just life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finally watched the board meeting: Monifa said she is committed to listening, hearing the opt-out parents and making sure that they feel heard and valued. But then, she doesn't say how or what that looks like. Nonsense.

That has not been the case so far. I don't see that being true going forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all the testimonies, this one was the most on point.

She's welcome to send her kids to a private school or home school.

Imagine if everyone who is against this does that. What would happen to the MCPS budget? Think again.

Nothing happens. People who send their kids to private school still pay taxes.

It's actually a win-win situation for MCPS when families go private. They get money, and have fewer students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all the testimonies, this one was the most on point.

She's welcome to send her kids to a private school or home school.

Imagine if everyone who is against this does that. What would happen to the MCPS budget? Think again.

Nothing happens. People who send their kids to private school still pay taxes.

It's actually a win-win situation for MCPS when families go private. They get money, and have fewer students.

That's not true. MCPS sees drops in funding when enrollment numbers drop. That's why they panicked when enrollment numbers fell off post-pandemic.

Basically, the fewer students enrolled, the less money allocated in the budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not religious person, but I wouldn't want gender change ideas being taught to my 6 years old son. Thankfully some parents are fighting the good cause and MCPS is the problem here.

I am also not religious, but I have two degrees in Science and everything I have been taught makes me comfortable with the concept that gender is an assigned quality. It is not something that you can change.

I also don't want MCPS teaching my elementary school aged kid that he can change his gender. That is simply not true. He can wear dresses and enjoy 'girly' activities. But, he is a boy doing that.

MCPS has gone too far with this. I hope this lawsuit gains some traction and I hope the protesters get their voices heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not religious person, but I wouldn't want gender change ideas being taught to my 6 years old son. Thankfully some parents are fighting the good cause and MCPS is the problem here.

I am also not religious, but I have two degrees in Science and everything I have been taught makes me comfortable with the concept that gender is an assigned quality. It is not something that you can change.

I also don't want MCPS teaching my elementary school aged kid that he can change his gender. That is simply not true. He can wear dresses and enjoy 'girly' activities. But, he is a boy doing that.

MCPS has gone too far with this. I hope this lawsuit gains some traction and I hope the protesters get their voices heard.

+1

MCPS has gone too far. Before this discussion, I did not even know that MCPS was dancing in tune of LGBTQ lobby. It seems MCPS does not care about mental health of non-LGBTQ kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's clear that the Board's strategy is to just hope the protestors will go away. I think that's foolish and they should be actively working to seek a compromise with this group.

Separation of Church and State. Can't let a religion dictate what is taught in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not religious person, but I wouldn't want gender change ideas being taught to my 6 years old son. Thankfully some parents are fighting the good cause and MCPS is the problem here.

I am also not religious, but I have two degrees in Science and everything I have been taught makes me comfortable with the concept that gender is an assigned quality. It is not something that you can change.

I also don't want MCPS teaching my elementary school aged kid that he can change his gender. That is simply not true. He can wear dresses and enjoy 'girly' activities. But, he is a boy doing that.

MCPS has gone too far with this. I hope this lawsuit gains some traction and I hope the protesters get their voices heard.

+1

MCPS has gone too far. Before this discussion, I did not even know that MCPS was dancing in tune of LGBTQ lobby. It seems MCPS does not care about mental health of non-LGBTQ kids.

Voters need to vote out Harris. She seems to simply dismiss anyone not supporting LGBTQ political agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's clear that the Board's strategy is to just hope the protestors will go away. I think that's foolish and they should be actively working to seek a compromise with this group.

Separation of Church and State. Can't let a religion dictate what is taught in public schools.

Nah, MCPS should take a poll and it will be very clear, very quickly that normal population does not want 5 year old kids to get this non-sense ideas related to gender change. Nothing to do with religion. Every parent wants to protect their kids. The same population is much more comfortable to have this discussion in middle and high school.

More power to religious folks to fight this cause, but it's not religion vs secular issue. It's issue of parents not wanting to indoctrinate their kids.