Montgomery County MD Schools- A Horrific Nightmare

[Anonymous]

As usual, the Unites States is the country of extremes, but in all aspects of life; wish more people would think more "middle of the road".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As usual, the Unites States is the country of extremes, but in all aspects of life; wish more people would think more "middle of the road".

Never miss a chance to bash the US, right?

As opposed to which country? I am from another country and have family all over the world. People are the same everywhere. Where would you say that people think more 'middle of the road'?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you really conflating rape with sex ed and students being allowed to decide when/if to disclose being trans to their parents?

That makes it hard to take you seriously.

I'm just saying that it's pretty sketchy that a school system that has massive problems with sexual assault by teachers and students and administrators would seek to impose explicit sex ed on elementary school students with no parental opt-out allowed, and also seek to cut parents out of being informed of their own young children transitioning genders.

OP-- What are you so afraid of? What exactly scares you about transgender people and gay people? Are you afraid that if your child hears about this they will turn gay or transgender? I just don't get it. What is the problem with talking about being gay or transgender, and what exactly do those two things have to do with rape and sexual assault? And please tell us what about sex ed is explicit. Please provide accurate examples of explicit sex ed that you have real knowledge of.

NP here. It's not the topic that bothers or concerns me. It concerns me that a school system has a policy in place of not sharing information with parents. For this particular topic, most on this thread are in agreement. You might not agree if the information were something that, as a parent, you thought you should be told.

You will survive and your child will survive.

[Anonymous]

I blame parents.

[Anonymous]

OP, please seek professional help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you really conflating rape with sex ed and students being allowed to decide when/if to disclose being trans to their parents?

That makes it hard to take you seriously.

I'm just saying that it's pretty sketchy that a school system that has massive problems with sexual assault by teachers and students and administrators would seek to impose explicit sex ed on elementary school students with no parental opt-out allowed, and also seek to cut parents out of being informed of their own young children transitioning genders.

OP-- What are you so afraid of? What exactly scares you about transgender people and gay people? Are you afraid that if your child hears about this they will turn gay or transgender? I just don't get it. What is the problem with talking about being gay or transgender, and what exactly do those two things have to do with rape and sexual assault? And please tell us what about sex ed is explicit. Please provide accurate examples of explicit sex ed that you have real knowledge of.

NP here. It's not the topic that bothers or concerns me. It concerns me that a school system has a policy in place of not sharing information with parents. For this particular topic, most on this thread are in agreement. You might not agree if the information were something that, as a parent, you thought you should be told.

On the contrary. In this case, the school system has a policy in place of not interfering in the parent-child relationship. Who should tell a parent about a child's [non-cis] gender identity and [non-het] sexual orientation? The child. Your child should be telling you about this. Not the school system.

PP here. I've worked in public schools for a long time. Of course, our children should be telling us; and my husband and I have always had a close relationship with our kids (now adults). The policy that's been published is far more than "not interfering in the parent-child relationship." Teachers have traditionally shared information and concerns with parents. It shouldn't be "us against them."

Some information and concerns, yes. Other information and concerns, no.

Who's making it "us against them" here? The people who are attacking the public school systems. They want it both ways. An English/Language Arts curriculum that includes a picture book about a girl whose uncle marries a man? Intolerable interference in the parent-child relationship! A policy of allowing children their own communication with their parents about their gender identity and sexual orientation? Also intolerable interference in the parent-child relationship! Go figure.

(Although actually there is an explanation for this apparent contradiction: namely, the belief that children are the property of their parents.)

Children are most definitely not the property of their parents, but parents or guardians are legally responsible for minors.

Many of the arguments around this policy do seem like they are coming from a baseline of control/ownership, however. Parents say the school should notify them if their child wants to use a new name, but why? What is the argument for something that minor beyond "It's mine and I want to control it."

I'm thinking of all the people I know who switched to new names/nicknames in junior high. Formerly Robbie, now Rob. Formerly Mike, now Michael. Formerly Chrissy, now Chris. Formerly Kate, now Cate. Formerly Pranath, now Shawn. Formerly Amy, now ami with a heart over the i. How could our parents have fulfilled their legal responsibilities to us without the school informing them and requiring their permission?!

[Anonymous]

My guess is OP is one of the group of parents or their allies objecting to the LGBTQ+ books added to the curriculum last year, and removal of parental opt-out last Spring. They are trying their best to astroturf the debate and trash the whole district. Lame, but that's probably where it's coming from.

Just a bit of a reality check from a moderate MCPS parent; the school district and the Council overstepped here. They made the facile leap that all brown / immigrant people must be socially liberal. They're not; they're more conservative. The progressive agenda clumsily overstepped and they got slapped. This isn't really hard; MCPS has been too focused on equity and social justice and not focused enough on education and achievement, for a good ten years. It'd be OK / smart to acknowledge that and correct a bit, instead of digging in heels... but like everything, it's politicized and turned into a progressive acid test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is OP is one of the group of parents or their allies objecting to the LGBTQ+ books added to the curriculum last year, and removal of parental opt-out last Spring. They are trying their best to astroturf the debate and trash the whole district. Lame, but that's probably where it's coming from.

Just a bit of a reality check from a moderate MCPS parent; the school district and the Council overstepped here. They made the facile leap that all brown / immigrant people must be socially liberal. They're not; they're more conservative. The progressive agenda clumsily overstepped and they got slapped. This isn't really hard; MCPS has been too focused on equity and social justice and not focused enough on education and achievement, for a good ten years. It'd be OK / smart to acknowledge that and correct a bit, instead of digging in heels... but like everything, it's politicized and turned into a progressive acid test.

As a moderate, POC MCPS parent, you nailed it. 100%!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is OP is one of the group of parents or their allies objecting to the LGBTQ+ books added to the curriculum last year, and removal of parental opt-out last Spring. They are trying their best to astroturf the debate and trash the whole district. Lame, but that's probably where it's coming from.

Just a bit of a reality check from a moderate MCPS parent; the school district and the Council overstepped here. They made the facile leap that all brown / immigrant people must be socially liberal. They're not; they're more conservative. The progressive agenda clumsily overstepped and they got slapped. This isn't really hard; MCPS has been too focused on equity and social justice and not focused enough on education and achievement, for a good ten years. It'd be OK / smart to acknowledge that and correct a bit, instead of digging in heels... but like everything, it's politicized and turned into a progressive acid test.

As a moderate, POC MCPS parent, you nailed it. 100%!!!

As a moderate, POC MCPS parent, your child's class includes at least one of the following:

-LGBTQ+ students
-students from LGBTQ+ families in their class
-LGBTQ+ staff

If you perceive picture books with LGBTQ+ characters as a politicized overstep, how do you perceive LGBTQ+ people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is OP is one of the group of parents or their allies objecting to the LGBTQ+ books added to the curriculum last year, and removal of parental opt-out last Spring. They are trying their best to astroturf the debate and trash the whole district. Lame, but that's probably where it's coming from.

Just a bit of a reality check from a moderate MCPS parent; the school district and the Council overstepped here. They made the facile leap that all brown / immigrant people must be socially liberal. They're not; they're more conservative. The progressive agenda clumsily overstepped and they got slapped. This isn't really hard; MCPS has been too focused on equity and social justice and not focused enough on education and achievement, for a good ten years. It'd be OK / smart to acknowledge that and correct a bit, instead of digging in heels... but like everything, it's politicized and turned into a progressive acid test.

As a moderate, POC MCPS parent, you nailed it. 100%!!!

As a moderate, POC MCPS parent, your child's class includes at least one of the following:

-LGBTQ+ students
-students from LGBTQ+ families in their class
-LGBTQ+ staff

If you perceive picture books with LGBTQ+ characters as a politicized overstep, how do you perceive LGBTQ+ people?

I didn't say the inclusion itself is an overstep. I think it's valid to bring LGBTQ+ representation into the classroom. I think the manner and the lack of nuance, thoughtfulness and collaboration of this implementation has led to the backlash MCPS has been facing, and that's where I think MCPS overstepped.

For whatever reason, MCPS went with the most aggressively liberal progressive path and decided it could offend and do what it thought best without regard to room for compromise and negotiation. That has led to an incredibly politically charged environment that is detracting from its main goal of educating students and sapping essential trust that is needed between parents and the school system.

MCPS always talks about taking pride in its diversity but it didn't show in the way it handled the LGBTQ+ curriculum implementation. It was jarring, behind closed doors and terribly ham-fisted. They even suppressed dissent and concern amongst the admins who voiced this, which was only brought to light by CAIR FOIAing the correspondence. It's clear that someone or a small group had an approach they wanted to force no matter what, and now we're all dealing with the distractions and fallout from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you really conflating rape with sex ed and students being allowed to decide when/if to disclose being trans to their parents?

That makes it hard to take you seriously.

I'm just saying that it's pretty sketchy that a school system that has massive problems with sexual assault by teachers and students and administrators would seek to impose explicit sex ed on elementary school students with no parental opt-out allowed, and also seek to cut parents out of being informed of their own young children transitioning genders.

OP-- What are you so afraid of? What exactly scares you about transgender people and gay people? Are you afraid that if your child hears about this they will turn gay or transgender? I just don't get it. What is the problem with talking about being gay or transgender, and what exactly do those two things have to do with rape and sexual assault? And please tell us what about sex ed is explicit. Please provide accurate examples of explicit sex ed that you have real knowledge of.

NP here. It's not the topic that bothers or concerns me. It concerns me that a school system has a policy in place of not sharing information with parents. For this particular topic, most on this thread are in agreement. You might not agree if the information were something that, as a parent, you thought you should be told.

You will survive and your child will survive.

Good afternoon! My kids are adults now, and their dad and I never had any problems with them as regards open conversations and fearless sharing. Their "survival" was never an issue. I'm also an educator who is fully aware of confidentiality laws, etc. I disagree with the line of thought that school personnel should withhold information from parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you really conflating rape with sex ed and students being allowed to decide when/if to disclose being trans to their parents?

That makes it hard to take you seriously.

I'm just saying that it's pretty sketchy that a school system that has massive problems with sexual assault by teachers and students and administrators would seek to impose explicit sex ed on elementary school students with no parental opt-out allowed, and also seek to cut parents out of being informed of their own young children transitioning genders.

OP-- What are you so afraid of? What exactly scares you about transgender people and gay people? Are you afraid that if your child hears about this they will turn gay or transgender? I just don't get it. What is the problem with talking about being gay or transgender, and what exactly do those two things have to do with rape and sexual assault? And please tell us what about sex ed is explicit. Please provide accurate examples of explicit sex ed that you have real knowledge of.

NP here. It's not the topic that bothers or concerns me. It concerns me that a school system has a policy in place of not sharing information with parents. For this particular topic, most on this thread are in agreement. You might not agree if the information were something that, as a parent, you thought you should be told.

On the contrary. In this case, the school system has a policy in place of not interfering in the parent-child relationship. Who should tell a parent about a child's [non-cis] gender identity and [non-het] sexual orientation? The child. Your child should be telling you about this. Not the school system.

PP here. I've worked in public schools for a long time. Of course, our children should be telling us; and my husband and I have always had a close relationship with our kids (now adults). The policy that's been published is far more than "not interfering in the parent-child relationship." Teachers have traditionally shared information and concerns with parents. It shouldn't be "us against them."

Some information and concerns, yes. Other information and concerns, no.

Who's making it "us against them" here? The people who are attacking the public school systems. They want it both ways. An English/Language Arts curriculum that includes a picture book about a girl whose uncle marries a man? Intolerable interference in the parent-child relationship! A policy of allowing children their own communication with their parents about their gender identity and sexual orientation? Also intolerable interference in the parent-child relationship! Go figure.

(Although actually there is an explanation for this apparent contradiction: namely, the belief that children are the property of their parents.)

Children are most definitely not the property of their parents, but parents or guardians are legally responsible for minors.

Many of the arguments around this policy do seem like they are coming from a baseline of control/ownership, however. Parents say the school should notify them if their child wants to use a new name, but why? What is the argument for something that minor beyond "It's mine and I want to control it."

I'm thinking of all the people I know who switched to new names/nicknames in junior high. Formerly Robbie, now Rob. Formerly Mike, now Michael. Formerly Chrissy, now Chris. Formerly Kate, now Cate. Formerly Pranath, now Shawn. Formerly Amy, now ami with a heart over the i. How could our parents have fulfilled their legal responsibilities to us without the school informing them and requiring their permission?!

Surely, you're aware that we're not talking about just the use of nicknames at school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who would send their children to these places if they had a choice?

-Drug use, overdoses common in school

https://wjla.com/news/local/student-overdose-jfk-john-kennedy-high-school-silver-spring-montgomery-county-medical-emergency-police-maryland-drugs-fentanyl-cocaine-students-teachers-kids-dmv-dc-mcpd
https://moco360.media/2023/01/31/five-county-youths-died-of-overdoses-this-school-year-jawando-tells-teens/
https://www.mymcmedia.org/more-young-lives-put-in-jeopardy-elrich-calls-fentanyl-use-very-concerning/
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/parents-teachers-concerned-with-how-mcps-handles-drug-overdoses
https://moco360.media/2023/08/09/moco-officials-shocked-by-casual-reports-of-drugs-in-mcps-classrooms/
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/mcps-to-address-bathroom-safety-concerns-as-parents-voice-frustrations
https://moco360.media/2023/02/04/vaping-marijuana-drinking-alcohol-inside-the-bathroom-culture-at-b-cc/

-Frequent shootings, police officers sent home

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/magruder-mom-sits-down-with-fox-5-marking-one-year-since-her-son-was-shot-at-school
https://moco360.media/2022/08/29/how-safe-are-montgomery-county-schools/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/montgomery-schools-police-officer-program/2021/08/25/99fe70d2-058b-11ec-a654-900a78538242_story.html
https://www.mymcmedia.org/montgomery-blair-10th-grader-fatally-shot/
https://www.wsfa.com/2019/02/26/student-shot-montgomerys-lee-high-school/

-Rapes common

-Many are teachers and staff members are predatory sex offenders

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/unlicensed-school-staffers-have-less-to-lose-if-they-break-rules/25611/
https://www.scribd.com/document/344866331/2017-April-List-of-Known-MCPS-Offenders#
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/08/11/joel-beidleman-montgomery-county-principal/
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/montgomery-county-substitute-teacher-charged-with-sexual-abuse-of-a-minor/19486186#
https://www.foxnews.com/us/former-maryland-teacher-guilty-sexually-abusing-underage-student

-300 schoolchildren have transitioned genders in just the past few years, parents cannot be told per new policies, can't even sue

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca4/22-2034/22-2034-2023-08-14.html

-Mandatory sex education for elementary school children with no parental opt-out, upheld by courts. Parental opt-out ended after too many parents did not want their elementary school children to read sexually explicit material

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/aug/24/judge-rules-against-montgomery-county-religious-pa/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/08/02/montgomery-lgbtq-books-principals-concerned/

-Parental guidance is "let you child lead and don't ever do anything to stop your child transitioning

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/lgbtq/advice-for-parents-of-trans-kids-haaga.pdf

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/LGBTQ/

What a disgusting, apocalyptic nightmare- sex, drugs, violence, all overseen by predatory adults. In the 1960s, even the most cracked-out hippie could not have foreseen this kind of horror.

Oh, geez. Shut up. I see Steve Austin is still hanging around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you really conflating rape with sex ed and students being allowed to decide when/if to disclose being trans to their parents?

That makes it hard to take you seriously.

I'm just saying that it's pretty sketchy that a school system that has massive problems with sexual assault by teachers and students and administrators would seek to impose explicit sex ed on elementary school students with no parental opt-out allowed, and also seek to cut parents out of being informed of their own young children transitioning genders.

OP-- What are you so afraid of? What exactly scares you about transgender people and gay people? Are you afraid that if your child hears about this they will turn gay or transgender? I just don't get it. What is the problem with talking about being gay or transgender, and what exactly do those two things have to do with rape and sexual assault? And please tell us what about sex ed is explicit. Please provide accurate examples of explicit sex ed that you have real knowledge of.

NP here. It's not the topic that bothers or concerns me. It concerns me that a school system has a policy in place of not sharing information with parents. For this particular topic, most on this thread are in agreement. You might not agree if the information were something that, as a parent, you thought you should be told.

On the contrary. In this case, the school system has a policy in place of not interfering in the parent-child relationship. Who should tell a parent about a child's [non-cis] gender identity and [non-het] sexual orientation? The child. Your child should be telling you about this. Not the school system.

PP here. I've worked in public schools for a long time. Of course, our children should be telling us; and my husband and I have always had a close relationship with our kids (now adults). The policy that's been published is far more than "not interfering in the parent-child relationship." Teachers have traditionally shared information and concerns with parents. It shouldn't be "us against them."

Some information and concerns, yes. Other information and concerns, no.

Who's making it "us against them" here? The people who are attacking the public school systems. They want it both ways. An English/Language Arts curriculum that includes a picture book about a girl whose uncle marries a man? Intolerable interference in the parent-child relationship! A policy of allowing children their own communication with their parents about their gender identity and sexual orientation? Also intolerable interference in the parent-child relationship! Go figure.

(Although actually there is an explanation for this apparent contradiction: namely, the belief that children are the property of their parents.)

Children are most definitely not the property of their parents, but parents or guardians are legally responsible for minors.

Many of the arguments around this policy do seem like they are coming from a baseline of control/ownership, however. Parents say the school should notify them if their child wants to use a new name, but why? What is the argument for something that minor beyond "It's mine and I want to control it."

I'm thinking of all the people I know who switched to new names/nicknames in junior high. Formerly Robbie, now Rob. Formerly Mike, now Michael. Formerly Chrissy, now Chris. Formerly Kate, now Cate. Formerly Pranath, now Shawn. Formerly Amy, now ami with a heart over the i. How could our parents have fulfilled their legal responsibilities to us without the school informing them and requiring their permission?!

Surely, you're aware that we're not talking about just the use of nicknames at school?

Actually we are talking exactly about that. The use of nicknames at school. See here, for example: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2023/08/10/pronouns-law-parents-annoyed-schools-must-report-nicknames-indianapolis-marion-hamilton-county/70562122007/

[Anonymous]

OP, Literally half of the top ten high schools in Maryland are in moco. No other county has that kind of representation. You really think these relatively high performing kids are dodging attacks, rapists and pedophiles that frequently? Don’t you think you are being hyperbolic ?

Are you a concerned parent? There are certainly many kids who would gladly take your kids spot. It seems like you have a lot of energy to invest in a legitimately failing school system instead of tilting at windmills here.