Wednesday, April 23, 2025

The Supremes to decide if public school parents have any rights

 The sick and twisted public school teachers in a Washington, D.C. suburb got their blue and pink hair buns in knots when some parents wanted to opt out of their children being forced to attend some gay time story hour, so they ended up in court. 

The Supreme Court on Tuesday was sympathetic to a group of Maryland parents who want to be able to opt their elementary-school-aged children out of instruction that includes LGBTQ+ themes. The parents argued that the local school board’s refusal to give them that choice violates their religious beliefs and therefore their constitutional right to freely exercise their religion. During nearly two-and-a-half hours of oral argument, a majority of the justices seemed to agree with them, with several justices questioning whether there would even be any harm to simply allowing the parents to excuse their children from the instruction. 

The linked article lists the title of one of these books as Pride Puppy, about a dog that gets lost in a pride parade (Better wash them paws when you get home, Spot). They mention another book about a girl who goes to her gay uncle's wedding.  I'm sure that gay uncle Buck is awaiting this decision with "baited breath" (sic), but even with a sane decision, why would a parent keep their child in a school full of witches?

I had this same decision to make. 

The date was November 3, 2000 (4 days before the election) My middle son's 3rd grade class assignment was - "If you were old enough to vote, who would you vote for, and why?" 


As you can see, he apparently got the answer wrong, as he was supposed to say, Algore.

Needless to say, I had a meeting with this teacher the next day. I don't remember exactly what I said, but I do still remember the rage I felt by her "correcting" my 3rd graders' paper. Her response was something along the lines that these papers would be taped to the children's lockers for the upcoming parent/teacher night and she thought it would cause a stir. She sprung tears and appologized, and even stated that Joe could re-write his report verbatim and she would see that it was used. I didn't expect this response, and thanked her and conceded that I would have him re-write it using the politically corrected ending of hers. 

Fast forward to 2001 and shortly after the 9/11 attack. My oldest (same public school system, in ninth grade) informs us that he was selected to be pulled from class to attend some presentation by a muslim imam on the virtues of islam, or some such nonsense. Needless to say, I wrote a note stating I did not give permission for this, and that under no circumstances was he to be pulled from class for this. I remember stating in the note that we were practicing Catholics, and that I doubted they would allow our local priest to recruit here. I also did not have warm feelings for the religion that inspired taking down the WTC.

When he arrived home the next day, he informed us that he was pulled from class and made to attend this muslim presentation. I immediately went to the office (probably frightening the busy-body women on the other side of the counter) and demanded to see the principal. She refused to see me with some excuse. I immediately pulled my 3 boys from this public school system and enrolled them in a very expensive Catholic schools. 

I only wish that had been enough. "2 out of 3 ain't bad" in many things, but in raising decent human beings it sucks.


2 comments:

  1. School were in decline back in the sixties. From what I've seen, the decline has led to totally unacceptable public school districts that abuse tax dollars.

    ReplyDelete
  2. They have been playing the long game for sure, actively working against us.

    ReplyDelete