Scotus To Rule On Parents Declining Lgbtq+ Lessons In Maryland Schools

[Kale Carey]

MARYLAND PARENTS ARE TAKING THEIR FIGHT OVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STORY TIME ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT… RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT BOOKS READ TO STUDENTS—FOCUSED ON LGBTQ THEMES—SAYING THEY VIOLATE THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

ON TUESDAY, THE JUSTICES WILL TAKE UP ONE BIG QUESTION: ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS VIOLATING PARENTS’ RELIGIOUS RIGHTS BY TEACHING YOUNG KIDS ABOUT GENDER AND SEXUALITY—WITHOUT NOTICE OR A CHANCE TO OPT OUT?

IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEACHERS ARE REQUIRED TO READ STORYBOOKS THAT CELEBRATE GENDER TRANSITIONS, PRIDE PARADES AND SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS.

THE SCHOOL BOARD SAYS IT’S MEANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE INCLUSIVE THINKING.

BOOKS LIKE “BORN READY: THE TRUE STORY OF A BOY NAMED PENELOPE” ARE PART OF THE READING ROTATION FOR TEACHERS.

THE STORY SUGGESTS THAT DOCTORS ONLY “GUESS” A BABY’S GENDER AT BIRTH—AND THAT CHILDREN CAN DECIDE THEIR GENDER FOR THEMSELVES.

IN 2023, THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD REVERSED ITS POLICY THAT REQUIRING PARENT NOTIFICATION ABOUT ITS INCLUSIVITY PROGRAM—INCLUDING LGBTQ STORY TIMES.

BEFORE THAT, STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE COULD OPT OUT BUT THAT OPTION WAS TAKEN AWAY.

COURT DOCUMENTS EXPRESS MONTGOMERY PUBLIC SCHOOLS REASONING BEHIND THE REVERSAL: “The increasing number of opt-out requests … gave emergence to 3 related concerns: precocious student absenteeism, nan infeasibility of administering opt-outs crossed classrooms and schools, and nan consequence of exposing students who judge nan storybooks correspond them and their families to societal stigma and isolation.” 

BUT EVEN SOME PRINCIPALS PUSHED BACK—CALLING THE BOOKS AGE INAPPROPRIATE, SAYING THEY PRESENTED GENDER IDEOLOGY AS FACT, DISMISSED RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND SHAMED STUDENTS WHO DISAGREED.

THE LAWSUIT DOESN’T TRY TO BLOCK THE CURRICULUM—IT ARGUES THAT FORCING KIDS TO PARTICIPATE GOES AGAINST THEIR FAMILIES’ FAITHS AND VIOLATES THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

A LOWER COURT DISMISSED THE CASE, RULING THAT BECAUSE NO ONE WAS FORCED TO CHANGE THEIR BELIEFS, THERE WAS NO VIOLATION.

THE PARENTS—WHO COME FROM CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM  AND JEWISH BACKGROUNDS—SAY THIS ISN’T ABOUT POLITICS. IT’S ABOUT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND BEING LEFT OUT OF A CONVERSATION THEY BELIEVE MATTERS TO THEIR CHILDREN’S VALUES.

THIS CASE DRAWS PARALLELS TO A LANDMARK SUPREME COURT DECISION—WISCONSIN V. YODER.

IN 1972, AMISH FAMILIES FOUGHT TO PULL THEIR KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL AFTER EIGHTH GRADE, DESPITE A STATE LAW REQUIRING ATTENDANCE UNTIL AGE 16.

THE SUPREME COURT SIDED WITH THE FAMILIES, RULING THAT THEIR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM OUTWEIGHED THE STATE’S EDUCATION REQUIREMENT.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KALÉ CAREY 

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