Defend the innocence of students at HKMS

I applaud your petition and standing up for parents rights! I plan on asking for an opt out if teachers plan on portraying Columbus as a hero (murderer of thousands) that the civil war was about states rights (racism and slavery) or that January 6th was a protest (domestic terrorism). Thanks for opening this door!

You mean the people who feel as if they have no choice but to take their own lives because they are incessantly being bullied and diminished by people like you

Middle school is confusing and would be much easier if kids were given the terminology that helps them find their identity, wether it be in the LGBTQ+ community or the cis-het- community. It isn’t harmful, it helps these kids to figure out who they are in a safe space that obviously is not provided to them at home

*they’re. If you’re going to make an uneducated remark at least use correct grammar so you don’t look as stupid as you are

These are crimes against our children.

Very concerned grandmother!

Unaware of this petition, I came across a letter penned by a fellow resident of Higganum in defense of a more broad gender curriculum in RSD 17. Having read her letter, I'd like to provide a response here. Kelly I am a resident of Higganum, like you and a father of two. I have no Masters in Education and I have no teaching experience. What I do have, is a love for my children, like you and the hope that they can grow up to be responsible, kind, thoughtful adults who reach out and help others. That is my job, as a father, and one I take more seriously than any other. It is not the job, however, of this school district. This school district is tasked with making sure that my children are safe and have the necessary education to advance further in academia. Yes, this often includes learning very valuable social skills that can only be developed in a peer setting but it does not mean allowing a curriculum that includes any form of ideology. Not mine, not yours. You admit that gender is a social construct and like so many others, it has no place in the school system. You are absolutely correct that middle school and high school students should have a place to discuss sex and sexuality and they do. They have it in school, in health class, with a curriculum that discusses both sex and biology. And for most, they have support at home if wanted or needed. Your desire to help those who do not have that support at home is admirable, but to usurp the rights of good parents will only create division and work against the goals you look to achieve. Ends will never justify your means. I understand you believe this petition is hateful because it signals to a community, that many refuse to help them or understand them but I assure you that it does not do that. It only signals that this is not the right way to show that support. I am happy to discuss this more now, later or if/when it is presented to the board. [email protected]

All these things are thought by their parents not school especially to our younger once

I find it outrageous that teachers have started down a dark path with this gender identity curriculum, exposing young impressionable minds to what most parents would view as inappropriate and psychological abuse. Unfortunately, many parents are unaware to the extent that this material is being rolled out, otherwise I think you would see a massive outcry. Teachers need to stick with teaching and leave the parenting to the parents.

Let the children play not being burdened with this insanity Let them make their decision when their 18

The middle school years are very confusing. This lesson seems to heighten confusion. If kindness and inclusion is the goal, we (RDS 17) need to find a more appropriate way to teach those virtues instead of more confusion and insecurities. I stand against this approach to teaching our children who they are and how to identify others. This is NOT how we (RDS 17) should be teaching awareness, inclusion, and kindness. This is teaching our children to be confused, form cliques, and act discriminatory. Please STOP allowing this harmful ideology to be taught in our schools. The bigger issue is the lack of a parent’s knowledge of exactly WHAT is being taught in their child’s classes. RDS 17 needs to start giving parents their RIGHT to know exactly what is being taught and allowing them to OPT out of anything that they know is discriminatory, confusing, and harmful to their child. IT IS A PARENT’S RIGHT. AGAIN, Please STOP teaching this harmful ideology to our children.

I stand against oppressive ideologies, the effects of which are seen in higher rates of depression and suicide among youth who have been traumatized into “notions” of transgenderism.

Thank you for spreading awareness. The past two years have removed us from our children's education in far too many ways.

Stop this madness. We have enough going on as it is. Let's not give them something else to worry about. Enough is enough.

Stand together and bring awareness for our kids.