Parents should have the right to choose what their children are taught. The government should not be allowed to indoctrinate our children.
A
Aaron Lewis
5 years ago
There are some serious charges and claims in this petition and worth thinking together about as a community. As a clinical psychologist and a parent with a current MITCH student I have some thoughts I’d like to add to the discussion.
First, to address concerns about sex education in school. There are many reasons to begin talking about sex and gender at young ages in developmentally appropriate ways. We know that children begin developing gender stereotypes very young, far before reaching kindergarten. Whether they (or we as parents) realize it or not they are thinking about gender and identity. It can be very confusing as adults to sort out these complex dynamics and much more confusing for children. Yet, talking about something is an antidote to the confusion. It communicates to our kids that we aren’t afraid of difficult topics and that we can think about them together. As a parent part of my job is to talk with my kids about it which will inherently carry my individual values and views. Even if my values don’t line with what is in the curriculum, talking about something well means bringing a variety of perspectives. I appreciate MITCH being part of this discussion and welcome their role in helping my kids develop the freedom to talk about sex, bodies, and gender without fear or shame.
I’ll address the second and fourth point together. I cannot emphasis enough my appreciation for MITCH’s efforts to include social justice as part of the curriculum. There is obviously a heated debate about these issues in our country and city. I’ll simply say that a social justice focus is a reason I would choose to send my kids to MITCH and I would emphatically request that even more be done to recruit and promote BIPOC teachers and administrators at MITCH.
Lastly, while I do not have much (or any) knowledge in choosing curriculum, I do have an interest in understanding and analyzing research. There are problems with the statement in the petition “common c
R
Ryan
5 years ago
This is madness
P
Pierre Delecto
5 years ago
Featured
Baloney. Reactionary tripe from privileged white people offended by the possibility that their children might have the opportunity to understand the experiences of non-white people and strive to make the world a more just place. MITCH thrives on challenging students to achieve their full potential, rather than watering down and underestimating their capacity. Tackling hard subjects is only a "distraction" when it threatens your own power.
Respectfully,
A concerned MITCH parent of color
M
Mark Waterman
5 years ago
I completely agree with the stated concerns
B
Becky Hampson
5 years ago
Featured
I would please urge everyone to do their thorough diligence before talking down about MITCH and/or getting angry. I emailed Keri (Butler) directly about the email and her response was that there were certainly some untruths in it, and she was working currently to send out a response/explanation (as if she doesn't have enough going on). Please everyone - be patient and listen to both sides first before getting upset or making assumptions. I have to admit that if a lot of this is true, my family would some of these areas disturbing as well. However, I want to ensure I am fully educated first before making any rash comments/decisions for my children.
A
Aaron Peterson
5 years ago
I agree wholly with this petition. We have been so supportive of Mitch over the years and so blessed by the direction it had chosen to pursue for those years. This summer it has been with an extremely heavy heart that we have watched with utter disappointment as what has made mitch such a wonderful blessing and a place to be proud of for the entire community has derailed and decided that somehow being just like the public schools is something to strive for. We couldn't feel any stronger about this, if the path decided upon this summer remains we could no longer in good conscience, support nor recommend having children attend Mitch. It breaks our hearts to think of the memories and great friends who have called Mitch home, and to see Mitch loose what made her so special is a great loss to our family, our friends our community and ultimately our nation. I hope you reconsider and recognize how special Mitch is and what makes her so.
B
Beth Sethi
5 years ago
Featured
First of all, who is this petition started by? And why are non-MITCH parents signing this? These accusations are baseless and this anonymous method of approaching this is counter-productive. We will not be signing this, but welcome a conversation with any current MITCH parents who want to discuss why topics such as social justice benefit all kids at MITCH.
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Lonny Winn
5 years ago
M
M
Mike Mills
5 years ago
This is extremely disturbing.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Featured
How does MITCH differentiate itself from a public school? What is the Vision and Mission of MITCH?
T
Teresa Harke
5 years ago
Please focus only on sound educational theory.
B
Brian Overholt
5 years ago
Featured
My wife and have been very concerned by recent changes and do not intend to subject our children to the kinds of things that MITCH's new leadership seems bent on teaching. We just decided on a new school, but feel strongly that the quality of education of those that will remain at MITCH is still worth fighting for. These children need a solid education in academics, not ideology and indoctrination.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Children (humans) are not born with bias’. - it is not the school right to inform children on sexuality, gender or race before they are developmentally ready to take on the emotional issues. They just want to be friends with kids. It is not a schools right to take that development away from the child or the parent.
J
Julia Rossell
5 years ago
We moved away a few months ago and it saddens me to see what is happening to Portland AND now MITCH! Please, continue to stand up against all these changes.
D
Debbie Hyland
5 years ago
Take Mitch back to it's earliest days when it was an amazing school.
J
Julie Bosket
5 years ago
Featured
WOW...as a former MITCH family who benefited from the strong Saxon math curriculum and the foundation of Core Knowledge, I am disappointed to see the school become "just another public school". With these changes, there is really no point in going to MITCH...driving your child to and from, school with limited space and resources for play and sports.
Parents should have the right to choose what their children are taught. The government should not be allowed to indoctrinate our children.
There are some serious charges and claims in this petition and worth thinking together about as a community. As a clinical psychologist and a parent with a current MITCH student I have some thoughts I’d like to add to the discussion. First, to address concerns about sex education in school. There are many reasons to begin talking about sex and gender at young ages in developmentally appropriate ways. We know that children begin developing gender stereotypes very young, far before reaching kindergarten. Whether they (or we as parents) realize it or not they are thinking about gender and identity. It can be very confusing as adults to sort out these complex dynamics and much more confusing for children. Yet, talking about something is an antidote to the confusion. It communicates to our kids that we aren’t afraid of difficult topics and that we can think about them together. As a parent part of my job is to talk with my kids about it which will inherently carry my individual values and views. Even if my values don’t line with what is in the curriculum, talking about something well means bringing a variety of perspectives. I appreciate MITCH being part of this discussion and welcome their role in helping my kids develop the freedom to talk about sex, bodies, and gender without fear or shame. I’ll address the second and fourth point together. I cannot emphasis enough my appreciation for MITCH’s efforts to include social justice as part of the curriculum. There is obviously a heated debate about these issues in our country and city. I’ll simply say that a social justice focus is a reason I would choose to send my kids to MITCH and I would emphatically request that even more be done to recruit and promote BIPOC teachers and administrators at MITCH. Lastly, while I do not have much (or any) knowledge in choosing curriculum, I do have an interest in understanding and analyzing research. There are problems with the statement in the petition “common c
This is madness
Baloney. Reactionary tripe from privileged white people offended by the possibility that their children might have the opportunity to understand the experiences of non-white people and strive to make the world a more just place. MITCH thrives on challenging students to achieve their full potential, rather than watering down and underestimating their capacity. Tackling hard subjects is only a "distraction" when it threatens your own power. Respectfully, A concerned MITCH parent of color
I completely agree with the stated concerns
I would please urge everyone to do their thorough diligence before talking down about MITCH and/or getting angry. I emailed Keri (Butler) directly about the email and her response was that there were certainly some untruths in it, and she was working currently to send out a response/explanation (as if she doesn't have enough going on). Please everyone - be patient and listen to both sides first before getting upset or making assumptions. I have to admit that if a lot of this is true, my family would some of these areas disturbing as well. However, I want to ensure I am fully educated first before making any rash comments/decisions for my children.
I agree wholly with this petition. We have been so supportive of Mitch over the years and so blessed by the direction it had chosen to pursue for those years. This summer it has been with an extremely heavy heart that we have watched with utter disappointment as what has made mitch such a wonderful blessing and a place to be proud of for the entire community has derailed and decided that somehow being just like the public schools is something to strive for. We couldn't feel any stronger about this, if the path decided upon this summer remains we could no longer in good conscience, support nor recommend having children attend Mitch. It breaks our hearts to think of the memories and great friends who have called Mitch home, and to see Mitch loose what made her so special is a great loss to our family, our friends our community and ultimately our nation. I hope you reconsider and recognize how special Mitch is and what makes her so.
First of all, who is this petition started by? And why are non-MITCH parents signing this? These accusations are baseless and this anonymous method of approaching this is counter-productive. We will not be signing this, but welcome a conversation with any current MITCH parents who want to discuss why topics such as social justice benefit all kids at MITCH.
M
This is extremely disturbing.
How does MITCH differentiate itself from a public school? What is the Vision and Mission of MITCH?
Please focus only on sound educational theory.
My wife and have been very concerned by recent changes and do not intend to subject our children to the kinds of things that MITCH's new leadership seems bent on teaching. We just decided on a new school, but feel strongly that the quality of education of those that will remain at MITCH is still worth fighting for. These children need a solid education in academics, not ideology and indoctrination.
Children (humans) are not born with bias’. - it is not the school right to inform children on sexuality, gender or race before they are developmentally ready to take on the emotional issues. They just want to be friends with kids. It is not a schools right to take that development away from the child or the parent.
We moved away a few months ago and it saddens me to see what is happening to Portland AND now MITCH! Please, continue to stand up against all these changes.
Take Mitch back to it's earliest days when it was an amazing school.
WOW...as a former MITCH family who benefited from the strong Saxon math curriculum and the foundation of Core Knowledge, I am disappointed to see the school become "just another public school". With these changes, there is really no point in going to MITCH...driving your child to and from, school with limited space and resources for play and sports.