On April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court held oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor. As I listened to it, I realized this case reveals the left’s playbook for indoctrinating our children in the public-school arena.
Now, I don’t often take two hours of my day to listen to every oral argument that happens. I’m a nerd but I do have a life. (If by life you mean watching “Bluey” with my kids and answering the endless call for snacks. But I digress.) I did, however, take the time to listen to this important case so you don’t have to.
Let’s discuss the facts:
The school board in Montgomery County, Md., which is not far from Washington, D.C., decided it was important to teach children to respect each other regardless of differences. Sounds nice, right? But here’s how they planned to do it.
They came up with a list of books that each teacher starting in Pre-K (three years old for some students) read and discussed with students during their English and Language Arts class. They weren’t to discuss things like plot development, vocabulary, or other things usually discussed in such classes, but rather the morality presented in the books.
These books discussed gay marriage, gender identity, and sexuality. One book taught that doctors merely guess your gender at birth, but that it’s really whatever you feel. Another book showed a gay wedding. The conversation surrounding it was not, “This is a thing that exists; you may disagree, but that’s ok, we must be kind and respectful.” Instead, it was, “These things exist, and if you disagree, you are being unkind and disrespectful, and we do not allow that.” Other perspectives were not discussed or made normative. Further, if a child contradicted the material, the teacher was to shut it down by saying that the response was unkind and that we shouldn’t say these things, no matter how it was said.
For a short time, parents were given the chance to opt out. But that option was soon removed because too many parents were doing so.
When parents, mostly Muslim in faith, protested to the school board about this curriculum, the board said they had been indoctrinated by heteronormative white supremacists and called them hateful. Muslims, mind you. (Where were you, Maryland Christians?) Eventually, the board decided parents were not even to be informed about the curriculum, lest they get upset. However, more information came out when teachers got upset because they didn’t think this was age-appropriate.
Parents, understandably, sued the school board.
The case hinges on several things including coercion, religious discrimination, and parental rights to religious upbringing. I, personally, think parental rights to education should have played a larger role in the arguments, but I get the strategy and respect it.
The school board’s arguments were largely, if you don’t like it, homeschool or put your kids in private school. Don’t like that? Too bad, better run for school board.
Legal arguments aside for a bit, here are some things I noticed in the argument:
1. The school put this content in the English and Language Arts curriculum. They didn’t put it in the sexuality and family organization curriculum, which is separate and has an opt-out mechanism. Why? Because it’s hard to opt students out of what is otherwise a required subject in schools. The subject logically fits in with sexuality and family structure. But they wanted to make sure the kids got this education.
2. The school system decided to teach respect for differences and inclusivity not by using books that teach respect for differences, but by using books that normalize that which is not culturally normative. The board admitted to presenting the worldview in these books as fact, something not to be argued with or challenged. There are many books that teach that people have different worldviews and that we must treat them with kindness and respect. But those are not the books the school board chose.
3. The school system decided to read books to children that taught them to trust their feelings on gender over their parents or doctors. Again, this was presented as fact, not as opinion or possible viewpoint. A kid taught to doubt their authorities is not going to trust when those authorities try to contradict what a teacher is telling them. The education system knows that and likely planned for that.
4. Public schools are doing this. In a society where, sadly, most households require both parents to work and where private school is unaffordable for many, kids are taught these ideologies. Again, not as a different worldview to be treated with kindness despite valid disagreement, but as a fact for which you are called evil if you dare disagree.
Make no mistake, this is not an isolated issue. This is a test run. I am sure many of you are seeing it now in your kids’ schools. The argument is repeatedly that it’s about kindness and respect. It’s the left’s play on Christian sentiment and sensibility … but I’ll leave off discussion of whether this use of empathy is even Christian for another time.
In essence, it’s just a Trojan horse. They don’t want to be respected and just treated with kindness. They want you to be in agreement and celebration. And these books are how they are getting your kids to do it.
But we know their playbook now. Stand up to it. Fight back. Don’t let it get any farther. Knowing your enemy is half the battle. And now you know.
I’ll update you once the Supreme Court rules in this case, but considering how the arguments went, I speculate that Montgomery County will lose. But we shall see in June!
Laura Clark is a wife, mother, and community activist. She currently serves as the interim president of Alabama Center for Law and Liberty, a conservative nonprofit law firm that fights for limited government, free markets, and strong families in the courts. Anything written by Laura for this publication does not constitute legal advice.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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