Image Credit: Capitol Resource Institute
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Capitol Resource Institute (CRI) has a checklist for parents with children heading back to school for the start of a new academic year.
CRI is a non-profit organization working to preserve and advance a culture of traditional family values.
CRI says that “Tennessee schools are increasingly being used as indoctrination centers rather than focusing on reading, writing, and mathematics. Progressive groups have made schools a testing ground for personal ideologies and elevated the education system as a shrine to social engineering, radical sex education and the promotion of gender identity.”
The checklist has questions for parents and caregivers to consider while reviewing student’s textbooks and learning materials.
The Tennessee General Assembly passed HB 210 last year which requires that LEAs publish the curriculum the school district uses on the LEA’s website and must update any curriculum changes at the beginning of each semester. The law went into effect July 1st, 2022.
HB 529 also became law last year which mandates that parents be informed at least 30 days before any sexual orientation or gender identity curriculum is presented to students as part of a family life program or sex education program. Parents may examine the instructional materials and may excuse the student from any portion of the curriculum or from the program entirely without the student being penalized for grading purposes. (The student will be given an alternate assignment.)
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CRI says that the vast majority of school districts rely on “opt-out” policies for sex ed over “opt-in” policies. According to CRI, this is “a deceptive and burdensome tactic, meant to clear the way for them to carry out their extremist agenda without parental interference.” CRI says the only sure way to protect children is for parents to opt out of all such lessons.
Parents may also want to opt their children out of school surveys as the new school year begins.
The Parental Rights Council has an opt-out form that parents may use to opt their children out of both sex ed and all surveys.
The CRI checklist reminds parents to learn what clubs are active on their child’s school campus. Parents may also want to inquire about their school district’s policy on student organizations.
In Wilson County there are LGBTQ support groups in all four high schools. According to the WCS policy:
Student organizations are an extension of the academic curriculum and are intended to complement the basic instructional program.
The principal, in cooperation with the faculty and student body representatives, shall approve all clubs and organizations within the school.
One or more staff members will serve as sponsors of each activity and will attend all meetings. Each sponsor will evaluate the activity and make recommendations concerning changes, continuance or deletion from the school’s activity program.
An approved copy of the aims, objectives and constitution for each organization will be kept on file in the principal’s office.
Parents/legal guardians must be notified of all student clubs and organizations and provided the opportunity to prohibit their child(ren) from participating in such clubs and organization by providing written notification to their child(ren)’s school.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
