Hamilton County Schools Librarian Aims To Erase Motherhood, On Mother’s Day (Op-Ed)
Image Credit: Google Maps
By Rebecca Howard [Special to The Tennessee Conservative] –
Men are not mothers. Men are fathers. Fathers are men. Mothers are women. If the primary caregiver is a man, he is a father.
The following note was sent home to parents of K-2 students from the librarian at Alpine Crest Elementary school, located in Hamilton County TN.
“As a librarian, it is my responsibility to introduce students to a variety of texts and genres. I encourage our learners to discover the similarities and celebrate the differences of those with whom we share the world. With Mother’s Day approaching, I’d like to highlight this special role, but I am sensitive to the fact that not all students live with a mother. As such, I’m planning a lesson that celebrates those who fill the motherly roles in our lives: those who make our lunches, who kiss away our hurts, and who teach us to fly. I acknowledge that this lesson could bring up big feelings with your student and lead to sensitive conversations at home. Below is a list of texts I will be using as read alouds to the class in K-2. Should you choose to have your student opt out of this lesson, an alternative assignment and location will be arranged. Please contact me at xxxx@hcde.org by Friday May 5th if you would like your student to receive an alternative assignment and location.
Read Aloud Book Selections:
Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B Schiffer.
Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins.
Nestled in a quiet neighborhood in Red Bank, TN is a small community school where 1,000’s of children in Hamilton County have been educated. This school has a sweet spirit, a wonderful reputation and a family friendly atmosphere. “The Times They Are A-Changin'” for the itty-bitty children that now attend this once wonderful school.
According to their website, “”Reading changes your life.” You don’t say? What kind of life change is this librarian trying to accomplish?
I have questions.
Did the librarian try to contact the parents in any other way besides a note in the backpack of a kindergartner? We all know notes don’t always make it home to parents.
What is the alternative lesson plan? Would it be at the other end of the spectrum? Is a preacher coming into the school to preach on the biblical definition of gender? “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Why are opted out students, whose parents believe in traditional family values, going to be moved to another location so as to not disturb the supposed feelings of others?
Did this librarian celebrate other holidays in this way? Easter: did she read about the resurrection of Christ? Christmas: did she read about Christ’s birth and the way of salvation? Good Friday: maybe she showed the little children a movie like the Passion of the Christ? Will she read books about women to the children in celebration of Father’s Day?
Does she read books that support traditional values such as pro-life, anti-globalism, borders, legal immigration, freedom of speech, capitalism, smaller government, pro-God, pro-traditional marriage and family or does she just focus on books that support a worldview that is anti-traditional values?
Here are a few highlights from the books that were referenced in the librarians note:
Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B Schiffer:
“We are going to have a celebration for Mother’s day….but Stella had two dads, everyone else had a mother, Howie had TWO! Stella would be the ONLY one without a mother at the Mother’s Day party. Stella worried about the party when she should have been worrying about other things. All week Stella’s appetite was gone.”
Stella Brings the Family- Read Aloud Video HERE.
Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins:
Mother Bruce (the cover of the book says Mother Goose, with a big X through Goose and the name Bruce written over it.) This story is about a big black bear named Bruce, who likes to eat eggs. He brought some eggs home but alas, they hatched early. Bruce tells the baby hatchlings, “Go away, I am not your mother, I liked you better when you were eggs.” He even roars at them, trying to frighten them away. “It didn’t work. Goslings always follow their mother, even if SHE is a HE and HE is a bear.”
Mother Bruce – Kids Books Read Aloud Video HERE.
We all know there is a special place in God’s heart for children.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:13-16
Please pray for the children of Hamilton County. The schools are coming after their hearts.
“It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.” Luke 17:2.
Don’t like the literary choices offered by the Librarian. Nor do I see the preaching in this article as appropriate.
Kids are faced with challenging family situations at times and they will have to learn to deal with them. Life can be tough.
Just leave things as they have always been. No reason to make an issue out of every little thing.
The teacher was not trying to wipe out motherhood or gender, just trying to let kids know not everybody has a mother in their household. It was appropriate. The writer’s hysteria and name calling was not.