Image Credit: Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation & Scholastic / Twitter
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Despite the major role they play in children’s literature and education, the Scholastic publishing and media company is not exempt from pushing woke ideologies onto their employees and consumers.
Right now, people across the country are showing their support for the LGBTQ+ community through celebrations of Pride Month, a month of “commemoration” that Scholastic expects their employees to take very seriously.
In addition to their #ReadWithPride Twitter announcements, Scholastic has published a series of posts on their website this month, including one titled “Inspiring LGBTQIA+ Books for Kids” with the byline “These touching reads are relatable and eye-opening for all readers.”
The company has also provided their employees with an information packet on how to “Celebrate Pride Month with Scholastic” in a push for LGBTQ+ acceptance and affirmation.
“We have planned month-long programming,” read a part of the document, “to help amplify the work we do to support our LGBTQIA+ colleagues, creators, business partners, families, and readers.”
The packet went on to inform employees of various events and highlights including the company’s donation of 1,000 books to Pride and less Prejudice, a non-profit focused on putting LGBTQ+ inclusive books in Pre-K – 3rd grade classrooms.
Also listed were Scholastic’s plans to spotlight members of the Pride@Scholastic Employee Resource Group through employee profiles and a call to action for employees to join Pride@Scholastic for several Pride Month events.
Employees were further encouraged to attend or host Pride Month celebrations and submit event photos to the employee intranet for “everyone to enjoy.” They were also reminded to test their Pride knowledge by participating in a Pride Trivia Contest.
Contest prizes included signed books from Scholastic’s LGBTQ+ authors, as well as “Read with Pride” stickers, bookmarks, and buttons.
Some sections of the packet talked specifically about DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) efforts, insinuating that some books are being banned in public schools because of the color of a book character’s skin and not necessarily because of the book’s content.
“These [LGBTQ+] voices are crucial to Scholastic, especially at a time when LGBTQIA+ youth and literature are being challenged in places we work and live,” reads the first page of the document. “In 29 states legislation is in place or in process with the objective of restricting content in all or various grades in K-12 public schools, especially content that includes prominent characters who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color and/or LGBTQIA+.”
It is also made clear that the company intends to provide employees that identify as transgender, with access to gender affirming treatments and surgeries. Even if an employee lives in a state where those practices are not available.
“We are working with our healthcare provider to make sure that all employees, including LGBTQIA+ employees – especially trans employees – understand their healthcare options, including the coverage of travel expenses for healthcare that is not available in their home state,” the packet read.
Scholastic has been a household name for decades now and most parents need only look as far as their child’s room to see the publisher’s branding across a few book covers.
A small part of the reason this is cause for concern among parents in Tennessee specifically, is the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) which announced the launch of a new K-3 Book Delivery program just three years ago. During its first year, the program set out to deliver 580,000 books to 58,000 K-3rd grade students and teachers statewide.
This program was launched and continues to run in collaboration with Scholastic.
This year the program is expected to deliver 1.2 million books to more than 200,000 students as well as librarians, teachers, and media specialists across the state.
While the books delivered through this program may not contain controversial content, being in alliance with LGBTQ+ efforts seemingly remains a priority for Scholastic in their day to day operations, especially during this month of pride.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
5 Responses
I’d tell them where they could shove their “pride” and quit.
Not another book should be bought from this GARBAGE publisher.
Lucifer’s pubic ejikashun farce.
I oppose scholastic forcing their employees to celebrate Pride month!
That’s violation of their rights
HaLol.
The joke is on us.
Scholastic Publ’g has been “revising” American & world history and social studies for decades. Several times they have pushed not printing the Bill of Rights and US Constitution in their books.