Kids Are Collateral Damage When Parent Rights Are Destroyed
As kids head back to school, once again, Virginia's school boards are at the flashpoint of ongoing efforts to push transgender ideology into the classrooms and girls’ sports. But courageous moms and dads are speaking out! In this week's podcast, we highlight their voices in counties including Hanover and Chesterfield.
“I shouldn’t have to fear that while my child is at school she may be exposed to a situation that will compromise her safety, privacy and well-being,” said Maria Rodriguez, a mom with a middle-school aged daughter. It was Maria's first time to publicly address her school board on this issue. She joined her voice with more than 200 others at a "Protect Every Kid" rally hosted by The Family Foundation and its local parental rights group, Speak Up! Chesterfield. Click the video to hear her comments, catch highlights of the rally and other hot takes from around the state
At issue in Chesterfield County is a holdover Northam policy on transgender issues in schools that allows educators to conceal information from parents. At the rally, parents pointed out how the board was quick to push through that policy under political pressure—but has remained silent for more than a year after parents’ repeated requests to align with Youngkin policies restoring their parental rights.
“It certainly doesn’t help bring back parents’ trust,” said Jason Spoon, a father of three and volunteer director of Speak Up! Chesterfield. “We are now just a few days past the one-year anniversary of them [parental rights policies] being released and school is about to begin—so it begs the question: Where are they? Why wouldn’t the Chesterfield County School Board implement policy as quickly as they did before?
Other school districts of equal size or larger than Chesterfield County, have implemented the parent friendly policies, including Hanover, Newport News and Roanoke. "It's time for the Chesterfield County school board to do the same, stop the delays and follow the law," said Family Foundation's Candi Cushman at the rally, as parents cheered in agreement.
Despite the fact that community leaders came out to support the parents, including Senator Glen Sturtevant, Delegate Mark Earley, as well as clergy including Pastor Randy Hahn, who raised four kids in the local public schools and serves hundreds of families at The Heights Baptist Church--the school board members still didn't directly address parents' concerns. But parents aren't going away, said Jason, because "they have to deal with the effects of all the schools' decisions long after the school system has graduated their kids. They can’t expect us to just nod our heads and remain marginalized where their safety is concerned. Protecting our kids is what we do."
Take Action! Concerned citizens in Chesterfield can help protect parents’ rights and kids’ safety by setting up a personal meeting with their school board representative. Go to this page https://www.oneccps.org/page/school-board and scroll down to see the school board members. Locate the one that represents your district and email them asking for a personal meeting (coffee or a zoom) to discuss your concerns on these issues (parental rights & policy 1015).
