In March of 2021 many Grand Haven Area Public School children ages 5-9 were encouraged to read the electronic book provided to them by their teachers, Call Me Max by Kyle Lukoff which features a transgender main character. These children learned that gender is a choice they get to make for themselves, and that if they are a different gender then they were told, the grown-up who told them their gender made a mistake. Be sure to read previous articles on this topic if you haven’t already.
Here is a video of the book being read.
Board Policy 2240 Controversial Issues states.
The Board will permit the introduction and proper educational use of controversial issues provided that their use in the instructional program:
a. Is related to the instructional goals of the course of study and level of maturity of the students;
b. Does not tend to indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view;
As a citizen, I would like to know why the other side of this controversial issue was not presented? There are plenty of people who believe teaching students they can select their gender is wrong. Many people believe gender does indeed match genitalia and is observed and obvious at birth. There are many people who believe gender is not a choice, and even among those who do believe gender is a choice, most do not believe that it is a choice that children between the ages of 5 and 9 are prepared to make or to learn about.
What was done with the book Call Me Max was indoctrination and it did work to persuade students toward the point of view that it is acceptable for children to select and change their gender. No opposing point of view was presented. In addition, the topic of transgenderism is extremely confusing for adults, let alone 5 to 9 year-old children. Just because it is a picture book it does not mean the content of the book matches the maturity level of children.
Every teacher, principal, librarian administrator and board member who was a part of providing this material to children should be held accountable. This is inexcusable. At a minimum the district should acknowledge its mistake and instruct teachers in what constitutes a controversial issue. They should further educate teachers by instructing them how to present BOTH SIDES of a controversial issue.