Masks are finally behind us. That means it’s time for the leftist agenda in GHAPS to prepare and engage the troops to combat the districts parents on their next pressing issue; “Book Banning and CRT!!” If you attended last nights school board meeting, you got to witness what it looks like when these leftist groups are called in for support. In what was evidently an orchestrated effort, we saw a room full of teenagers from the high school club Calling all colors, a group focused on teaching identity politics in the name of DEI, a few parents to support and videotape their kids speaking moments, the teachers of Grand Haven who form the DEIB Committee, and every leftist organization on the Lakeshore. They all came to the school board meeting to tell the current school board members and Mary Jane what an bang up job they’re all doing and how awful it was that some bigots wanted to “ban books”. May I point out that every child called in was white, I thought this was odd considering the group is called “Calling all colors.”
It’s not hard to fill seats with a group focused on Identity politics when those kids are led to believe that parents are trying to “ban books by black and brown people because of their skin color." Was that true?? I’ve yet to hear even one parent complain about any book due to an authors skin color. I’ve also not heard of parents asking for books to be banned solely because the author was gay. The argument, as far as I can tell, has been based on the content of books. I figured I just didn’t know about it and surely they knew something I didn’t.
I have, and agree, with parents asking for parental consent requirements for sexually explicit books, both gay and straight. I have heard parents ask for consent and notification for controversial topics read aloud and discussed with their elementary school aged children without their knowledge. That was not the message these high school kids at tonight’s board meeting had though. They fully believed that racist parents were trying to ban books based on the skin color of the author and their sexual preference alone. They also believed that these same racist and homophobic parents could care less about sexually explicit “straight” books without their consent. Then they told us how there are plenty of them lining the shelves at their school…thus proving the parents point and concerns that we have an issue that needs to be solved.
Like I said, I figured I was in the dark about such requests to remove books based on the “identity” of authors alone. So, I asked the superintendent afterwards if indeed some parents were asking for books to be banned by “black and brown authors because of their skin color?” He said “no, he’d never heard of anything like that”.
How is it then that all these Calling all colors kids, trained through Ghaps, believe this to be so? Doesn’t a teacher lead this group? Shouldn’t someone tell them that’s not based in reality? Why were they all called to this meeting with this narrative? Is the school pitting kids against parents to make parents feel bad for parenting their own kids? Is someone twisting the truth to gain support? These kids were firm believers this was actually happening.
One of the most interesting comments I heard during the board meeting came from a 2020 Ghaps graduate who told the audience she drove nine hours to make this particular board meeting. How did she know THIS particular board meeting was so important? She drove to support her comrades in the school that trained her. The school that prides itself on spending taxpayer $$ to train in Diversity, Equity, and INCLUSION. Her comment was wildly applauded from students and staff who were also trained in Diversity, Equity, and INCLUSION…….
Here’s what she said:
“The people who want to limit access to students (for sexually explicit books for minors), they have other options, they have other choices, and if you want to let them leave this district, maybe you should let them! (Whoo! Fervent applause from students and DEIB committee members and teachers present.)
Their concerns don’t matter, they should leave.
That’s a really interesting thing to say (and emphatically applaud ) if you’re a person committed to INCLUSION. Think about that. If you are asking for parent consent for sexually explicit books for your kids, you should leave…we don’t want you here. The irony was thick.
Might I remind you that No parent, who has asked for parent consent requirements for sexually explicit books for their minor children, has EVER suggested that people who hold different ideas and thoughts leave the school and district. I thought the goal was to make people feel like they belong? Yet for asking for parental consent and questioning the merits of CRT in our local education, they are happy to EXCLUDE your voice. Where is the diversity and inclusion in that?
I attempted to have a conversation with this group of young ladies afterwards. I introduced myself as the “book burning Nazi”, I thought it might do us all well to dialogue so they could hear what has been consistently asked of the school regarding sexually explicit books. A teacher, and an emphatic clapper at families leaving the district stood next to us listening. She seemed to be silently fuming as the students and I spoke, I could feel her thermal energy radiating off of her Northface jacket . I actually looked to my left where she stood and asked if she was okay. She crudely said “well you just know what your own kids are reading and leave ALL the other kids out of it!” I tried to walk through the impracticality of the options offered with her. Then it occurred to me.
The solution I offered two years ago should have/ would have satisfied her contention.
I asked the school board that parents be given one piece of paper in that big pile of back to school papers they send home at the beginning of each school year. One simple form that says “FULLY CONSENT”- basically with one check mark, you can let them know that you permit FULL access to every sexually explicit book available for your child. But, parents who want to get notified and give permission for sexually explicit books…they check a box that they’d like to be notified and give consent before their kids get sexually explicit books. It gives them a heads up to have conversations with their kids about heavy reading material. That’s not a bad thing! Again, if you don’t care what your kid reads…check the blanket consent box once at the start of the school year.
Who would have a problem with this? People not okay with giving parents an option to give consent and be involved in their kids education, that’s who.