The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision concerning the use of LGBTQ+ texts and opt-out processes for families:
The Montgomery County Education Association expresses deep disappointment in the United States Supreme Court’s decision empowering parents to remove their children from courses with LGBTQ+ curriculum present.
“While unsurprising, the Court’s decision does a grave disservice to our community,” MCEA President David Stein said. “The decision has the power to disrupt our classrooms and our school communities by assaulting a bedrock principle of public education: that the diversity of our students and their families should be valued and celebrated. This is part of a sustained and ongoing attack on public education.”
“I’m deeply troubled by the potential harm this decision will have on all students,” said MCEA Vice President Danillya Wilson. “Removing students from classrooms using diverse curriculum will make those students less prepared to be civically engaged in our diverse and multicultural reality – and it is not hard to imagine that students will feel marginalized when their classmates are removed.”
MCEA is seriously concerned about the ramifications that this decision will have on already overburdened educators. “The Court heedlessly dismissed the impact that this will have on how educators actually manage their classrooms. Who will be responsible for the students when they are opted out of classrooms and content? Who will take on this additional work?” said President Stein.
Despite the Court’s decision, MCEA remains firmly committed to ensuring that all students are seen. “This decision arrives in the very month when we come together to recognize the strength and resilience of our multicultural community,” continued President Stein. “Respect and tolerance are values that will persist in Montgomery County going forward, and we commit to ensuring that all of our students and their families continue to feel valued.”