Elementary school principals objected to content in books, anti-religious bias in discussion guides, lack of teacher training, inconsistent explanations from district office
(BALTIMORE, MD, 7/31/2023) – On Tuesday, August 1, the Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, plans to release an internal memorandum that Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) elementary school principals sent to the district office last year outlining numerous objections to the school district’s introduction of curriculum and classroom discussion guides related to gender, family life and relationships in PreK-12 English classes.
WHAT: CAIR Press Conference on MCPS Principals Memorandum
WHEN: Tuesday, August 1, 11 am ET
WHERE: 850 Hungerford Dr, Rockville, MD 20850, at the corner of the intersection of Hungerford Drive and Manakee Street
LIVESTREAM: https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com
[NOTE: Reporters can request an early PDF copy of the memorandum by emailing David Rodriguez, d-rodriguez@cair.com]
Last month, CAIR filed an open records request calling on Montgomery County Public Schools to provide lesson plans, discussion guides, training materials, emails and other communications related to the new curriculum. CAIR received the elementary school principals’ memorandum in response to the request.
The memorandum was sent Nov. 22, 2022, by the elementary school chapter of the Montgomery County Association of Administrations and Principals (MCAAP), the union that represents administrators and supervisors employed by MCPS.
In a statement, CAIR Maryland Office Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“This startling memorandum reveals that MCPS elementary school principals long ago raised many of the same concerns and objections that parents and community organizations are raising now.
“Among other things, the principals objected to religious bias in teacher discussion guides, a lack of training for teachers, dishonest explanations from the district office about why the curriculum was introduced, and content in the books that the principals found inappropriate or better suited for sex education courses.
“Instead of addressing the elementary school principals’ concerns in November of last year, Montgomery County Public Schools made matters worse months later by revoking the opt-out option altogether and prohibiting advanced parental notice.
“It is time for Montgomery County Public Schools to stop ignoring parents, community organizations and even their own school principals. This unnecessary controversy has gone on long enough. MCPS should reinstate the opt-out option now and work with the larger community to create a safe, inclusive and respectful classroom environment for all students.”
In the memorandum, elementary school principals represented by the MCAAP also called on MCPS choose different books for the curriculum, expressed concern about the potential lack of an opt-out option, and argued that MCPS should embark on community-wide discussion with all stakeholders to find consensus around sensitive curriculum.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE INTERNAL MCPS MEMORANDUM
Elementary school principals wrote that a classroom guide was “dismissive of religious beliefs” because it instructed teachers to push back on students who expressed religious objections to certain sexual relationships.
Principals expressed concern that the classroom discussion guide instructed teachers to make a “shaming comment to a child” and to tell students they should not express their belief that someone cannot change their sex.
Principals also wrote that content in some of the books was inappropriate, specifically noting language in a book meant for Pre-K students that would teach students how to identify a “drag queen.”
The elementary school principals raised various other concerns about the school district’s conduct and stances, writing:
- “Beginning [when] the materials arrived in schools this summer without clear communication, the communication around the materials and messaging has been wrought with confusion.”
- “Numerous concerns have been raised by principals, teachers, and community members that the content of the books does not align with the stated messages. There are concerns that the plot of some of the books center around sexual orientation and gender identity. There are concerns that some of the books are not appropriate for the intended age group, or in one case, not appropriate at all for young students.”
- “…it has been communicated that MCPS is not teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity as stand alone concepts in elementary school. However, several of the books and supporting documents seemingly contradict this message.
- “…given the sensitive nature of the materials, there needs to be a more robust, inclusive, public-facing process that includes deliberate attempts to include administrators, teachers, and parents as stakeholders. It is especially important to include communities that represent various perspectives across Montgomery County.
- “Some teachers have shared their discomfort about the content, the terminology, and the appropriateness of the books developmentally as well as from a sexual education perspective. For example, family life isn’t taught until fifth grade, but a second grade book uses terminology such as cisgender or transgender.”
- “MCPS has stated publicly that there is no option to opt-out, with the rationale that MCPS is simply providing books about inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters and inclusivity. However, due to the concerns shared earlier about the plot and nature of the books, this creates a significant concern by some parents about ‘indoctrination’ or ‘hidden agendas.’ “
[NOTE: CAIR’s Maryland office released a new resource guide titled “Families’ Rights & Reasonable Accommodations in Maryland Public Schools,” designed to provide parents and students with information on navigating public school systems and participating in primary and secondary education.]
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com