BACKGROUND:

The librarian at Alpine Crest Elementary planned to share two books with elementary students for Mother's Day: Mother Bruce and Stella Brings The Family. The librarian sent several notes home to parents explaining the importance of the inclusive lesson and gave them the option to opt-out of the lesson for their child. If they chose to opt-out, an alternate lesson would be provided.

Moms for Liberty found out about this inclusive lesson and emailed Superintendent Robertson asking that he cancel the lesson. 

Unfortunately, he did. 

In an email response to Tonya Dodd, the M4L Hamilton County Chapter President (that was posted publicly on the M4L Facebook page), Dr. Robertson said that he was made aware of the "issue" and he addressed it with Alpine Crest admin. His exact response was "I agree that there are better book choices that could be used and this lesson has been cancelled at Alpine Crest."

We wholeheartedly disagree with his decision to cancel the lesson and ask that you sign our petition to ask that he reinstate it as soon as possible.

OUR ASK:

Tell Dr Robertson to follow HCS policy before removing books from lessons and Reinstate the INVLUSIVE READ-Aloud lesson for Mother’s Day for all families.

Families in Hamilton County, specifically Alpine Crest Elementary, had their freedom to learn violated by our Superintendent, with the help of the far right extremist HATE GROUP, Moms for Liberty. 

Again, they take a situation where individual choice is present and pressure the district into denying opportunity to all students to meet  narrow world view.  

One of HCS’s Commitments: EVERY EMPLOYEE VALUED

Dr.Robertson’s reactionary agreement to remove an inclusive lesson before thoroughly navigating the impact whilst disempowering their already under appreciated staff, definitely doesn’t leave one feeling valued  

In an OpEd written by one of the hate group members, they inferred religious reasonings for their censorship numerous times and even promoted the viewing of “The Passion of the Christ” to small children. (Talk about age-inappropriate violence) 

Their members then proceeded to share any information they could find about the librarian in an effort to slander and challenge their employment. 
 
The Superintendent’s action of bypassing material review policy and supporting censorship leads to a hostile and dangerous environment for our educators. We love our amazing educators and THIS CAN’T STAND. 

In times when public education in TN is being attacked from all angles you don’t expect the call to be coming from inside the house. 

Our laws have created a hypersensitive and overly reactionary environment to try to proactively mitigate any negative media attention instead of following material review policy and supporting our educators and community with excellence  

In doing so, they have led our district to hurt our community and as students and parents we demand that the lesson be reinstated with the OPT OUT measure for those who choose to. 

HCS’s Commitment: EVERY STUDENT BELONGS

Storytelling about all families including the spaces sometimes left open for kids when celebrating Mother’s Day (especially if they don’t have someone filling the traditional role of Mother) is important to belonging. It’s part of learning how to love your neighbor and how to be a part of our amazing community. 

Again- We as parents and students demand that our educators are empowered to support all families and that HCS OPTS-OUT of Censorship EVERY DAY. And today-reinstate the inclusive lesson about Hamilton County Families.