Petition the Divisive Content & Sexually Explicit Resolutions from OCPS VA School Board
Petition the Divisive Content & Sexually Explicit Resolutions from OCPS VA School Board
On April 25th, 2022, School Board Member, Chelsea Quintern proposed two Resolutions. One being the Divisive Content Resolution and the other being the Sexually Explicit Material Resolution. Both of these resolutions are unnecessary and will do more harm than good. Orange County Public Schools already have procedures in place that follow Governor Glenn Youngkin's Executive Order Number I and Senate Bill 656 guidelines. On May 9th, 2022, at the School Board Meeting voted (3-2) to implement the Divisive Content Resolution and decided to vote on a later date in regards to the Sexually Explicit Material Resolution. Many students, parents, and community members are against these policies and feel that the School Board should get rid of the Divisive Content Resolution and vote no to implement the Sexually Explicit Material Resolution.
The Divisive Content Resolution
Explanation:
This resolution is supposed to ban CRT (Critical Race Theory) in Orange County Public Schools; however, CRT is a collegiate level curriculum and is not even taught at OCPS. This resolution is meant to continue to white wash history. It is very vague which could potentially allow the Board to deem whatever they want as “divisive content”. The Board put forth no guidelines on this. Furthermore, if we’re banning divisive content, then why not ban the confederate flag from being allowed in OCPS? Moreover, it is not the school board’s job to re-write history as they see fit. Keep history true and dissolve this resolution.
The Sexually Explicit Material Resolution
Explanation:
Orange County Public Schools already has policies in regards to sexually explicit material (Parental Notification of sexual content: IIA-G, IGAU, Identify explicit concepts in material: IGAI, & Parental Ability to Review materials IGAI, IIA, IIA-A, & IIA-G). As well as, things like syllabuses and permission slip forms for possible sexually explicit topics discussed in the classroom. This resolution is unnecessary being that OCPS already follows Senate Bill 656 and will just prevent students from having a safe space at school. It allows them to be outed to their parents and for teachers to not use a student's correct gender pronouns. Will teachers call home if a student is straight too, or only if they’re part of the LGBTQ+ community? According to the resolution, students will not be able to read books, watch movies, or have a conversation that uses pronouns because that is also gender identity. So what does the curriculum look like when you can’t include words like husband or wife, because that also implies sexuality; Or, any pronouns whatsoever?
Another aspect is the notification of health services. Imagine a young girl starts her period at school. Instead of the nurse being allowed to give her feminine products, she must wait for them to call home before receiving these vital items. More examples could be if a Primary School age student peed their pants or if a kid with a peanut allergy accidentally eats peanuts, would we wait to help them?
Senate Bill 656 does not include the part where teachers must out their students and don’t have to use their correct pronouns, leading most to believe this resolution is a direct attack on the LGBTQ+ students. Many students in OC are not out to their parents and if they were to come out, then it could lead to them getting kicked out or abused. During the school board meeting it was also stated by a board member (and community members during public comment that were in support of the resolutions) that teachers are allegedly grooming students by talking about sexuality and that members of the LGBTQ+ community are hypersexual. (Mrs. Quintern also went on to compare students to Ted Bundy).
The End Goal:
The end goal of this petition is to fight for all students to have a safe space in Orange County Public Schools. For this to happen we need the Orange County School Board to dissolve the Divisive Content Resolution and vote no to the Sexually Explicit Material Resolution. Black History is American history and school’s shouldn’t have the right to out students or not use their correct pronouns.
Link to Petition to Remove Chelsea Quintern
Links to Washington Post Articles:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/05/10/orange-county-schools-students-self-identify/
Links to YouTube Videos of the School Board Meeting: