Overview

We are asking for your support in signing this petition demanding an immediate STOP to the implementation of the "Serious Talks" curriculum in Lexington elementary schools.

We are a concerned, significantly growing group of Lexington parents and community members who have happened to find out about the “Serious Talks” curriculum being taught to children starting in first grade. Parents have been left in the dark about what and how gender identity is being taught to our children in Lexington elementary schools.

The curriculum promotes the use of contentious and ambiguous content, methodology and outcome measures regarding gender identity, including transgender, and sexual orientation.

The “Serious Talks” curriculum’s approach to the education of gender identity in elementary schools as early as age six is age-inappropriate. This “one size fits all” curriculum excludes families and views from diverse ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds and promotes perspectives that reflect only a portion of the population. Furthermore, it lacks evidence to support both content choices and legal obligation.

Together, by signing this petition, we can overcome the lack of transparency and work towards fostering an educational environment in Lexington that embraces and respects the ethnic, cultural, and religious values and needs of all Lexington families

Why Are We Concerned?

1- Lack of student readiness and age-inappropriateness: We believe that the proposed content and methodology are unsuitable for elementary school-age children who are in a malleable and early stage of cognitive development. Given their nascent critical reading and abstract thought skills, there is a concern that the curriculum may promote one point of view that only represents a portion of the population, rather than fostering genuine education of teaching students how to think, not what to think.

2 - Excluding Lexington’s diverse families: It is shocking that for such an inclusive town like Lexington, so many families are being excluded. Elementary school students are required to engage in lessons on highly sensitive topics - including evaluated Serious Talks advocacy projects -, which employ contentious content without considering or including the diverse ethnic, cultural, and religious values and preferences of their families. Parents may be unprepared or unwilling to support these gender identity and transgender teachings at home. This may lead to confusion and misinterpretations.

3 - There is no way to opt-in or opt-out of these teachings. Lexington Superintendent Dr. Julie Hackett and her team said that there are no opt-in or opt-out options for parents regarding their children's participation in these teachings. In addition, “Serious Talks” gender ideology teachings about sexuality should fall under General Law - Part I, Title XII, Chapter 71, Section 32A (malegislature.gov) whereby parents should be able to choose to opt-out. 

4- Lack of transparency: Lexington families have not been informed, consulted or involved in the creation and finalization of this curriculum, leaving parents uninformed about the specifics of what will be taught, how it will be presented, and how outcomes will be measured. 

5 - Lack of evidence-based approach and lack of legal obligation: LPS’ proposed curriculum content goes beyond statewide learning goals described in the draft 2023 Massachusetts Curriculum Framework, without clear reasoning. The State’s draft Framework does not specify that these teachings start at age 6. Moreover, the State’s Framework content has not been finalized and is currently undergoing public comment gathering as justification. But Lexington school administrators are proceeding ahead, treating Lexington elementary school students as test subjects.

What has taken place so far with regards to the proposed “Serious Talks” curriculum?

The "Serious Talks" curriculum was quietly piloted a year ago without discussions with parents. It was also not proactively communicated as a planned integral part of the general curriculum for elementary schools. 

It was only after a lot of effort on the part of concerned parents who heard about “Serious Talks,” that Dr. Hackett agreed to hold a meeting at Estabrook Elementary at 9am on Tuesday, June 14th, an inaccessible time for the majority of the parent population. The meeting's purpose was to discuss "Serious Talks" and its implementation.

Forty minutes was devoted to two guest speakers—a LGBTQIA+ advocate and a transgender former student of the Lexington school system—who primarily focused on educating parents about transgenderism. Caitlin Ahern (curriculum director), Julie Fenn (LPS P.E., Health and Wellness), Johnny Cole (DEI leader) and Katherine O’Hare Gibson (Fiske Assistant VP) also joined Dr. Hackett, in addition to the other Lexington elementary school principals who remained quiet throughout the duration of the meeting.  

Only a brief 10 minutes were allocated to discuss "Serious Talks." Dr. Hackett informed us that the curriculum would continue to be implemented starting in first grade in the coming fall, despite expressed confusion and concerns from parents.

 What is our demand?

We implore Dr. Hackett, her team of administrators, and the School Committee to STOP the implementation of the "Serious Talks" curriculum for the 2023/2024 school year and request time and space for the entire community to engage in discussions, review, and approve the content that will be taught to our children.

By signing this petition, you are expressing your concerns about the age-inappropriateness of the curriculum and lack of transparency. You are agreeing that we should work towards fostering an educational environment in Lexington that embraces and respects the ethnic, cultural, and religious values and needs of all Lexington families.