Notwithstanding the importance of the arts, the number one priority of any school system should be academic proficiency. Everything flows from that goal; problem-solving skills, critical thinking, the values of the merit system, the benefits of hard work, the negative consequences of not meeting deadlines, the importance of following rules, and self-discipline.

As other countries, like Sweden, Finland, the U.K. and medical societies in France, Belgium, and Australia turn away from aggressive programs to introduce gender choice and hormone therapy and surgery, the AAP won’t even allow a debate, and it is influencing school policy.

January Littlejohn, a Florida-licensed mental health counselor whose 13-year-old daughter was socially transitioned in 2020 from girl to boy without her knowledge, has been active in fighting against the school programs that keep information from parents.

In response to parents who do not want their young children to be immersed in gender identity ideology in elementary schools, the Montgomery County school district decided they know better and have removed the ability of parents to opt out of gender non-conforming and transgender reading programs in K-5.

Delegate Kathy Szeliga (7A – Baltimore and Harford County) introduced HB 0359, the Save Women’s Sports Act, to prevent people born biologically male from competing in girls’ JV and varsity high school athletics.

We have found that many parents and community members are unfamiliar with the key provisions of the current policy, 443. These are facts taken from the policy and do not include any commentary.

When the existing policy, 443, was introduced some six years ago, it focused on the needs of the gender non-conforming and transgender students and how the system should change to support them, but it didn’t allow for the impacts that change had on all other students and the school system. This is understandable as the topic was new to schools, but we now know how broad that impact is and a lot more about the science, the importance of parental involvement, and the best methods of care.

Anyone that has attended a public BOE meeting knows that they are long and packed with a lot of detailed business and discussion by the board that could be handled within closed sessions, with concise updates provided in the evening public sessions for the public.

Last week on March 7, we published an article that House Bill 119 has been amended and will now require local school district compliance with the Health Education Framework as set out by the State Superintendent or lose 10% of their funding.

Here are three of the most frequent points made by those stating their opposition to any revision to the current policy.