By Adam Pagnucco.
Previously, I introduced this series and asked the candidates about what they believed was MCPS’s biggest problem, their experience with budgets and their opinions on the incumbents. Now let’s talk about opt outs.
One of the biggest recent controversies at MCPS involves an effort by some parents to opt out of curriculum materials that they feel contradict their religious views. At one point, this issue produced regular mass protests at MCPS headquarters and spawned litigation (including from one of the current school board candidates). Let’s see how our candidates line up.
Question: Should parents have the right to opt out of curriculum materials that disagree with their religious beliefs?
Lynne Harris, At-Large (Incumbent): I strongly believe that public education is essential to creating a thriving society in which everyone uniquely contributes and has value. That’s the kind of place people want to live. Public education should have as a core mission windows and mirrors – so that every student sees themselves and their experience reflected in the classroom, and also sees beyond their own experience and learns to appreciate the experience of others. That is how we create critical thinking problem solvers who are prepared for the world they enter as soon as they leave their K-12 education. Allowing parents to say ‘I don’t want my kids to learn about those people’ , or ‘I only want my kids’ public education to reflect my religious views’ is contrary to the mission, and inconsistent with the Constitution and state law.
Sharif Hidayat, At-Large: Yes, Parents should be provided reasonable accommodations when curriculum materials disagree with their religious beliefs.
Melissa Kim, At-Large: No response
Jonathan Long, At-Large: Discussions about curriculum material is a healthy activity for democracy. And, to some degree, it is the nature of great literature to challenge current views. Huckleberry Finn comes to mind because it portrayed a black man as a human. The book challenged the individual reader to see past the racial stereotypes of the day. But, it was the controversy and public discussion that help change society. I understand why Maus is controversial. But, my son is dyslexic and I believe the Holocaust must not be watered down or forgotten. So, we have read and discussed this Pulitzer Prize winning book together.
Curriculum needs to be age appropriate. Two pinguins taking care of an egg is appropriate for kindergarten and the horrors of Jim Crow or the Holocaust need to be covered before kids leave high school. Parents should have access to the material so that they can be a part of curriculum discussions. But, we need a common curriculum. We cannot base curriculum on the most protective impulses of parents. And no one should expect their group to be represented by the exclusion of another group.
Fitzgerald Mofor, At-Large: The lack of religious liberty in Montgomery County Public Schools made the board of education the bedrock of political contention in Montgomery County in 2023. Parents should have the right to be notified about specific books that may be antithetical to their religious adherence. This isn’t a conservative perspective, nor is it fringe. This was MCPS’s policy at the onset of inclusive teaching. The inclusive curriculum should be a health and family life curriculum, and parents should have the option to avert such curriculums. It is draconian to institute austerity measures such as increased property tax hikes and expanded recordation taxes as revenue streamlining to fund our public education while demanding that parents have no say in the curriculum. Parents fund public education, not activists or politicians. Their input is vital.
Rita Montoya, At-Large: No.
Brenda Diaz, District 2: Yes, in particular with regards to the introduction of LGBTQ+ materials in elementary school Language Arts classes. Freedom of religion is enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution and in the Constitution of the State of Maryland, Article 36. Maryland allows parents to opt their children out of certain portions of sex education curriculum, including portions related to human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases, for religious or moral reasons. This policy typically falls under the broader umbrella of “parental rights to control the education of their children” rather than specifically “opting out” of sex education.
Maryland state law provides for parental involvement in sex education and allows parents to review instructional materials related to sex education and to request exemptions for their children from certain portions of the curriculum. In addition, it is important to note that MCPS elementary school principals objected to age-inappropriate content in the LGBTQ+ books selected, citing anti-religious bias in discussion guides, the lack of teacher training, possible tension developing between schools and community as a result, and inconsistent training from district offices. It is clear, the opt-out policy must be instituted.
Ricky Fai Mui, District 2: The Opt-Out is a symptom of larger cultural issues affecting the United States. We do not see similar Opt-Out requests in subjects that are objective: e.g., math, chemistry, world history, etc. The purpose of MCPS is to provide a world-class education, that will lead our graduates to a future where they are competitive in Montgomery County, the United States and internationally. We have limited time to educate our young minds, so every assigned academic reading at MCPS must be focused on developing skills that are necessary to be a productive American Citizen. The County’s Public Library system contains volumes of literature that appeal to a spectrum of recreational reading desires; at MCPS, we must empower our children to strengthen reading skills that will increase their opportunity to pursue higher education or to join the workforce upon graduation.
Religious Protection. A good majority of Opt-Outs are based on parents’ decision to protect their children’s minds from topics that violate their religious or cultural beliefs. Topics considered controversial do not follow any national or state mandated academic regimen, but rather are subjective arguments. I want parents to become and stay engaged as stakeholders in their children’s academic, behavioral, and ethical development. Parents must be able to Trust that the Community’s Public School system shares their values and sense of urgency to teach our children how to be successful following K-12 graduation.
Rebecca Smondrowski, District 2 (Incumbent): Parents are key partners in students’ education. Each content area in our curriculum office has an advisory group where parents partner with staff to identify high-quality materials and have opportunities to object to and have materials reviewed. On certain matters the state provides parents the opportunity to opt their children out of specific content, inclusive texts and reading material is not one of those areas.
MCPS is an educational institution and a significant part of a student’s education is to learn to think critically, to wrestle with ideas that they don’t agree with, and to be exposed to the thoughts and ideas of others. The state has been very thoughtful in their policy development related to this topic which we follow. I believe that education is the gateway to understanding, and that it is our responsibility to provide the education needed for everyone to be accepting and respectful of each other.
Aby Thioye, District 2: As an immigrant mom from a traditional society and an educated professional, I know the American dream for many of us means raising children who are academically successful citizens and carry on their family’s values and traditions. It is the job of public schools to prepare our children for academic success. But it is the right of parents to direct their children’s upbringing. I support the right of parents to opt their children out of instruction that violates their religion or conscience.
That said, not every request to opt out of subject matter that contradicts parents’ religious beliefs deserves to be granted. Such requests should be weighed on a case-by-case basis. A key factor weighing in favor of granting an opt out request is whether the material in question seeks to change a child’s religious beliefs and values. Public schools do indeed have a legitimate interest in teaching citizenship: that is, to respect every one of our fellow human beings despite our deepest differences. But they do not have a legitimate interest in trying to force everyone to believe the same thing.
Natalie Zimmerman, District 2: MCPS should not allow opt-outs of this material. I fully support the use of inclusive texts in classrooms and for texts to truly be inclusive, then all students must hear the texts and interact with them. Should a family wish to provide additional education to their child, I encourage them to do so at home or with their religious organization. As students grow and mature, they will interact with other people who may be different from themselves. Our hope as a public school system is to prepare students well for all facets of their futures and educate students on different family structures, gender expressions, gender identities, and sexualities. Relatedly, students deserve unbiased access to this information in order to understand themselves and others better.
Shebra Evans, District 4 (Incumbent): As a sitting school board member, it is always important to have a curriculum that meets the needs of all students. I voted on the curriculum adopted in February of 2019, particularly because it was more inclusive. I believe it is important for students to see a reflection of themselves in the curriculum. I am not in favor of opting out of curricula.
Bethany Mandel, District 4: Parents, not administrators, staff or teachers, are the primary caretakers of children, and they should be the ultimate deciders of what children are exposed to, especially as it pertains to matters of faith.
Laura Stewart, District 4: I do not support expanding opt out beyond what is required by state law. It is important that all children see their diverse communities represented in the curriculum, including gender, sexual orientation, religious, and racial diversity. Exposure to diverse inclusive curricula is an important step to remove stigmas that can lead to bullying and self harm. I started a petition supporting the current MCPS opt out policy, which has over 3000 signatures, and helped found a new coalition to support inclusive schools. Allowing opt outs would lead to children leaving the classroom during science, language arts, and social studies, creating a chaotic classroom environment. A public school must serve the diverse public interest.
Next: police officers in schools.