My daughter mentioned she was reading a book called "Little Lives Matter" in school, which was a curious title. I inquired further and they're doing a whole book series called Freedom Island, which is a series of "anti-woke" explicitly Christian children's books with authors that include Kevin Sorbo and Kirk Cameron. This is a public school.
What the fuck?
UPDATE: I emailed the principal, and they responded with an encouraging message stating that these books are absolutely not part of the curriculum, and that while teachers are allowed some leeway in customizing materials, this sounded outside of guidelines (I'll say!), and that she'd be investigating further and getting back to me.
I would absolutely not be okay with this. I've heard of those books before and they have no place in public education. Can you speak with administration?
I would first read them myself. I'm sure they suck but I definitely don't want to do what the crazies do and flip out about a book that doesn't actually have anything objectionable in it. I'm extremely critical of what the far right conservative arm is trying to do in education, but I also don't want to flip out about something that isn't bad. A lot of this stuff isn't bad at all in the lower elementary but ramps up later.
We homeschool for non-ideological reasons, and I have to be very vigilant to ensure we are getting secular materials. After CK murder all the groups I'm part of were SPAMMED with "free civics materials" from TPUSA. It was bad, and I'm sure bots were involved but plenty of people just kept sharing.
But, expect more of this to creep in or be outright in the open going forward. They aren't hiding it, there's a new partnership with some far right Christian groups to provide education to public schools and it looks like using it will be tied to funding.
You make a good point. I should read these books first. Obviously the project of this publisher is objectionable, the specific books they're using could be ok, even if they are eyebrow raising.
Yeah I think it's still good to be fully informed. But having researched this specific book (Little Lives Matter), I'm more alarmed. It's literally anti-choice propaganda. For 2nd graders.
I would bet a LOT of money that there is objectionable material in those books, but yeah it’d be good to be able to specifically reference what it is when you take it to admin.
Yep I’m in agreement! I’m just saying to OP that I agree with you that it would be most effective to be able to point out what specifically in the book is inappropriate for a public school setting. (I’m sure there will be plenty!!)
Holy fuck. Cameron and Sorbo aren't even the worst of it. I just looked at the author list of this series. It's like the worst of the worst:
- Jack Posibiec (on the topic of DISCERNMENT of all things)
- General Flynn
- DC Draino
- CHAYA RAICHIK
And a bunch of names I don't recognize, but it's not promising company. Q Anon promoters, liars, and propagandists. But I repeat myself. Absolutely disgusting.
Even if these people weren't insane conspiracy theorists trying to indoctrinate children with their hateful beliefs, this in unacceptable on a purely competency level, I don't want my kids reading tiktok influencer books either, get actual authors.
You might first inform the teacher that your child won't be reading christian nationalist propaganda and ask for the lesson plan and learning objectives so you can select alternative texts for them to read. You might then tell your kid they don't need to read the assigned book and give them the alternative book. The teacher might make a stink. They might say the kid has to "miss" the lesson about the assignment in class. You'd let them know that you'll make up for it at home.
If you did this, you'd need to inform the administrators that you're taking a religious exemption from some of the assigned texts and that you're consenting to replacing the modules at home if required.
Is this "allowable"? I can't speak for your school district or your school. I would say that you should definitely not comply in advance.
Can you just let your kid read the book, roll your eyes, and try to offset the propaganda through conversation at home? Sure, you can try, and you may be somewhat successful.
But this isn't an isolated assault. This is the whole curriculum, and they're using this tactic because it works (I highly recommend Jason Stanley's books on fascism, which unpack how crucial education is enabling the rise of fascism.) Kids (humans) are impressionable, even more so with those around them say this book or idea is okay. You, as powerful as you might be as a parent, may not be more powerful than the classroom of her peers her teacher who may even get to spend more time with her in a day than you do and who are rallying around this material daily, weekly, and yearly. If I were you, I would take a very hard line with Christian Nationalist propaganda and absolutely not entertain even the softest bit of literature and material in this vein.
You might be technically right but it takes a court to call it and a DOE to enforce it. I’m not optimistic that OP will be able to rely on these institutions to help…
I would put a FAST stop to that, first by pulling my kid and then by going to the school board. I'd also get Americans United for the Separation of Church and State involved. This is not only "not OK," it is illegal under precedent set in Lemon v. Kurtzman over 50 years ago. At least for now.
What books are they using in science? Social studies? Check all your kids books, worksheets, and ask to see the curriculum to see how pervasive this is.
The irony here is what gets me. Conservative Christians have the gall to say shit like "despite culture insisting that he should just live for himself" when they are hands down the most selfish mfers around. They are CONSTANTLY only thinking about how THEY feel with no regard with how anyone that does not share their ideologies might feel. Its all projection with them
We must punish women who try to control their bodies
And force children crossing the Rio Grande to drown.
A fetus is a person
Until it grows into a daughter
Unless it grew up down south
Then it's illegal to give them water
Writing right-wing kids books seems pretty easy. I'd try to scam the evil people too, but doing the illustrations of the dead kids and parents trying to get into the US would probably send me over the edge.
My daughter mentioned she was reading a book called "Little Lives Matter" in school, which was a curious title. I inquired further and they're doing a whole book series called Freedom Island, which is a series of "anti-woke" explicitly Christian children's books with authors that include Kevin Sorbo and Kirk Cameron. This is a public school.
What the fuck?
UPDATE: I emailed the principal, and they responded with an encouraging message stating that these books are absolutely not part of the curriculum, and that while teachers are allowed some leeway in customizing materials, this sounded outside of guidelines (I'll say!), and that she'd be investigating further and getting back to me.
I would absolutely not be okay with this. I've heard of those books before and they have no place in public education. Can you speak with administration?
I emailed the principal. I'm hoping they will take the situation seriously and address it. But I'm fearing I'll need to escalate.
Good luck, please let us know the outcome. I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this, but I'm glad you're aware so you can at least address it!
I posted an update above, but the principal sent a very encouraging response.
Please check all other subjects!!!!
I would first read them myself. I'm sure they suck but I definitely don't want to do what the crazies do and flip out about a book that doesn't actually have anything objectionable in it. I'm extremely critical of what the far right conservative arm is trying to do in education, but I also don't want to flip out about something that isn't bad. A lot of this stuff isn't bad at all in the lower elementary but ramps up later.
We homeschool for non-ideological reasons, and I have to be very vigilant to ensure we are getting secular materials. After CK murder all the groups I'm part of were SPAMMED with "free civics materials" from TPUSA. It was bad, and I'm sure bots were involved but plenty of people just kept sharing.
But, expect more of this to creep in or be outright in the open going forward. They aren't hiding it, there's a new partnership with some far right Christian groups to provide education to public schools and it looks like using it will be tied to funding.
You make a good point. I should read these books first. Obviously the project of this publisher is objectionable, the specific books they're using could be ok, even if they are eyebrow raising.
I disagree, whether the content of the book is fine or not, it has an explicit goal of teaching "conservative and christian values".
Not teaching about them, learning what certain groups believe, but directly trying to instill those values.
Yeah I think it's still good to be fully informed. But having researched this specific book (Little Lives Matter), I'm more alarmed. It's literally anti-choice propaganda. For 2nd graders.
I would bet a LOT of money that there is objectionable material in those books, but yeah it’d be good to be able to specifically reference what it is when you take it to admin.
Absolutely unacceptable for a public school!!!
Ohh I'm sure there is. There should be read alouds on YouTube.
I just know that going to a principle because you don't like the authors isn't a great idea. You need to specifically say what is objectionable.
Yep I’m in agreement! I’m just saying to OP that I agree with you that it would be most effective to be able to point out what specifically in the book is inappropriate for a public school setting. (I’m sure there will be plenty!!)
Zodanza on YouTube has an episode about these books, they're definitely indoctrination
i would bring it up with the administration and if they do not do anything about it, reach out to the ACLU or FFRF
+1 FFRF is all over this kind of thing usually. I would inform them even IF it gets resolved.
[deleted]
Thank you. I just wrote her a message explaining the situation and asking for next steps.
Thank you for your action. Also look beyond the principal. The superintendent? The school board? Are they aware of this?
I second the call to have an email to the FFRF ready to go. I would also strongly consider contacting the ACLU as well.
Yeah, I'm planning on seeing how the principal responds and that'll help choose my next course of action.
Smart. It’s good to have a measured first step before any escalation.
Unacceptable. What state do you live in OP?
Utah, haha
I'm sorry you are going through this. Being an atheist parent in Utah likely takes a special kind of courage. Hats off.
OP posted 5 years ago in Salt Lake City subreddit, so I'd guess Utah.
Holy fuck. Cameron and Sorbo aren't even the worst of it. I just looked at the author list of this series. It's like the worst of the worst: - Jack Posibiec (on the topic of DISCERNMENT of all things) - General Flynn - DC Draino - CHAYA RAICHIK
And a bunch of names I don't recognize, but it's not promising company. Q Anon promoters, liars, and propagandists. But I repeat myself. Absolutely disgusting.
Even if these people weren't insane conspiracy theorists trying to indoctrinate children with their hateful beliefs, this in unacceptable on a purely competency level, I don't want my kids reading tiktok influencer books either, get actual authors.
That’s bonkers, there’s a lot about this book and how it’s stupid, culture the vulture? Cmon
You might first inform the teacher that your child won't be reading christian nationalist propaganda and ask for the lesson plan and learning objectives so you can select alternative texts for them to read. You might then tell your kid they don't need to read the assigned book and give them the alternative book. The teacher might make a stink. They might say the kid has to "miss" the lesson about the assignment in class. You'd let them know that you'll make up for it at home.
If you did this, you'd need to inform the administrators that you're taking a religious exemption from some of the assigned texts and that you're consenting to replacing the modules at home if required.
Is this "allowable"? I can't speak for your school district or your school. I would say that you should definitely not comply in advance.
Can you just let your kid read the book, roll your eyes, and try to offset the propaganda through conversation at home? Sure, you can try, and you may be somewhat successful.
But this isn't an isolated assault. This is the whole curriculum, and they're using this tactic because it works (I highly recommend Jason Stanley's books on fascism, which unpack how crucial education is enabling the rise of fascism.) Kids (humans) are impressionable, even more so with those around them say this book or idea is okay. You, as powerful as you might be as a parent, may not be more powerful than the classroom of her peers her teacher who may even get to spend more time with her in a day than you do and who are rallying around this material daily, weekly, and yearly. If I were you, I would take a very hard line with Christian Nationalist propaganda and absolutely not entertain even the softest bit of literature and material in this vein.
OP says Utah elsewhere; good luck with that.
All I can say is oof.
It doesn’t really matter where the school is. If it’s a public school in the US, they can’t assign this stuff.
You might be technically right but it takes a court to call it and a DOE to enforce it. I’m not optimistic that OP will be able to rely on these institutions to help…
Very true. Things aren’t exactly going as planned in the US right now…
I would put a FAST stop to that, first by pulling my kid and then by going to the school board. I'd also get Americans United for the Separation of Church and State involved. This is not only "not OK," it is illegal under precedent set in Lemon v. Kurtzman over 50 years ago. At least for now.
What books are they using in science? Social studies? Check all your kids books, worksheets, and ask to see the curriculum to see how pervasive this is.
The irony here is what gets me. Conservative Christians have the gall to say shit like "despite culture insisting that he should just live for himself" when they are hands down the most selfish mfers around. They are CONSTANTLY only thinking about how THEY feel with no regard with how anyone that does not share their ideologies might feel. Its all projection with them
OP, please let us know what the principal's response is!
Ffrf.org
https://ffrf.org/legal/report-church-state/
Fuck to the no
Little lives matter
Unless they are brown
We must punish women who try to control their bodies
And force children crossing the Rio Grande to drown.
A fetus is a person
Until it grows into a daughter
Unless it grew up down south
Then it's illegal to give them water
Writing right-wing kids books seems pretty easy. I'd try to scam the evil people too, but doing the illustrations of the dead kids and parents trying to get into the US would probably send me over the edge.
Beautiful. I'm buying that