In Wake County, North Carolina, preschool children have been learning their colors with the help of flashcards that sport LGBTQ themes, including one card that features a pregnant man.
“Schools should only be using age-appropriate materials, and these flashcards clearly do not meet that standard for a pre-school classroom,” said State Rep. Erin Paré in a statement from N.C. Speaker of the House Tim Moore.
A concerned parent reached out to the Republican representative to let her know that the LGBTQIA+ -themed cards were being used in the preschool class at Ballentine Elementary School.
“Rep. Paré immediately contacted the principal of the elementary school to alert her of this constituent concern and to confirm the use of the flashcards in the classroom,” Moore said. “The principal of the school took swift action to investigate and respond to the information.”
According to Moore’s statement, the stack of controversial cards was found by the principal in the toddlers’ classroom and the teacher admitted they were being used.
Flash Cards Depicting Pregnant Man Used in WCPSS Preschool Classroom in House District 37 https://t.co/KpnbngXMrv via @ErinforNC #ncpol #ncga
— Speaker Tim Moore (@NCHouseSpeaker) May 27, 2022
“The principal confirmed that the flashcards were not part of approved curriculum and that she was unaware that they were being used,” Moore said.
After taking possession of the cards, the principal contacted the Wake County Public School System’s area superintendent and human resources. She thanked Rep. Paré, saying she wouldn’t have known about the cards had he not brought them to her attention.
As Speaker Moore notes, the North Carolina General Assembly is currently looking to pass legislation aimed, much like Florida’s explosive new Parental Rights in Education law, at giving parents more control over what their kids are taught in school.
“Parents deserve to know exactly what and how their children are being taught,” Moore said.
Online, reactions to the removal of the progressive flashcards from the preschool classroom is receiving mixed reviews, as parents struggle to cope with the horrific events surrounding the Uvalde elementary school shooting last week.
“Dude, read the room,” replied one user. “This is not what most parents are worried about right now. We just want our kids to come home from school alive.”
“Zero tweets about school safety,” wrote another. “My representative tweets about this.”
Dude, read the room. This is not what most parents are worried about right now. We just want our kids to come home from school alive.
— Cassie (@hatch_cassie) May 28, 2022
Zero tweets about school safety. My representative tweets about this. https://t.co/tutYVXVdKj
— Stephanie Embry (@GenXcatlady) May 27, 2022
But not all the responses were negative, with many users happy to see the representatives taking a stand against woke materials in the classroom.
“Thank you @ErinforNC for getting the cards removed by addressing it w that school principal,” tweeted Amy Marshall, President o the Carolina Teachers Alliance.
“Unfortunately WCPSS doesn’t listen when it’s just parents complaining,” she continued. “Had you not personally intervened as a legislator, I believe those cards would still be in use there.”
Thank you @ErinforNC for getting the cards removed by addressing it w that school principal. Unfortunately WCPSS doesn’t listen when it’s just parents complaining. Had you not personally intervened as a legislator, I believe those cards would still be in use there. #nced #ncpol https://t.co/TOTVfmeSYP
— Amy Marshall (@AEMarshall2020) May 27, 2022
“Schools should only be using age-appropriate materials, and these flashcards clearly do not meet that standard for a pre-school classroom,” Paré said in the statement. “I hope schools across Wake County and the State of North Carolina will follow the example of Ballentine and respond swiftly when a parent expresses concern and ensure that materials like this are not being used to teach young students.”
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.