Seacoast Outright has been tasked with training teachers in SAU21 in September. Given their political background, a few families in the district have started questioning whether this was a good decision. Teacher training can be a valuable tool to help teachers in the classroom. However, many teachers have reported that some of it is a complete waste of time and money.
Superintendent Meredith Nadeau sent an email to parents describing the training this way:
One training scheduled for the upcoming year has been a subject of concern for some individuals. That training is a 90-minute session for educators focused on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all children–in this case, providing a better understanding of how to support LGBTQ+ youth. The goals of the training are to build staff understanding of the concepts of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and gender expression, to share information and data regarding the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth, and to discuss strategies for creating a safe classroom/school space for all. There is no curricular component, and no aspect of this training is intended to be provided to children. As educators, our job is to create an environment free from discrimination for all, including on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, marital status, familial status, disability, religion or national origin, creed or economic status. Students who identify as LGBTQ+ are twice as likely to report being bullied or harassed as their peers, and 45% of students identifying as LGBTQ+ report having seriously considered suicide in the last year. A recent WHS graduate perhaps best articulated the need for this training for our staff:
I went through Winnacunnet as one of the few LGBTQ+ students… It was incredibly isolating and when I needed help, I hesitated in fear of not being understood…My favorite staff members did not share any of my experiences, but they had open hearts and open minds that I am forever grateful for. I recognize that not everyone is privileged enough to be in my position. That is why I strongly encourage…training so that students like me are able to freely rely on faculty without fear of discrimination or judgement on who they are. It will show them that our school is always striving to be better to all individuals.
With more schools focusing on WOKE ideology in the classroom, parents want to know how administrators and teachers will improve academic outcomes. This kind of WOKEism is driving parents to remove their children from public schools, and send them to a private school where the important task of academics, is still a priority. When enrollment falls, and parents demand school choice options, don’t be surprised. Parents want their public schools safe for all children but focused on their most important task which is, academic excellence.
Nationwide we are seeing a trend away from academic excellence, to a focus on changing a child’s attitudes, values and beliefs. In Fairfax County it was reported that teachers were trained to “transition children’s genders without parental approval.” This training required “all teachers to complete a training program that says parental permission is not required for students who seek to be addressed by different names or pronouns.”
This is why I decided to file a 91-a Right to Know Request in SAU21. What materials will Seacoast Outright use to train local teachers? I was told that no government records exist. However, Jessica Goff from Seacoast Outright told me that she turned over all of the materials to the administrators. Why did I not receive those materials? Is there something to hide? Do they wait for parents to file a lawsuit before they are willing to provide the information requested?
In SAU16, they are racking up a large legal bill that the taxpayers will have to cover. One parent took his case to the New Hampshire Supreme Court in order to access the information he requested.
In this video, you can see another parent was told that “no documents existed.” But she knows the information is there. They are just not providing it. What are they hiding? These people work for us. We pay their salaries. They educate our children, and yet we cannot access information that should be easily accessible.
I’ve asked for the materials in a Right-to-Know request. I’ve asked the trainer, Jessica Goff from Seacoast Outright to send me the materials. So far, nothing has been provided. It sure makes it look like they do not want this information made public. Why?
I will be posting some of the correspondence with SAU21’s Superintendent, Meredith Nadeau. If the district is going to engage in political activism cloaked in teacher training, then all of this needs to be made transparent.
