Merrimack is using three English Language Arts programs, however, one of them causes emotional harm to children. According to the lawsuit against Wit & Wisdom, parents reported that their children had suffered psychological harm because of the Critical Race Theory focus in Wit&Wisdom. All of this was reported here.
Now that parents have begun questioning these fiscally irresponsible, and potentially harmful decisions, school officials appear to be doubling down. During the Merrimack School Budget Committee meeting, School Board Chair Lori Peters, spoke during public comments and said this:
Wit&Wisdom was so bad that it landed it in court but that doesn’t seem to be a concern for Peters. Parents reported the negative psychological impacts on their children in the lawsuit. You can read more of those details here.
From the lawsuit:
[T]he Plaintiffs asserted that the curriculum caused psychological injuries to the children including anxiety, stress, and race-based guilt. For the latter, the Plaintiffs allege that the curriculum is designed to foster a sense of guilt based upon past actions of other persons who are of the same race. The Plaintiffs contend that the curriculum succeeded in achieving this aim.
Merrimack taxpayers may need additional School Counselors, and Psychologists on staff to deal with the fallout. All they have to do is call a home-schooler, they manage to find the best curriculum available.
If the budget committee votes to remove Wit&Wisdom from the budget, Peters is now threatening to ignore that removal, and instead CUT athletics and co-curricular activities. I’m actually surprised, usually, the admin threatens to fire teachers. Why even have a Budget Committee at this point?
While I do understand that these decisions are difficult, this is part of the democratic process. Sadly, children will be targeted if the Budget Committee doesn’t support what the school board wants.
At this point, maybe you should just dissolve the Budget Committee. This threat, as an attempt to neuter the Budget Committee, might work. Residents don’t like to make children suffer, unlike the school board.