This email was sent to the local rural county school superintendent Thurs Aug 5th and received no response. As of 9/2 the school website says 6 staff and 6 students have covid and that masking is a personal choice. (small rural area).
Greetings, X,
I don't currently have any family in the X County School system, but received a newsletter in my mailbox. As a member of the community, I wanted to mention some concerns/thoughts related to your letter. I'll try to be brief, or at least concise, as I know you are busy getting ready for the new school year! :)
"Post-Covid" phrase/Masks & Vaccinations
In your letter, you used the phrase "post-Covid" but, at the very least, that is inappropriate wording. I'm sure you know cases are rising in the state, the country, and the world. We're not out of it yet and it's unwise to indicate it's over.
I'm very disappointed that masks are not required in the schools. I know masks can be a hassle, but it's a simple method of prevention. Especially when any child under age 12 is at a larger risk without a vaccine.
I'm very concerned that you didn't encourage people to get vaccines. I realize unfortunately covid and vaccines have morphed into a political issue, instead of basic science. I presume that science is still taught in schools and would hope that you and your staff encourage its use. :) As was mentioned elsewhere in the newsletter, the state requires certain vaccines for children, so this shouldn't be something unusual to encourage, especially in light of the statistics that show unvaccinated people bear the brunt of covid cases now.
As I'm sure you're aware, the CDC is highly recommending every eligible person to get vaccinated AND for everyone to wear masks indoors, vaccinated or not. It should follow suit that schools, institutions of learning, would follow these recommendations from experts.
You mention safety as the school's top priority. Masks and vaccinations against this global virus is prevention that will keep the children, staff, families, and communities safe. I highly encourage you to reconsider the school's stance and focus on prevention, instead of being reactionary. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Department of Education Health and Safety Standards
I also noticed mention of the Department of Education's revisions on Health and Physical Education Standards as an issue that came up in the past few months. I appreciate your simple update that the standards haven't been finalized, so nothing has been changed yet for X.
You mention that you will reach out to the community for input. Here is mine: After reading the proposed lessons, I reached out to the Department of Education and highly encouraged them to keep what they had, so I was very disappointed that the Governor encouraged fear-mongering in the general public and, as a result, crucial information about gender identity was removed.
I want to tell you how important it is that all people, children and adults, feel safe and respected, and I believe this is touted as a value in your schools. I have family and friends that are transgender, non-binary, LGBTQ+ and a fair number of them live in Nebraska or grew up in Nebraska, including small towns where they didn't feel safe or welcome. That can't continue.
As an institution funded by taxpayer money, the schools cannot discriminate on the facts that are taught. I don't want to feel that fear-based religious teachings and misinformation seep into public schools and prevent students from learning about the real world. I'm sure there will be pressure from some families, but it's a matter of reality and more complete education. Pretending LGBTQ+ people don't exist is NOT a viable option. There are plenty of resources to help enlighten staff, students, and families, and I hope to hear about how they are being implemented.
I sincerely hope that current teaching and future teaching provides students and families with fair, respectful, balanced information that includes and provides a safe/welcoming space for LGBTQ+ people. Whether or not you know it, there are people that are LGBTQ+ in your student body, on staff, and in families. If our school or county isn't welcoming for them, that is something that needs to be addressed.
Critical Race Theory/History Classes
Lastly, you mentioned Critical Race Theory and simply stated it hasn't been added to the curriculum and the district has not been asked to teach it. That's a pretty simple way to address it without delving into it, which seems like the best way to handle it!
My understanding is that Critical Race Theory 1) is a graduate collegiate level concept, 2) people have gotten upset about it without knowing what it is or trying to investigate/learn, and 3) some people that are upset are masking certain feelings or misconceptions that could be problematic.
I don't know what the current curriculum is, but I should hope that the history being taught is honest about the inequalities in the founding of this nation (and that still exist today). It can be VERY touchy territory, as I'm sure you know, but admitting a problem is the first step to fixing problems. And it often is uncomfortable, but that's growing pains, right? :) If and when it's deemed appropriate, I know there are resources and organizations that can help facilitate for these kinds of conversations.
Our county and state may lack diversity (98.7% White in X County, 88% in Nebraska), but that shouldn't prevent us from preparing children (and adults!) for meeting people from different backgrounds and having empathy and understanding. As you see every day, schools allow children to learn about the world outside of their home, and their own community. This encompasses both "LGBTQ+" and "race" and much more!
As I said, I don't have family in the school system in this county at this time, but I do find the newsletters interesting for a variety of reasons. (For one, they helped give information that helped with my vote on construction! I'm excited to know there will be growth in the arts and resources for students!)
I hope that my concerns and comments are well-received and provide some insight and encouragement for moving people in this community out of fear of the unknown and into inclusiveness, growth, understanding, and fostering welcoming environments that encourage lifelong learning.
Wishing you and your staff well,
