The coming election of school board trustees is focusing renewed attention on the implementation of SOGI 123 in our schools. The rising tensions and acrimony has accentuated the growing cultural divide in both Canada and the United States. This divide has resulted in a society which is antagonistic and, at times, incendiary towards those whose views differ from one’s own. The divide has been fueled by social media where people fail to give any consideration or respect to those with whom they disagree.
Sadly, this has been very evident in the opinions expressed concerning SOGI, to the point that some candidates are being labeled as the “hate slate.” One candidate told me that her signs have been pulled up … more than once. Unbelievable!
It goes without saying that every parent wants their children to be accepted, respected and not bullied. So our schools must be welcoming places for all, regardless of their appearance, race, religion, sex/gender or economic status. The problem of bullying can be resolved by school boards and administrators adopting and enforcing a get tough policy on bullying of any sort without influencing impressionable young minds with every conceivable manner of sexual expression or orientation.
The one issue that is largely being overlooked is the matter of parental rights. Neither the school administration or teachers have a greater degree of authority and responsibility than parents have over their children. There are a great many parents who do not want their children introduced to and indoctrinated with the secular, “progressive” expressions of sexuality. Forcing the SOGI program on children against their parent’s wishes is a violation of the freedoms of conscience and religion. Why isn’t this obvious to everyone? Or has our society devolved to the point that pushing the progressive agenda takes priority over these fundamental freedoms? The effect on families if SOGI is implemented may well be that some parents will have no alternative but to place their children in private schools. Is that the desired outcome?
Darrell Johnson