In a packed auditorium filled with hundreds of citizens, last night the Alameda School Board held its carryover meeting from last Tuesday’s contentious hearing about proposed homosexual curriculum. Concerned parents began arriving well over an hour before the meeting started, hoping that, unlike last week’s meeting, they would be able to find a seat. Moving the meeting to the much larger venue accommodated the hundreds of Alameda citizens passionate about this controversial proposal.
The only speakers allowed during the carryover meeting were citizens who had attended last week’s meeting but were turned away by the fire marshal due to the enormous crowd. The meeting lasted five hours, during which citizens addressed the school board about their concerns over teaching the homosexuality-promoting school course. Over 90% of the speakers were in opposition to the curriculum.
Every one of the speakers was courteous and presented well-reasoned, articulate opposition. However, proponents of the curriculum didn’t practice what they preach.
Hecklers repeatedly booed and hissed when parents and students rose to express their opposition. During her presentation, one young lady was charged by a man angry that he was not permitted to address the audience about his support for the gay schoolwork. Other men in the audience had to defend her from the attacker and forcibly remove him.
Later on, one parent noted he found the bullying from pro-homosexual curriculum audience members hypocritical: “This bullying is taking place by the people you’re asking me to entrust my children to!” The gentleman also commented that in the last week he has been labeled a bigot and white supremacist for expressing his opposition to social indoctrination.
Several parents expressed their disappointment at not being consulted in developing the controversial curriculum. The general sentiment amongst speakers was that the curriculum should be rejected or completely revised, with parental input.
The few speakers in favor of the curriculum repeatedly stated that the proposed course is “just a start” and “the first step” in teaching equality in classrooms. Only a handful of these supporters addressed bullying; instead they plead with the board to implement the curriculum to teach other children about their homosexual families. Some even told the board that no parental opt-out should be allowed because the children of the curriculum opponents needed the instruction even more.
On speaker who was an Alameda principal and teacher for 45 years explained that teachers would be placed in a very difficult position should the curriculum be taught. She expressed concern over the myriad questions sexual teaching would evoke in young children. She was booed and hissed at by the curriculum-supporters.
CRI’s Karen England was also jeered at as she rose to address the school board. During her presentation England explained that the law does not require the school district to implement the curriculum and that it not the most effective means to end bullying either.
At the end of the meeting, the school board members were able to ask questions of the school superintendent who initially introduced the curriculum. The final vote on the curriculum will take place next Tuesday evening.
Please forward this email to your friends in Alameda and encourage them to call their school board members.
School board members must be told to vote NO on the curriculum.
Capitol Resource Institute
