Ensinitas (California, USA), November 12, 2024.
Two Southern California Christian families are suing a school district over its decision to require fifth-graders to teach pre-kindergarten students (kindergarteners: children ages 5-6) about gender ideology without prior notice or the opportunity to opt out of those classes, the Christian Post website reports.
At issue is the Kinderbuddy curriculum at Encinitas School District's La Costa Heights Elementary School, which will ostensibly aim to foster mentorship and friendship between older and younger students.
During this program, fifth graders, including the plaintiffs' sons, were unexpectedly told to teach pre-kindergarten children about gender identity and sexual orientation based on a school-selected book promoting gender ideology.
The complaint calls plaintiffs Carlos and Jennifer Encinas, as well as Tom and Rebecca Doe, "devout Christians." The first pair of parents attend both an "evangelical church based on Biblical teachings" and a local Catholic parish, while the second pair are listed as "faithful members of the local Catholic church" who are "raising their children in the Christian faith."
According to the complaint filed by First Liberty Institute (a nonprofit anti-LGBT legal organization dedicated to protecting the religious liberties of Americans, primarily Christians, headquartered in Plaino, Texas) and the "National Center for Law and Policy" (NCLP), both Christian families firmly believe that all people are created in the image of God and every person is either male or female. They have previously achieved The plaintiffs' parents were relieved to exempt their sons from attending lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation in a "health class," but discovered that similar lessons had been incorporated into the mentoring program without their knowledge.
"Perceiving children as a gift from God, the plaintiff parents believe it is their duty as Christians to raise their children in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs as set forth in Scripture.... The promotion of ideologies contrary to their religious beliefs in schools undermines their parental authority and prevents them from fulfilling their primary parental responsibilities," the complaint states.
The lawsuit was filed because of a book and video, "My Shadow Is Pink," that were selected by the Encinitas School District for a fifth-grade mentoring program. Author Scott Stewart says the book is "about a little boy born with a pink shadow who loves princesses, dresses and things not for boys."
In one part of this piece, the main character, a little boy, says, "My heart sinks when I put on a dress," and he is pictured wearing a dress and looking in a mirror.
In the complaint. also cites an April 30 text message between the two educators regarding the content of the book "My Shadow Is Pink," in which the fifth-grade teacher and the pre-kindergarten teacher called the story "so cute!" and said they "love the overall message."
The plaintiffs allege that the content of the book is completely contrary to their beliefs.
The plaintiffs argue that the book's content is completely contrary to their belief that gender is a fixed characteristic established by God Himself and determined by each individual person's biological sex. In their view, the ideas in the book are unacceptable not only to their fifth-grade son, but also to his pre-kindergarten classmate, raising concerns about the consequences of asking young readers to question their gender identity.
The parents claim the book in question promotes a worldview that rejects traditional views on gender and sexual orientation, which they say undermines the traditional values contained in the Bible that they instill in their children at home. The lawsuit argues that such content should not be provided to their children without prior notice or an opportunity to opt out.
Upon learning of the situation, the families contacted the school to ask for future parental notification and consent for future discussions of gender ideology. However, the school district responded that its teachers are prohibited by law from notifying parents or obtaining consent/disagreement.
Officials in Encinitas County said they will continue to implement this approach to gender ideology without parental notification or consent.
Greg Burt, vice president of the Family Council of California, condemned the school's actions.
"It is shocking and disturbing that a school is asking a child to teach a sensitive subject like gender ideology to young, impressionable pre-kindergarten students, especially when that subject conflicts with the child's own faith and family values," Gov. Burt.
Source: https://www.christianpost.com
