Controversial gender ideology in public education undermines families of faith

I feel like you all are conflating the idea of gender education to more than it actually is. In no sense of the word is gender “taking over” common education (ex: core classes such as math, literature, science, etc). The freedom to teach gender simply includes the ability to assign a reading book in English class that may simply contain a transgender character. There is no indoctrination. There is simply education.

It baffles me to think that you all are so obsessed with what goes on between a child’s legs, then proceed to call the transgender community “Groomers” and “perverts.” Come on, you really believe that? If your child suddenly “turns trans” because they were taught about trans people, then congrats! They were probably trans to begin with. Now they just have a way to identify themself and feel more comfortable in their own skin. Why would any parent be against their child being happy?

“What if it’s a phase and they regret it?” Children all go through phases. That’s what adolescence is for. We all do things we regret, whether it be a bad haircut, ruining our favorite shirt, what have you. Some things may not be permanent, but some things are. The bottom line is that no, children are not being given hormones at such a young age. With parental consent (or, alternatively, a legal– excuse my language – shitshow), adolescents around the age of puberty’s onset may be able to obtain hormones. The most elementary and middle schoolers are doing is going on hormone blockers, which simply delay puberty until the child figures out their identity. No children are getting life altering surgeries before 18. Even cis women and men with gynecomastia struggle to get breast reductions prior to adulthood.

And again, if it is a phase, then that’s great! It means your child is discovering who they are and what makes them happy. It’s just the same as having a favorite color or animal.
Once again, it baffles me how misconstrued some of you can be. In no sense of the word is gender education and protection “dismantling” modern day schools. If anything, it’s creating a better environment. Instead of depression caused by ridicule from peers, kids feel more free to be themselves. Why would a parent be against that?

If it is true that “The assumption underlying California policy is that gender is a spectrum that is not necessarily linked to biological sex…” And if it’s always been that way. Then why do we suddenly need to modify biological sex with hormones and surgery or change our language around it. Also, if this is all in the name of “equity,” then outside of sex based rights, I’m curious how this innate feeling of gender has ever been treated with inequality. And why are we focused on inequality of an innate feeling versus people who are actually suffering from poverty, etc.

And if this is an innate feeling, how could it ever be taught in schools or handled in an objective way since the identity itself has no objective basis. Likewise since this is something a child holds true within themselves, how can you tell a parent that they are wrong for holding opposing beliefs within themselves. And furthermore, given that a parent has the context of their child’s entire life, why would we not trust that parent – an adult who is developmentally mature and less likely to succumb to magical thinking than their child?

None of this makes sense when you break it down.

I am writing to you on behalf of several parents in your state who are struggling with an aspect of the current sex Ed curriculum being taught in our public schools. We take issue with the requirement to teach about gender identity in school. Gender Ideology is something people are free to believe, but it’s being taught as if it were fact. It’s a belief system. This is surprising because it is illegal to teach belief systems/religious doctrine in public schools.

Additionally, the law states that “Each school district shall ensure all pupils in grades 7 to 12 receive comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education from trained instructors. Each student shall receive instruction at least once in junior high school or middle school and at least once in high school. The information must be age-appropriate, medically accurate and objective. A school district that elects to offer comprehensive sex education earlier than grade seven may provide age-appropriate and medically accurate information.”Teaching a belief system is not objective or medically accurate.

An example of a part of a lesson Kindergarteners are taught: “There are some body parts that mostly just girls have and some parts that mostly just boys have …”

This conversation continues yearly until 7th: “Explain to the class that they are going to be put into small groups to complete a worksheet on the sexual and reproductive systems for people who were born with certain body parts and assigned “female” at birth. Referring to people with particular body parts (such as “a person with a vulva”) will create a more inclusive classroom than “female anatomy.” Explain to the class that just as they went through the female sexual and reproductive systems during the last class, today they are going to go through the male sexual and reproductive systems for people who were born with certain body parts an assigned “male” at birth.”

In High school it gets worse. In Northern California, they are asking high school students, among other things, to rate how comfortable they are with anal sex. See image 13 on this document.

The other unintentional side effect of teaching gender ideology to children is that they take it literally, which would account for the enormous rise in trans identified/ non binary kids. I have one and I can tell you, it is 100% a social phenomenon. She has no history of it in childhood and is likely same sex attracted and trying to manage those feelings by adopting a new identity. Abigail Shrier wrote a book about it called Irreversible Damage. It is happening all over the world.

I would not care – they go through phases – except the pressure to be “trans” with binding, hormones and surgery is immense. I have 20 psychologists who have never met her that will give her a letter to get a double mastectomy in a one hour phone call/zoom. She is 16 and in 2 years can go to Planned Parenthood and get Testosterone in 30 minutes with informed consent. She still can’t decide what to order for dessert, how can she possibly be responsible for decisions about irreversible medical interventions?

There is a lot more to tell, and I would like to request a meeting to discuss this growing problem in our state.

Thank you Rabbi Fischer for this thoughtful article. As a lifelong activist in the rights of women & safeguarding of children, the indoctrination of gender identity ideology in all its forms (CRT inc) must be kept out of schools. Parents should always retain the right to raise their children according to their faith or even w/ no faith in any higher power at all.

I believe that people of any belief are in solidarity when it comes to the idea of family being the foremost necessary foundation for the strongest and most healthy development for children.

Great article. Gender ideology has no place in schools just as religious teaching is not allowed in public schools. I’m not religious but I also don’t believe in gender ideology so why do my beliefs not count? Parents send their children to religious schools if that’s what their family wants, but they have no say in whether they want gender religion taught to their kids. There is something not right about this.

It’s very scary that children are told to keep secrets from their own parents. That breaks down the family structure and is very harmful to vulnerable children.

Thank you Rabbi Fischer for this great article. The indoctrination of gender ideology must be kept out of schools. Parents have a right to raise their children according to their faith or no faith at all.

Children being told that they can keep secrets from their parents is dangerous and victimizing to kids who need their parents’ support. We support the parents and teachers who are fighting against this madness. Indeed, we need to say enough is enough! Parents are getting tired of this hijacking of their children and are pulling them out of the public schools in droves. Get the activists out of the schools! Give parents the right to raise their children according to their values. Here are some resources for parents, teachers and guidance counselors. https://genspect.org/guidance/

Thank you, Rabbi Fischer. Schools have become ground zero for indoctrinating children (K-12) into what can easily be described as a cult, with its required mantras and doctrines, and its penchant for isolating confused children from their desperate families. As a parent trapped in this nightmare witnessing my vulnerable child getting sucked ever deeper, I worry about our young people and the massive damage that is being done. The number of detransitioners — those who regret the medicalization of their gender identity — is rising and common sense tells us this trend will continue (detrans Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/detrans/) now has 29,100 members, up from 25,600 in February). The threat of suicide is routinely used as emotional blackmail, yet no other mental health issue is treated by following the demands of an adolescent based on self diagnosis.

Studies show that suicidality is terribly high following medical transition, but this information is never shared. I am frankly dismayed as public education embraces an ideology that promotes the use of experimental protocols and surgery for teens who clearly cannot comprehend what they’re sacrificing at a time when the brain is far from fully developed and they are at a stage known for high risk-taking and the lack of ability to understand future consequences.

I expected so much more in terms of a precautionary approach to the medical care of young people. Doctors are sterilizing young males (estrogen can sterilize a male child within a few months), and girls as young as 13 are getting mastectomies in California. All based on the concept of gender — an internal sense that no one outside of the person can know, for which there are no medical tests, and which may change over time.

Gender ideology is a belief. It is its own religion. It has no place in public school. Children are being harmed. Families are being destroyed. Parents are being coerced into consenting to the sterilization of their children — many of whom are on the autism spectrum and/or have longstanding mental health problems. We need teachers and community leaders to start standing up for what is so obvious to anyone who takes the time to research the issue — this medical pathway is not appropriate for young people just at the beginning stages of figuring themselves out, and suggesting to younger children that they should anticipate and accept surgery and a lifetime of medication to “correct” themselves is grossly unethical. There is simply too much to lose by being complicit. Please go to Genspect.org or read the parent stories on https://pitt.substack.com/

How have public education decision makers rejected the concerns and priorities of the tax paying citizens (aka the public) from their local school boards, county school boards, state assembly and senate via laws and policies injecting new, never before examined, evaluated content into our TK- 12th grade students lives.

I have never seen a ballot proposition where I could voice my support or opposition to the cultural transformation agendas labeled; Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Social Justice, Culturally Responsive Discipline, Grading, Instruction, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CST) or ideas that some people groups are fragile and some are not.

In my experience parents and citizens agreed the purpose of our schools was to build knowledge, understanding, and skills in reading, writing, science, math, history, music, and art. The industrial leading nations of the world still teach and prioritize these subjects.

In my experience parents agreed that these subjects would benefit every child and each child should master these in order to receive a high school graduation diploma.

In my experience families shared their personal views on current events, their families history, faith, priorities and values with their children who they would love, protect and guide until death parted them.
Schools were limited to specific expectations . Schools honored the authority of the family as the foundation for each child. Schools have transformed themselves. Schools now deceive, ignore and usurp parents authority.

Sadly our schools reject the common expectations of the public and impose on students, parents, staff and citizens their new job descriptions as transformers, global change agents for a new world order the public never asked for, elected nor is interested in participating in as we see the rush out of CA, the increase in homeschooling and private schools like never before.

In the book Born Ready, The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope by Jodie Patterson, found in TK-2nd grade classrooms schools are planting ideas and subject matter the public has never requested nor authorized them to teach. Education is now teaching their religion, their gospel in their classrooms paid for by our dollars into our children.

Parents of different faiths and non- religious parents and citizens recognize the transformation of education as a threat to family stability, unity and freedom. The idiom, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” will never abandon their children to the transformation elites.