A number of you have inquired about the recently enacted LGBT History mandate in public schools and are wondering what can be done to protect students. You, like many Christian parents, are concerned about your children being indoctrinated with the belief that a homosexual lifestyle is desirable and perfectly good. Although we don’t know the specifics of the curriculum at this time, the law does require all schools in the state include “the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State” in official textbooks. This likely means we can count on all history classes beginning in the fall of 2020 to teach about how the LGBT movement has led to positive and necessary changes in our society, no matter how biased that view may be.
So, can this mandate be stopped? Unfortunately, the law is not legally contestable at this time. But as a parent, you can still take action. There are several potential alternatives you can try:
- Sit down with the school administration and politely request that your child be exempt from the particular class sessions that teach LGBT history. They may allow your child to write a paper or do an alternative assignment in lieu of the classes or other homework.
- Enroll your child in a private Christian school. Private schools are exempt from this history mandate as they do not get government funding. Better yet, kids will likely have a class devoted to studying the Bible.
- Devote your time to homeschooling. Although this approach takes the most time, energy, and preparation for parents, it is well worth it to have full control of what your children learn and what they are exposed to in an academic setting.
We understand that these suggestions won’t work for everyone. Perhaps your school administration refuses to make accommodations. Maybe you don’t have the time or resources to homeschool and can’t afford to send your children to a private Christian school. What should you do?
Above all other advice, as a parent you must teach your children truth and raise them in righteousness so that they will be prepared for anything they might encounter. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it,” Proverbs 22:6. There is no substitute for the value of godly wisdom and parental guidance.
This issue, like many others in our ever-changing society, needs prayer. Please join us and countless others in praying for our lawmakers, students, teachers, and parents through these challenging times.
Will there ever be hope of legal action against this law? It depends on the specific curriculum at each school. Should the content be found to be “overly-indoctrinating,” certain curriculum may be legally objectionable. But for now, pray.