Parents in a North Dakota school district are outraged by the local board’s decision to defy state law and keep students’ families in the dark about their gender transitions, prompting some to file – appear before the board and take a position for transparency.
“Whose children are these? Do they belong to you as a school board? Do they belong to Fargo Public Schools or is it ultimately each parent’s child who makes the decisions in their family about what is allowed and what is safe for this child…?
“There is no possible way that every teacher knows every child as intimately as their parents,” concerned mother Cassie Schmidt told the board last week.
NORTH DAKOTA PARENTS TAKE SCHOOL BOARD TO CHALLENGE CHILDREN’S GENDER IDENTITY LAW: ‘WHOSE KIDS ARE THESE?
North Dakota father Brad Shaffer appears before the Fargo Public Schools board on May 23, protesting a measure that would keep parents in the dark about their children’s gender identity. (Fargo Public Schools/ Fox & Friends First (screenshot))
Brad Shaffer, one of the concerned parents who also stood up to speak during the recent board meeting, warned “Fox & Friends First” viewers Tuesday that the decision sends children the wrong message that some laws should be to break.
“It’s ridiculous to think they know our kids better than we do,” she told co-host Todd Piro, later continuing, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to have a child … or an adult … keep secrets from somebody . It’s just a mess. They created a mess and the public reacted, so we’ll see what they do.”
Parents like Shaffer allege that district leaders, especially Superintendent Dr. Rupak Gandhi, are behind the effort that would hide a crucial aspect of their children’s lives from them for fear that the news could create an unsafe home environment.
CHRISTIAN TEACHER LOSES JOB AFTER REFUSING TO MISLEAD PARENTS ABOUT CHILDREN’S GENDER TRANSITIONS: ‘OF THE DEVIL’
Dr. Rupak Gandhi, superintendent of Fargo Public Schools, expressed his reluctance to “punish” vulnerable students. (Fox & Friends Premiere/Screenshot)
Gandhi earlier expressed concern that “out[ing] students can harm them if their families are unwilling to accept their decisions.
“We will not overtly exclude any student because of a law if we know it will harm that child,” he said in response to the state’s HB1522, which in part prohibits districts, boards or teachers from “retaining” .[ing] or hide[ing] information about a student’s transgender status from the student’s parent or legal guardian.”
Gov. Doug Burgum, R., signed the bill into law earlier this month.
NORTH DAKOTA BILLL THAT TEACHERS IDNORE PRONOUNS BECOME LAW
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, R., signed HB1522 into law earlier this month. (Mike McCleary/The Bismarck Tribune via AP, File)
“They [the board members] need to grow a backbone. They don’t go according to what the people of the city do [want]…” Shaffer continued later.
“Is [Gandhi] showing kids that it’s okay to disobey the law. He tells teachers they don’t have to obey the law, so what gives him that right? This is a contracted position. We voted for these school board members, so shame on us.”
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Shaffer, like Schmidt and other parents, brought up their concerns at the May 23 board meeting that drew attention and sparked viral outrage.
“Do you support the school by keeping secrets from parents?” Shaffer asked the board. “Is that really what you’re going to vote for? I sure hope not. You guys need to grow a backbone.”
Taylor Penley is a production assistant at Fox News.
