Recently, parental rights and the battle over indoctrination of children in the public schools has reached a flashpoint in Loudoun County, Virginia. The school board’s adoption of transgender ideology, highly sexualized curricula, and critical race theory has angered many parents – so much so that one recent board meeting was terminated abruptly by the board in response to the parental outcry and one attendee was even arrested.
But thankfully, it’s not just parents that are complaining. Some of the more courageous teachers – who in recent cases have been Christians – are pushing back and complaining about the oppressive atmosphere the school board has created over these policies, which forces teachers to choose between their biblical beliefs and their jobs.
Dissent among the staff about the policies is not tolerated, as one physical education teacher found out after he spoke against the board’s adoption of a transgender policy requiring him to use “preferred pronouns” of students. Fortunately for him, the courts stepped in and stopped the board’s attempt to fire him.
Another courageous teacher in Loudoun County is Laura Morris, who made an appearance at the most recent school board meeting to voice her opposition, as well as resign. The meeting, as you’ll notice from the video and Ms. Morris’s testimony, was closed to all except individual speakers who had signed up to speak.
As she spoke, she became increasingly emotional.
“My name is Laura Morris. I have been a teacher in Loudon County Public Schools for five years and a teacher for 10. In that time, I have learned so much, being on the cutting edge of educational technology and working with a diverse population of students that I love.
“This year I have the privilege to follow my amazing fourth graders up to fifth, and I have been excited about this all summer. On the other hand, this summer I have struggled with the idea of returning to school, knowing that I’ll be working yet again with a school division, that despite its shiny tech and flashy salary, promotes political ideologies that do not square with who I am as a believer in Christ.
“After reading about your lack of consideration for the growing population of concerned citizens in this division, clearly evidenced by this empty room tonight, where you shut the doors to the public, as well as the emails sent by the superintendent last year, reminding me that a dissenting opinion is not allowed even to be spoken in my personal life. Going so far as to send a form to my colleagues and I, encouraging us to fill it out if we hear one another speaking against the controversial policies being promoted by this school board and adopted in this county.
“Not only that, but within the last year I was told in one of my so-called equity trainings that white Christian, able-bodied females currently have the power in our schools, and that, quote, ‘This has to change.’
“Clearly you’ve made your point. You no longer value me, or many other teachers you’ve employed in this county. So, since my contract outlines the power that you have over my employment in Loudoun County Public Schools, I thought it necessary to resign in front of you.
“School board, I quit. I quit your policies, I quit your trainings, and I quit being a cog in a machine that tells me to push highly politicized agendas on our most vulnerable constituents, the children. I will find employment elsewhere. I encourage all parents and staff in this county to flood the private schools.”
The disputes in Loudoun County have spilled over into the rest of the state, encouraged by the far-left policies of that state’s legislature. But these battles are being fought in school districts across the country. Concerned parents are right to voice objections and seek policy changes wherever school policies violate biblical teachings.
School boards are elected bodies that are supposed to represent the citizens of their districts who have entrusted their children to them to be educated. Indoctrinating children, rather than educating them, violates that trust.
HD Editor’s Note:
Having the Courage to Protect Children
Following the announcement of her resignation, Laura Morris, in an interview with Tucker Carlson refuted the claim that her actions were out of her own bravery, insisting her courage was by the grace of God.
“This was all done by the grace of God — the protection I’ve had, the provision I’ve had since doing what I did, just the courage to get up and do it,” she explained. “It’s from my walk with the Lord.”
“And, as far as the impact on the students, I’ve received so many texts, so many emails from families of students that I’ve taught in the past, and they’re just so happy for me that I made the decision that I did because they know it was what was right for me and they’re so with me,” Morris said. “There’s so much support.”
“One of the emails I received from another state put it so beautifully… It’s been said that one candle can illuminate a thousand others without diminishing its own illumination.”
“I was so moved by those words because I never would have thought of myself in that position, but I don’t feel at all diminished by what’s happened,” she told the Fox News host. “In fact, I feel the amazing blessings of God just pouring out on me from what has happened. And I’m so excited that what I did and said might spark others, might illuminate in others the desire to put some action to their words.”
In May, a Christian gym teacher in Virginia also lost his job for not using “transgender-affirming language.” A judge then ruled that the school must reinstate the teacher, Bryon Tanner Cross, and scolded the school board for violating constitutionally protected speech.
In his reasoning for refusing to use the pronouns, Cross said that it was out of love that he could not lie to children struggling with gender confusion, adding that to do so would be “abuse to a child.”
“My name is Tanner Cross, and I am speaking out of love for those who suffer with gender dysphoria. I love all of my students, but I will never lie to them regardless of the consequences,” he explained. “I’m a teacher, but I serve God first and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa because it’s against my religion, it’s lying to a child, it’s abuse to a child, and it’s sinning against our God.”
In today’s day and age, we see a 2 Timothy 3:1-9 humanity doubling down on influencing our next generation. From toddlers to teenagers, children are being targeted on all fronts.
At the expense of our children’s innocence, a godless agenda is being propagated with increasing intensity.
Now more than ever, it is vital for parents to be Biblically educating their children.
