Parents say kindergarten and first-grade students are being read wildly age-inappropriate books about sexuality and gender identity — and the schools refuse to let them opt out
Connecticut parents say that their elementary school-aged children are learning about transgenderism — and a parents group notes that the district is refusing to allow parents to opt out of the lessons.
What are the details?
According to a Tuesday report from the Daily Caller, books titled "Introducing Teddy" and more are being circulated in the curriculum.
"Introducing Teddy," the outlet reported, is about a teddy bear that was created as a male teddy bear, but insisted it was a female teddy bear. The book, according to the report, is geared toward kindergarteners.
Administrators at West Hartford Public Schools told parents that their children would not be able to opt out from the materials, according to a recent release from Parents Defending Education.
A lesson sheet shared with the outlet featured a synopsis of "Introducing Teddy" and the following description:
Errol and his teddy, Thomas, are best friends who do everything together. Whether it's riding a bike, playing in the tree house, having a tea party, or all of the above, every day holds something fun to do. One sunny day, Errol finds that Thomas is sad, even when they are playing in their favorite ways. Errol can't figure out why, until Thomas finally tells Errol what the teddy has been afraid to say: "In my heart, I've always known that I'm a girl teddy, not a boy teddy. I wish my name was Tilly, not Thomas." And Errol says, "I don't care if you're a girl teddy or a boy teddy! What matters is that you are my friend."
"Jacob's New Dress" features a story of a boy who is working hard to convince his parents to let him wear "girl clothes."
Another book, "Are You a Boy or a Girl?" follows the story of Tiny, a child who uses they/them pronouns and refuses to tell other children whether he or she is a boy or girl.
All of the above books are specifically tailored for the use in teaching kindergarten and first-grade students.
The controversial book "I Am Jazz" tells the story of transgender reality star Jazz Jennings, who was born a male but now identifies as female after gender reassignment surgery, and a fifth-grade level book "It Feels Good to Be Yourself" details the experience of non-binary children and addresses gender identity.
A description says, "Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between. This sweet, straightforward exploration of gender identity will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others. With child-friendly language and vibrant art, It Feels Good to Be Yourself provides young readers and parents alike with the vocabulary to discuss this important topic with sensitivity."
What else?
Erika Sanzi of Parents Defending Education told the outlet that the materials will likely only serve to confuse young children.
“Teaching elementary students that their parents assigned them their gender at birth but may have gotten it wrong because anatomy is separate from gender is an obscene example of adults using ideology to confuse and manipulate children's minds," Sanzi said. “The fact that parents are not permitted to opt their children out of this content based in gender ideology is so sinister, it's hard to believe it's even legal."
The report noted that West Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Tom Moore did not respond to the outlet's request for comment.
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