Voices can still be heard

Nebraska’s health standards—first draft—for schools has been a discussion topic since early spring when the proposals were released by the Nebraska Department of Education.
    Suggested teaching topics included “gender identity” and sexual orientation as early as 3rd grade and, for kindergarten, different kinds of family units, with no mention of traditional man/woman marriages. Sixth graders were to learn the differences between cisgender, transgender, gender non-binary, gender expansive and gender identity.
    In late July, however, thanks to strong public comment and the hundreds who showed up at meetings, the State Board of Education has backed off considerably from what was first proposed. While there are still references to standards regarding gender identity at several grade levels, most of it has been tossed.
    Those hundreds who showed up at the state board meetings, expressing their strong opposition to the draft, are at the top of the list who should get our thanks.
    Also to be thanked are the 40-plus school boards, Chase County’s included, who spoke up against the proposals early on. Sheila Stromberger, a former CCS board member, was very instrumental in getting the information board members here may not have seen.
    Gov. Pete Ricketts was also adamantly against the health standards draft, and didn’t just say so. His office hosted several town hall meetings across Nebraska to help get the word out about what was being proposed. He isn’t giving them a pass, however, and we shouldn’t either.
    Ricketts stated, “The continued presence of gender ideology in the standards leaves the door open for this material to be expanded either before these draft standards are approved or in future years when these standards are revisited.”
    His caution is well taken. But, it also means we as taxpayers, parents and grandparents must continue to be watchful of what’s happening in our schools, and the continued push from federal sources for  ideologies that contradict our beliefs. As I’ve written before in this space, much of what was proposed is in DIRECT conflict with what many families believe.
    What’s positive about the state board’s action in cutting back the proposals is that voices can still be heard—if they are loud enough. Conservatives must quit sitting back and letting things happen like this, and then complaining later.