DeWitt cancels pronouns lesson after threats
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — DeWitt Public Schools has canceled an intended, optional “mini-lesson” for elementary students on gender identity and the use of pronouns.
Superintendent Dr. Shanna R. Spickard said the district had decided after several school staff members received angry and threatening calls, emails and social media messages.
The plan had been for students in a single classroom at Schavey Road Elementary School to receive the lesson – except for the children whose parents opted them out.
The school is home to the Young 5s, kindergarten and first-grade students in DeWitt.
Spickard made the following statement in an email announcement Friday:
“The goal of the voluntary mini-lesson was to help promote Dewitt Public Schools’ vision of a safe, nurturing, and supportive learning environment where all learners can succeed. Unfortunately, it has become a major disruption and distraction to that vision in which our staff, administrators, and students feel unsafe. Therefore, in consultation with our School Board, administrative leadership team, and school employees, I have made the decision to cancel the mini-lesson to help ensure the safety of our entire school community and maintain our focus on providing a world-class education to all learners.”
Dr. Shanna R., Spickard, Superintendent of DeWitt Public Schools
Spickard said some DeWitt school staff members had had their personal information–including information about their families and children–put up online to harass and intimate them–a cyberbullying tact known as “doxing,” she said.
“While the vast majority of these inappropriate communications have originated outside of our community, several staff members have expressed feeling anxious, stressed, and even afraid to go to school,” Spickard said.
The school district is working with law enforcement and taking safety precautions.
“This is unacceptable. We are in contact with local law enforcement regarding these communications and have increased both police and administrative presence as precautionary measures.”
In an earlier statement, Spickard had made assurances that the “mini-lesson was not designed to challenge, persuade or alter family beliefs. Instead, it aims to promote a safe and respectful learning environment.”
The Clinton County Republican Party doesn’t think so.
“We are moving down to a level of your education that should be left to an older age group…so that you’re accepting things that may not necessarily be something that you would accept…when you are at a more mature age, when you can make decisions,” said party chair Stephen Willis.
The controversy had earlier prompted a response from the state’s first non-binary legislator in the Michigan House, Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing).
“Our DeWitt educators are ensuring they are cultivating a healthy and safe learning environment…there was nothing inherently offensive or disturbing about the lesson in the first place, but DeWitt did respect parental autonomy,” Dievendorf said.
Parents were given the option to opt their child out of the lessons.
Parent Tim Booth said it’s something that should be handled by parents, not the teachers.
“I definitely don’t agree with it,” Booth said. “They should just send letters home and ask the parents to talk about it.”
The full text of the letter from Superintendent Spickard on Friday is as follows:
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