Staunton resident criticizes John Avoli's House Bill 1126: Letter

Delegate John Avoli introduced and is the chief sponsor of HB 1126, currently under consideration by the Education Committee on which he serves. The text of the bill can be found at https://lis.virginia.gov.

The first portion of this bill — the so-called "Parents' Bill of Rights" — places an unreasonable duty upon educators, who would now be required to add hours to their already long days responding to parents’ requests for copies of teaching materials, lesson plans, books, etc. and then segregating their classes into those who “opt in” and those who “opt out” of various and sundry lessons. This would be a logistical nightmare.

The next section of the bill, relative to usage of toilet and bathing facilities based on “biological sex” is, quite simply, hurtful. I find it beyond ironic that the last section seeks to limit bullying — which I commend — when the bathroom policy itself is a form of bullying, designed to make a certain group of children who are already suffering from their “differentness” feel even worse about themselves.

No good can come out of enforcing such a policy — it protects none while hurting some. The school environment should be constructed to be affirming and nurturing — this policy is the exact opposite.

More: Divisive anti-transgender, so-called 'parental rights' bill pushed by Staunton’s John Avoli

Finally, attempts to rewrite history regarding the origins and impacts of racism in the United States hearken back to when I was a student in Virginia schools and was taught the Lost Cause mythology as though it were history.

Children and young adults should not be shielded from facts, whether they are beautiful or ugly or anywhere in between. History is not engraved in stone — through the efforts of historians, archaeologists, and other researchers, it is continuously changing. Nor should we run from teaching nuances. Give students credit for being thoughtful and discerning, and having the ability to evaluate different points of view.

This bill is an abomination. I cannot help but wonder what kind of learning environment Mr. Avoli created when he was a public educator himself.

STEPHEN MAXWELL

Staunton

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Staunton reader says John Avoli's HB 1126 will hurt students' learning