Midway Elementary School, Lexington District 1, has come under scrutiny by the community after a parent disclosed that his child had been bullied by two 5th grade “lesbian” students following a lesson that taught students about “transgender” and “LGBTQ” during his class. Photo courtesy Lexington District 1 webpage.

 

“Out of the Public Schools Comes the Greatness of the Nation.” –– Mark Twain

 

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a “SCHOOL” is an institution for educating students in particular disciplines, or courses of study. Traditionally in America, elementary schools have educated children in basic academic skills like reading, writing, mathematics, social studies and science. Art and music are often taught also. Today, technological skills have been added like computer skills. Along with physical exercise and game participation, these are the main common courses for elementary students in schools.

It is expected for children to be amenable to others and able to interact with teachers and other students within the school setting.

Of course we know that Bible reading became taboo in public schools many years ago, just like prayer has been banned in many public places now. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled several times since 1962 that school-mandated prayers in public schools are unconstitutional. They even ruled that most “voluntary” school prayers are also unconstitutional because they force some students to be outsiders to the main group and subject dissenters to intense peer group pressure (W.P. Marshall, 1999, “School Prayer Decisions” and Robert and Karen Falk, 2002, “Law and American Education.”)

This process of removing God from the public schools was begun by an atheist, Madalyn Murray O’Hair in 1960, founder of the American Atheist Press, with a case she entered to ban Bible reading in the public schools.

Now that God has been removed from public schools (and many other public places in America), is He to be supplanted by a new anti-morality? It seems so. It is happening right here in Lexington County where a new “idol” is being placed into the children’s classrooms: LGBTQP. Most Christians would consider it an act of heresy to supplant God in schools in favor of transgender behavior and other immoralities. So do parents have a say in this “new world education”?

For those unaware of the acronym LGBTQP, it stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Queer and Pedosexual (Pedophile sex). Although often denied by the LGBTQP adherents this is confirmed in many places in their own written material such as “Pinknews“. Transgenders and pedophiles held common company until pedophilia came under more public scrutiny in the 1970’s when it was discovered as taking place among those advocating same-sex relations. Even many same-sex proponents recognize the pedophilia association.

 

A LESSON IN ABNORMALITY

When one local parent learned two weeks ago what his 11-year-old son was being taught outside of the basic curriculum with which he and other parents were generally familiar, that parent was not only shocked, but angry as well. After not getting satisfaction through the school, he contacted The Standard and told us the story of what happened to his 11 year old son during class.

Britton Meissner of Lexington could not believe what his son showed him had been the focus of a lesson in his 5th grade class. His son attends Midway Elementary School, a well respected school where students have been shown to come away with outstanding academic foundations through the years. But, now it appears that a leftist lesson agenda has been inserted into the classroom.

 

The lesson in point was centered around the issue of LGBTQP and “gender identity,” stated Meissner. “My son said the lesson lasted about 45 minutes including questions and discussion in the class. I was astounded!”

The article used by the teacher with the children was from “TIME for KIDS,” a special edition created by the “TIME” magazine corporation geared to children. The article was entitled “Meet an Activist” and featured “Rebekah Bruesehoff, age 14”, who “advocates for transgender rights,” the article states. An on-line version is accessible to the public.

In the article, Bruesehoff begins the story by stating, “When I was born, everybody thought I was a boy… But I deeply know myself to be a girl. It’s just who I’ve been forever.”

Explaining how “he” changed his point-of-view about himself, Bruesehoff goes on to say that the transition to a female gender began “at age eight with changes in using gender pronouns from male to female.” He says that “it made me happier, more confident and I just felt like me.”

When Meissner saw the article used in the classroom on-line, he was convinced then that his son was telling the truth. “I was just horrified to find that the public schools would teach such a thing that is outside of all normalcy, and would do so without consulting the parents at all. What right does a school have to teach such things to our kids,” he asked. “This is part of the liberal, leftist agenda now spreading across America. This goes against the religious teachings of my family—the church. I was very upset.”

To make matters worse, Meissner’s son reported that when he questioned this non-traditional gender story in class, he was challenged and verbally attacked by two females in the class. He stated that the article went against what he had learned from his parents, Sunday School and church—that if he were born a boy, he would continue being so, forever. The taunting and response upset his son, Meissner said.

Others in the community questions too, about the use of such teaching at Midway School. One who also considered this a serious issue was Stephanie Chaney, a friend of the Meissner family. She has (had) children at Midway School.

Chaney shared her own thoughts on the lesson. “We don’t want out children exposed to this type of liberal thinking,” she stated. “It’s simply unfair for schools to do this behind our back. This goes way beyond reading, writing and arithmetic.”

Chaney added that during later elementary and teenager developmental years, issues of identity, character and peer group pressure become very important. “These years are the ‘formative years’ for kids. It’s already a difficult time for them as they are developing their own character and sexuality. “

Chaney said that she has two daughters who went through a “Tom Boy stage,” which many young girls go through. “Kids like my daughters can go through different stages which they grow out of later. The experts say this is perfectly normal. It doesn’t mean that they have to completely change genders, so this type of ‘indoctrination’ is very, very bad at this time especially.”

Chaney noted that the bullying Meissner’s son encountered in the classroom was also serious as it placed great peer pressure on him and on other children in the class to “go along with” those who pressured him.

Meissner agrees that the intimidation was out of place in the classroom. “My son was upset and embarrassed. Not only did the lesson confuse him, but he had to endure further taunting by these girls that day. This borders on abuse. It’s just not right,” Meissner stated.

Meissner decided to take this issue back to the school where he told teacher David Dutka that he did not believe the school had the right to teach transgender issues without consulting the parent. The teacher stated that the lesson was part of the school’s plan for those students.

So Meissner went to principal Janet Fickling with his concerns. According to Meissner, Fickling gave an apology for the class lesson that had taken place stating that the teacher had ‘given the lesson ahead of schedule and they were not yet ready for this to be taught at that time.’

“I was confused then about whether the lesson was assigned or not,” said Meissner. “At least Ms. Fickling did say that lesson would be removed for now.”

 

These answers, while showing that the school has re-thought the initial presentation of the lesson for now, were not enough to satisfy Meissner, nor other neighbors like Ms. Chaney. They think some stronger intervention may be needed to keep transgenderism from being taught to children without consideration of parents or their permission to teach this to their children.

School System Has No Response After Three Days

When approached by The Standard about questions on the transgender lesson from “TIMEforKids,” Midway Principal Jan Fickling stated that questions from news organizations had to be referred to the school system’s main offices. The Standard contacted the District Communications Director, and at the time of this writing there has been no response and this after three days.

Parents like Meissner and Chaney continue to think these type of lessons are an invasion not only of their children’s lives but also of their own authority as parents.

“I don’t think these intrusions into parental rights will go away with today’s crazy liberal world,” Chaney said. “This is a matter of religious freedom in America. For many of us, certain ‘woke’ issues in the nation now, like transgenderism, when taught in schools, seriously undermine our religious rights as parents to teach our own morality to our kids. Who are they (the schools) to do this? We have constitutional rights!”

What right do schools have to delve into “fringe issues” like transgenderism in public classrooms for children, especially without the permission of parents? Doesn’t this intrusion go against the religious rights and privileges of citizens who do not wish for their children to be “indoctrinated” in this manner?

If the reason it is taught is to help ensure that children are not “bullied” because of their unique transgender issues, is it NOT sufficient to teach basic morality to children? If they are taught to simply respect others, be kind and caring, won’t these simple lessons cover their treatment of other children?

Weren’t the girls who bullied Meissner’s son in class NOT practicing the very thing these lessons are trying to stop—bullying of students who have different beliefs from others?

All of these are very deep questions to ponder. It seems apparent, though, that the classroom is NOT the arena for children to be confronted with such controversial issues––especially without the knowledge and consent of their parents.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that prayers and Bible lessons, even done outside of school hours, place too much “pressure” on students to conform. Why are children NOW able to bully students to make them conform to beliefs that so many Christians consider sinful?

Why is God being replaced in the schools by abnormal and amoral teachings? These issues have become a form of religious persecution against children and families in our communities now. Many aggressive tactics being used to indoctrinate our children run against many parents’ religious beliefs and are violating their Constitutional rights.

The Lexington District 1 website has an area labeled “Transparency” and thus we share their contact info.

For those who wish to express comments or concerns, you may contact:

• Greg Little, Ed.D. Superintendent Lexington District 1. He may be reached at (803) 821-1000, glittle@lexington1.net.
• Janet Fickling, Midway Elementary Principal. She may be reached at (803) 821-0300, jfickling@lexington1.net jfickling@lexington1.net
• Lexington County School District 1 Board Members may be reached at: https://www.lexdistrict1.com/about/school-board/members.

 

 

The Standard newspaper got word Sunday afternoon from chapter leader Pamela Godwin that SC women for Trump/ Columbia will hold a peaceful protest in front of the school Monday afternoon beginning at 1:45. Godwin said, “SC is a red State and we intend to keep it that way and that starts in our schools.”

 

Godwin commented that “Elementary schools should be focused on teaching our kids reading writing and arithmetic not addressing social issues and sexual education. The parents will handle that according to their personal beliefs, which is hopefully based on the Word of God.”

She continued “The nerve of this principal and teachers to teach transgender and gender neutrality topics at this age, is unacceptable. They are trying to take away the innocence of our children and WE the people of South Carolina will not stand for it because that is priceless and God-given.”

UPDATED INFORMATION 5-28-21 AT 10:00 PM.

 

Lisa Carol Rudisill, M.T.S. is a magna cum laud graduate of NC State University and Liberty University where she earned a Master of Theology. She writes novels about her family history during the Civil War in North and South Carolina. She is a freelance writer, editorialist and a contributor to The Standard newspaper.

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