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Parents group launches campaign for ‘true diversity of thought’ in New England private schools

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A parent’s group have launched a campaign encouraging children to be taught how to think, not what to think.

The campaign by the new Boston-based group Parents United was sparked by parents looking into their children’s remote classrooms during the pandemic, said Ashley Jacobs, executive director. Troubled by content they found biased, inflammatory, or age-inappropriate, they asked two organizations working closely with the area’s private schools, the Association of Independent Schools in New England and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, to intervene Protect expression and a wide range of opinions on the K-12 locations they serve.

The website of the new Boston-based group eschews party politics and instead focuses on the claim that students are “taught what to think, not how.” Since May, the website has attracted around 4,000 unique users and 400 newsletter subscribers, said Jacobs. The group includes Republican donor Chris Egan and his wife Jean on their advisory board, but Jacobs said their message was not political.

“We don’t choose a side – that’s the opposite of what we want,” she said. “Our goal is to empower parents to stand up for their children… We don’t want people to be afraid to ask a question or children to be afraid to say something because there are so many people [they] can offend.” Several parents “saw things that shocked them,” Jacobs said in online class, including a lesson asking middle school students to consider their gender identity; a discussion that assumed student support for the Black Lives Matter movement; and a request that students not use gender-specific language.

Parents also heard sessions on principles and values ​​that they had accepted would leave them to teach their children how they wanted, she said. She declined to identify the schools involved for fear of any repercussions against the students whose parents are involved.

ARTICLE: PAUL MURDOCH

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE
PHOTO CREDITS: BOSTON GLOBE

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Paul Murdoch

Paul, 37, is from Scotland in the UK, but currently lives and works in Bangkok. Paul has worked in different industries such as telemarketing, retail, hospitality, farming, insurance, and teaching, where he works now. He teaches at an all-girls High School in Bangkok. “It’s a lot of work, but I love my job.” Paul has an active interest in politics. His reason for writing for FBA is to offer people the facts and allow them to make up their own minds. Whilst he believes opinion columns have their place, it is also important that people can have accurate news with no bias.

Paul, 37, is from Scotland in the UK, but currently lives and works in Bangkok. Paul has worked in different industries such as telemarketing, retail, hospitality, farming, insurance, and teaching, where he works now. He teaches at an all-girls High School in Bangkok. “It’s a lot of work, but I love my job.” Paul has an active interest in politics. His reason for writing for FBA is to offer people the facts and allow them to make up their own minds. Whilst he believes opinion columns have their place, it is also important that people can have accurate news with no bias.

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