Letitia James warns schools against banning materials under the guise of obscenity or lewdness.
New Guidance on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in New York Schools
In an effort to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in New York public schools, Attorney General Letitia James and Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa have released new guidance. This guidance serves as a reminder to schools that they have a legal obligation to prioritize DEI in the education of their students.
The guidance, which can be found here, warns schools against banning certain books or removing curriculum components under the pretext of obscenity or lewdness. It also emphasizes that transgender and nonbinary students should not be prevented from using single-gender facilities or participating in programs that align with their gender identity.
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“As states such as Texas, Florida, and Missouri are banning books and canceling classes, New York is making clear that diversity, equity, and inclusion will always be protected and central to our children’s education,” stated Attorney General James.
Parents in various states, particularly Florida and Texas, have expressed concerns about their children being exposed to sexually inappropriate or explicit materials in schools. They have been actively advocating for the removal of such materials from the curriculum.
The guidance highlights that New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act and the New York State Human Rights Law prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Schools could be in violation of these laws if they adopt an exclusive curriculum or if the curriculum contributes to race- or gender-based harassment.
Examples of actions that the guidelines oppose include removing diverse perspectives from the classroom under the pretext of inappropriateness or lewdness, prohibiting discussions on LGBTQ+ issues, and preventing transgender, gender expansive, or nonbinary individuals from using facilities aligned with their gender identity.
The announcement of these guidelines has sparked critical reactions on social media, with some users expressing concerns about the potential for inappropriate content being introduced to children.
Parental Backlash
This guidance comes at a time when parents across the country are raising objections to sexually explicit materials in schools. In Florida, for instance, a law has been enacted to prohibit K-3 students from being exposed to teaching or classroom materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Florida Citizens Alliance, a group advocating for the removal of sexually explicit materials from schools, has compiled a list of objectionable materials in their “porn in schools” report. They argue that these materials violate common decency and undermine traditional family values.
Parents are being urged to be vigilant about the content their children are exposed to, and resources like BookLooks provide detailed information about potentially objectionable content in school libraries.
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that restricts the availability of sexually-themed content in public schools and affirms parents as the primary decision-makers regarding their children’s exposure to such materials.
Efforts to address these concerns and ensure a safe and inclusive learning environment continue to be a topic of debate and discussion.
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