Teachers Should Be Seen as Allies not Adversaries in the Classroom

Lying has been a chronic problem in schools for generations, but it’s rarely been the teachers not telling the truth.

A lawsuit in California claims Christian teachers in the Golden State are being forced to conceal critical details from parents of sexually confused children.

Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West are teachers employed by the Escondido Union School District. In a lawsuit filed against their district, the educators allege they’re being forced to not only participate in the “social transition” of kids – but also lie to their parents if asked about it.

The claim suggests school policies “flatly prohibit teachers from respecting parents’ wishes.”

How so?

Let’s say a male student named Tim announces he’s transitioning to a supposed female student named Tina. Teachers are required to use the student’s preferred pronouns – but only up to a point. If Tim’s parents speak with the teacher and ask him or her for an update on their child’s academics and behavior, the instructors are told to revert to the boy’s biological pronouns when referring to him.

If parents press with specific questions regarding Tim’s requests and actions, they’re told to reply, “the inquiry is outside of the scope of the intent of their interaction.” Teachers are told they can only relay or discuss “information regarding the student’s behavior as it relates to school, class rules, assignments, etc.”

Once upon a time, teachers complemented values and ideals inside the home. They were seen as allies not adversaries or enemies. Candidness not concealment helped deepen relationships, build trust – and ultimately, aid the growth and development of their son or daughter.

Instead, the suspicious and dangerous tactics now being employed undermine not only the rights of parents – but are downright detrimental to the education of the child. The classroom is becoming a nightmare social reengineering lab that harms children and ignores the rights and wishes of the primary caregivers and advocates.

“The Escondido Union School District has asserted that it is compelled by the state to adopt and enforce parental exclusion policies in which California dictates the deception requiring teachers to lie to parents about their students,” said Paul Jonna, the Christian teachers’ attorney with the Thomas Moore Society, a faith-based firm dedicated to protecting both religious and parental freedom. “That leads to the conclusion that the state, and therefore, the Governor is the driving force behind the violation of Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West’s constitutional rights.”

As a father, I would have been outraged if my son’s teachers were deliberately keeping key details about our son’s actions inside the classroom, especially anything as profound and significant as their sexual confusion. But not only are some districts and schools concealing the confusion – they’re complicit in fanning and furthering it.

Both parental and teacher rights are under assault across the nation. This is not a partisan issue. It shouldn’t be a political issue.

The culture is locked in a fierce debate about everything from pronouns in the classroom and teacher concealment to access to restrooms, competition in women’s athletics to the ethics and morality of certain courses of treatment for children dealing with gender dysphoria.

For Christians, this isn’t just a matter of psychological orientation, or even a social question. It’s a spiritual battle. The Bible is clear that God created humanity as male and female, biological certainties that are not dependent on how a person feels or “identifies.” However, we battle an enemy who sows seeds of confusion that corrupt our understanding of God’s beautiful design.

We must pray for wisdom and courage to confront these challenges in a Christlike fashion in a way that will best serve our children and help clear up the confusion of a culture desperately in need of leadership and guidance.

Time for Christians to Step Up and Protect Parental Rights and Children in California

Protect Kids California – “Protect Kids of California Act of 2024”

Originally published in Townhall.