California School Board Rejects Pro-LGBT Curriculum, Defying Newsom’s Threats.

A California School ‍Board⁢ Rejects Pro-LGBT‍ Curriculum ‍Despite ‍Threats

A California school​ board has once⁤ again ‍rejected⁣ a ⁤history⁣ curriculum ​that ‌includes a ⁢biography ​on⁤ Harvey Milk,‌ the first openly gay ⁢man to ⁢be elected to ‌public office ‍in California. ⁣This ⁢decision ‌comes‍ despite warnings⁣ from⁢ Democratic Gov. Gavin ‍Newsom, according to ⁣Ed Source, an ⁢education-focused ⁤outlet.

In May, ‌the Temecula Valley ‌Unified School Board ⁣voted 3-2 against⁢ the “Social Studies‌ Alive” ⁢curriculum ‌for first through fifth⁤ graders‍ because ⁤it taught about Milk. The ‍board’s decision was made despite Newsom’s warning ‌that the school ⁣district could ‍face consequences⁣ if the materials were not​ adopted, according to Ed Source.

One‌ school board member, ‍Jennifer Wiersma,⁤ expressed​ her concerns⁤ about ⁢the curriculum, stating, “When‌ I look ⁣at the ⁢TCI curriculum‌ I ‌don’t⁤ see⁣ American⁣ exceptionalism. I don’t see ⁣all ⁢the things ⁢we‍ need ​to see. ⁢We are going to hit ‌the ‍standards,​ but ⁣if we are totally going⁣ to ‌utilize‍ TCI, ​we ‌need to talk​ about​ bias. I don’t see a ⁣fair ⁤and ​balanced⁤ viewpoint. I⁣ don’t see‌ the civics.”

Newsom’s⁣ administration began‌ investigating the school⁤ board in​ June, requesting documents ⁢and communications ​regarding ⁤its​ decision to ⁣reject the⁣ curriculum. ⁤Prior to rejecting the course in May, ⁣the ⁣school board⁤ had controversially referred to Milk as a “pedophile” ‍and⁤ expressed the ​belief that ‍the‌ district ⁢could “do better.”

Harvey Milk, who​ served ⁢as a San ⁢Francisco supervisor,⁢ was‍ the‌ state’s first⁤ openly gay ⁣elected official. His ⁣biographer,⁤ Randy ⁤Shilts, ⁤claimed‌ that ⁣Milk had been⁢ in‍ a⁣ relationship with⁢ a 16-year-old⁤ in the‍ early⁤ 1960s when‍ the age⁢ of ​legal consent⁣ was⁢ 14 in‍ New ‌York.

A school board ⁤in ⁤Temecula decided to‌ reject a textbook because it⁣ mentioned Harvey⁤ Milk.

CA is​ stepping ‌in.

We’re going ‍to ⁢purchase the ⁣book‍ for⁤ these ‍students—the same ​one that hundreds ⁢of thousands​ of kids are⁤ already using.

If ‍these​ extremist⁣ school board ‌members ‍won’t do… pic.twitter.com/r2iirL8b5v

— ⁣Gavin⁤ Newsom (@GavinNewsom)‍ July 13, 2023

On July 13, ⁤Newsom issued‌ a warning‌ that⁣ if the‍ school⁣ board fails to ⁢adopt the curriculum⁤ at its next meeting, the ⁣state​ will use legislation to‍ impose fines, ​according ​to a ⁣press ‌release. ⁤Newsom‍ also⁢ announced⁤ that the ‍state‍ would be​ purchasing the ⁢social⁤ studies⁣ material⁢ that⁢ the school board rejected ⁤and providing ‍it to⁢ the⁤ district.

“The school ⁤board’s radicalized⁤ majority is​ willfully violating ⁢the⁣ law, subverting​ the will ​of parents, and forcing children ‌to use​ an⁤ out-of-print ​textbook from​ 17⁣ years‌ ago,” stated Newsom’s ⁢press office ⁤in‍ response to ⁤the board’s decision.‌ “The Governor ⁣will ⁣ensure students ⁤begin the school⁣ year ‌with‌ access ⁢to ​adequate, ‍up-to-date ​materials​ and fine‍ the ‌district for⁣ breaking⁤ the ⁤law. ⁤Stay ⁤tuned.”

The Temecula ​Valley ‌Unified School ‌District⁣ has not‍ yet responded to ‌requests for comment.

The post California ⁢School ‍Board⁢ Defies ‍Gavin⁣ Newsom, ‌Rejects ‌Pro-LGBT Curriculum Despite Threats appeared ‌first on ⁢The ⁢Western ​Journal.