Opinion: FPIW’s ‘Crisis in Education Summits’ to address public school failures

A report highlights that two major school districts in Washington state, Spokane and Seattle, require parental consent for over-the-counter medication but not for addressing students by their preferred name and pronouns, causing concern among critics who argue that such policies enforce a harmful liberal agenda and diminish parental authority, leading to a call for concerned citizens to get involved in school boards and prioritize the well-being and education of students.

Former U.S. Department of Education press secretary Angela Morabito conducted a study for the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies to evaluate the policies in some of the largest school districts in the United States

Brad Payne, Policy & Government Affairs director
Family Policy Institute of Washington

Two of Washington’s largest school districts, Spokane and Seattle, have adopted policies which require parental consent to provide over-the-counter medication to students, but not to address students by their preferred name and pronouns and humor their gender dysphoria, a new report finds.

Former U.S. Department of Education press secretary Angela Morabito conducted a study for the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies to evaluate the policies in some of the largest school districts in the United States. The study found that “at least three million K–12 students in 25 districts are given free rein to choose their gender identity at school by changing the name and pronouns used by school employees without parental consent, even though their schools require parental permission to dispense over-the-counter medication to those same children.”

Affirming a child’s confusion as reality at a tumultuous time in their primitive years will no doubt contribute to their dysphoria, depression, and mental health issues. The place of the school is not to override parental preferences or enforce radical beliefs on children.

The report continues that the policies these school districts have adopted “imply that children who are not yet mature enough to decide when they need an aspirin are mature enough to decide whether to go through the school day as male, female, or something else entirely.”

These policies are forcing a harmful liberal agenda on our children and yet again take power away from parents and hand over authority to raise our children to the government. Schools should never withhold information from parents about their children, especially when issues of gender dysphoria in young adults so often leads to suicidal thoughts and actions.

The Biden administration and the school districts of Seattle and Spokane continue to reject the role of parents and common sense in their education policies, considering surgical, chemical, social, and psychological transitioning of minors a valid and necessary form of “healthcare.”

How can parents or concerned citizens in Washington state best address these issues? Earlier this year Franklin Graham stated, “I think the most important elected official is a school board member.” School boards carry enormous power and responsibility. Powers that in some cases supersedes legislators. They have the power to hire, evaluate, and fire the superintendent. They also approve or reject curriculum, supplementary educational materials, and subscriptions to supplementary resources.

School board directors are also members of the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA). Through this organization they create model policies for the entire state. They decide what the priorities of the school directors are, draft legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session, and have direct influence over the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

But the most important job they have is as a representative of the community who elected them into their position. They have a responsibility to listen to and reflect the values of the community. They have a duty to respect parents and value the position parents hold in their children’s lives. They also must ensure that the public schools are providing the best education possible and are serving the needs of all students no matter their individual abilities or challenges.

The best school board candidates are not necessarily individuals with a background in education. Sometimes a school board director who has an extensive history in the public schools feels a greater loyalty to the district than to the community, and will therefore mirror the will of the superintendent, the OSPI, or the Department of Education instead of the will of the community.

According to the Family Policy Institute of Washington (FPIW), what Washington schools need is for believers in Christ to get involved in the schools and win the vast majority of 800 seats up for election this year, and then they need to volunteer to be the legislative representative for their board and the representative at WSSDA. Conservatives and Christian board members need to be involved in WSSDA as the trajectory of WSSDA is controlled by the members. The opportunity to make a big impact in the schools means getting involved, and it starts with running for school board.

The Family Policy Institute of Washington is hosting exciting summits around the state for parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens to learn about the crisis going on in our public schools. With our society madly rushing toward gender confusion, critical race theory, and sexualizing of children, they have an urgent message. Parents, grandparents and concerned citizens need to know what is going on in our local public schools.