Editor:
As a Carroll County citizen, former employee of the Carroll County Public Schools, and a parent of two adult children who attended the Carroll County Public Schools, I am ashamed to live in Carroll County after reading an article in the June 20 Carroll County Times.
The Carroll County Board of Education rejected a request from PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) for staff development training to provide teachers with resources to promote an environment where the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender students and their allies can thrive intellectually, socially and emotionally. The reasoning behind the rejection was that they do not permit "outside groups" to work with teachers to promote "outside goals and objectives."
What initiative for any staff development is not associated with "outside goals and objectives?" I cannot think of any unless we all want to exist in a bubble of our own making.
The facts are these: Sexual and gender minority students are at greater risk for depression and anxiety, as well as having a lower graduation rate, lower GPA, and are less likely to continue their education. Teachers desperately need resources to understand and be able to advocate for these students.
Should these resources be relegated to "after school" as the school board has suggested? What message does that send?
Mary Jewell
Westminster
