I gave up watching the news on television several years ago, but once in a while, information comes along that is interesting, helpful, and/or deserves some thoughtful attention. Here are some things came across to me by various interactions over the last week. Please understand that these writings are never giving legal advice to the reader.
American citizens, by way of first amendment rights, cannot be compelled to certain speech that they do not agree with. If calling someone by a pronoun that differs from their biological sex violates your beliefs and moral standards, you have the right to say no to this request. Minnesota is in muddy waters with regard to all the changes recently and I am not an attorney or giving anyone legal advice, but I do understand that several factors need to be considered including federal executive orders, federal laws, MN law, MN Department of Human Rights rules, MN Department of Education rules, and any legal cases that are settled amidst all these changes.
If this is important to you, this is a federal government website to report any practices in education that you feel are illegally discriminatory: https://enddei.ed.gov/
Some Owatonna community members are in the midst of a community book study for a book titled The Anxious Generation. School board members were given this book several months ago. Two main concepts continue to remain prevalent in various new books and research reports today: our children are spending too much time on screens and do not go outside for free creative play. Our children are suffering in all ways because of this, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
A good reminder, the MISSION of PUBLIC EDUCATION in Minnesota as stated in Statute 120A.03
The mission of public education in Minnesota, a system for lifelong learning, is to ensure individual academic achievement, an informed citizenry, and a highly productive work force. This system focuses on the learner, promotes and values diversity, provides participatory decision making, ensures accountability, models democratic principles, creates and sustains a climate for change, provides personalized learning environments, encourages learners to reach their maximum potential, and integrates and coordinates human services for learners. The public schools of this state shall serve the needs of the students by cooperating with the students’ parents and legal guardians to develop the students’ intellectual capabilities and lifework skills in a safe and positive environment. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/120A.03
When someone in my family, including myself, becomes upset or frustrated by something, we will sometime stop, recognize, and say, “First world problem…” Sometimes, these things that are upsetting need to be put in a list of priorities. What is truly important to us? Food for thought.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Elizabeth for Owatonna Schools 