8 Comments

Insightful analysis as always Ben. Thanks for your work. To the point of discussion on a moral imperative or North Star, it seems to me that it’s educating kids. Let’s not make it more complex than it has to be.

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Spot on Ben, with the last line in your #2 observation. Ask any middle or high school kid who did a group project. You learn who are trustworthy partners while working through the project. The next time groups are formed, you know who you can and can’t work with.

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I liken this Board to a vehicle stuck in the mud with the driver racing the motor to try to get unstuck but just getting more stuck. Also wonder why parents wouldn't want their kids to be adequately and accurately given information concerning their sexuality. We as a society seem to place too much emphasis on what is a natural thing. Seems like harkening back to a Puritanical ideology.

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Hi Lois. My concern in this has been about the process, so I'm not fully informed on all parents' expressed concerns, but what I have heard is that they DO "want their kids to be adequately and accurately given information concerning their sexuality," but they don't believe that this is what this curriculum provides. What I see as a problem is the lack of professional development, or even a declared plan and timeline for research-based professional development. The Board should not have approved the plan without that component according to their own policy. Policy violations by this Board are not unique to this issue. This breeds distrust, division and inaction.

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Thanks. I didn't know that there was a policy requiring a plan for professional development before approving a new curriculum.

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To Dr. Hoag’s comments about her character being maligned before even getting on the board…

She was already in the tosa public spotlight with her role on the med panel during COVID. Her politics over science approach are well documented on the Tosa Media YouTube accounts. Jenny was the biggest voice against returning kids to normalcy. So yes, her name may be maligned, but it is based on her documented actions. The board and certain members of the med panel will never admit error in their judgements, and that is a terrible attribute for public figures that tosa has elected to safeguard our kids. The board asks for grace, but never shows humility in admitting they erred. Grace only can be applied when humility is exhibited.

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Thanks for the background. I was not paying much attention to the school board during the pandemic.

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My error lies in assuming that there was such an analysis prior to voting. Thank you for your comments.

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