I have the utmost respect for Johan Lindborg for running for School Committee and presenting his ideas and beliefs to the residents of Lexington.
That being said, I’m voting for Kathleen Lenihan and Deepika Sawhney for School Committee. Kathleen and Deepika support the Serious Talks curriculum. Johan Lindborg does not.
When my daughter was in preschool she started a friendship with a girl who has two moms and their friendship continued at Bowman, Clarke, and LHS. I have a friend whose son began transitioning in elementary school. LGBTQIA+ residents are our friends and neighbors, they are parents, they are students in our schools, they are elderly people at our senior center. As much as Mr. Lindborg and his supporters may wish it, we cannot ignore, deny, or hide this.
In his campaign announcement, Mr. Lindborg called for an “opt out of classes teaching human sexual education or human sexuality issues.” This is based on two incorrect assumptions. The first is that Serious Talks teaches those topics. The second is that there is something to opt out of. While it’s true that there are weekly sessions that introduce vocabulary and concepts to students, the lesson and practice of Serious Talks — tolerance and inclusion — are infused into all interactions that take place during the school day.
The topics Mr. Lindborg is concerned about, the teaching of human sexuality issues, are only taught in health classes, and only to 4th and 5th grade students, middle school students, and high school students. To Mr. Lindborg’s issue — those classes offer an opt out.
My opinion is that if Mr. Lindborg doesn’t believe the curriculum approved by the democratically elected School Committee meets his expectations and hopes for his children, he should utilize the “opt out” used by many Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant parents who feel the same. They send their children to private schools. Those parents make an alternate arrangement for their children, they don’t try and force everyone’s children into a box that conforms with their personal beliefs and biases.
Serious Talks was developed to ensure the health, safety, and psychological well being of all Lexington students. All children and their families have a right to feel accepted, safe, and welcomed.
I applaud and thank Ms. Lenihan and Ms. Sawhney for supporting this important curriculum. When it comes to the safety and well-being of all Lexington children and families, there isn’t a middle ground for compromise.
Please vote for Kathleen and Deepika for School Committee on March 5th.
Very well said, reasonable and kind – this is the kind of discourse that creates understanding and dialogue in Lexington. Thank you Avram.
I 100% agree with you and had similar experiences with our child in LPS. Teaching kindness, understanding and acceptance is what the country needs more of, not less. Additionally his comments about the pandemic are concerning as well.
I also shall be voting for Kathleen and Deepika for School Committee on March 5th and encouraging others as well.
My personal opinion is that no curriculum should not be shared with parents. The school board hides behind a typical renaming convention, embedding it in all curriculum and leaving it up to the teachers discretion. Unacceptable as a parent and I expect more from school board members hence why I will NOT vote for Kathleen Lenihan and Deepika Sawhney. Neither one of these candidates are current parents of Lexington public school children or current educators which is what we need in my opinion.
I can’t help but notice Avram Baskin’s aggression and hypocrisy in this letter to the editor. Of particular note is the following quote:
“My opinion is that if Mr. Lindborg doesn’t believe the curriculum approved by the democratically elected School Committee meets his expectations and hopes for his children, he should utilize the ‘opt out’ used by many Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant parents who feel the same. They send their children to private schools. Those parents make an alternate arrangement for their children, they don’t try and force everyone’s children into a box that conforms with their personal beliefs and biases.”
Mr. Baskin is telling someone who is campaigning to be democratically elected that they should leave if they don’t agree with the approach of those who have been previously democratically elected. How undemocratic is that? It’s equivalent to saying that if you don’t agree with the president of the United States, then you should just leave the United States.
Mr. Lindborg has taken a very moderate position. He is not advocating for the elimination of any curriculum. He supports the rights of parents to review the curriculum and opt their children out of it. He is not forcing everyone’s children into box that conforms with his beliefs. On the contrary, Mr. Lindborg wants parents to have the power to not have their own children forced into a box that conforms to someone else’s personal beliefs.