Flyer calls school diversity course ‘anti-Americanism’
A flyer sent to “Patriot Parents” of incoming ninth-graders at South River High School is calling for a protest of a newly mandated diversity course, calling it a “radical leftist course mandate.”
The flyer — confirmed by school officials — calls on parents to join an email list to try to overturn the mandate, passed by the school board last week.
In an 8-0 vote, the board voted to require all incoming high schoolers take a class about diversity, inclusion and equity after a number of racist incidents at Anne Arundel schools.
Schools spokesman Bob Mosier said the flyer was placed on the windshields of parents’ cars parked at an orientation event Wednesday for eighth-graders who will be ninth-graders at the Edgewater school in the fall.
Mosier said officials are aware of the flyer and are discussing whether to address it directly.
He said the course “in no way seeks to impart values on students” as “that is the job of the parent, the family (and) the home.”
He also said the flyer “underscores the need for this course.”
The flyer calls the Global Community Citizenship course requirement something “that will dumb down the curriculum, brainwash and indoctrinate our kids to their agenda of globalism, anti-Americanism, and political correctness.”
It also claims the course’s goal is “to EXCLUDE and NOT TOLERATE conservative and patriotic thought.”
“We will not blindly and sheepishly allow our kids to be brainwashed and indoctrinated to radical leftist extremism and political correctness without knowing exactly what is in the curriculum,” the flyer reads. “We have the right to wait for the online version so that we can have access to the course materials alongside our students in order to properly assess it for ourselves.”
No contact information was available on the flyer.
Arundel High School started to pilot its Global Community Citizenship course in 2017 after a petition that invited students to join a white supremacy movement circulated at the school.
The course description on the school’s website reads: “Through real world occurrences and issues, students identify and discuss topics, events, and essential questions relevant to their local community which allow them to understand their role in demonstrating civic virtues.”
According to the school system’s website, about 750 Arundel High students have taken the course over its first three semesters.
Principal Gina Davenport defended the course, saying it’s less about politics and more “a series of activities” to let students express who they are and to “learn about others in their classroom.”