Local school district wants to give kids a lesson in hate, bigotry

When ideologues grab power, freedom dies.

That’s what we’re seeing from some school board members of the Big Walnut Local School District, who are giving students a valuable lesson on bigotry and intolerance.

Three of the five board members approved a Dec. 14 second reading of a resolution that would ban LGBTQ+ flags as well as any signs, banners or symbols deemed activist or controversial from classrooms and school buildings.

Big Walnut Local School District play about power, not values

The board could vote on the resolution that same evening.

Let’s forget that the poorly worded resolution has nothing to do with ensuring the best education for students.

Let’s forget that this is nothing more than a culture war power play by people determined to impart their values on everyone else.

And let’s also forget that the poorly worded resolution doesn’t say who gets to decide what is activist or controversial.

Let’s not forget that the resolution singles out LGBTQ+ populations, which raises all sorts of First Amendment issues.

Clearly, the board doesn’t care about that.

Big Walnut ANTI-LGBTQ+ resolution ignores basic right

For example, in Tinker vs. De Moines Independent School District, the Supreme Court ruled school rules authorities can’t censor speech unless they can prove it will interfere with a school’s function.

Ohio’s revised code notes that students have a “fundamental right to free speech.” Schools can prohibit “indecent” speech, but does that mean the school board considers an LGBTQ+ sign indecent? I’d love to hear them say that out loud.

The action raises another fundamental question: Don’t these people read? If they do, they should know that, across the country, voters repudiated school board candidates who ran on culture wars platforms and ignored what they’re elected to do — protect the interests of students.

Liberals and moderates won a staggering 80% of school board races nationwide because voters rejected the views of conservative candidates. Maybe they’ll feel the same wrath next election.

The culture war playbook

But the effort to discriminate against a specific sign and trying to make vague rules about activism and controversy fits the culture wars playbook. It’s the same ANTI-LGBTQ+ bias that’s happening in unenlightened school districts across the country.

Based on their actions and comments one can only assume that if those Big Walnut school board members had their way, anything Black Lives Matter would be banned.

Sign supporting an anti-abortion stance would be OK.

Showing a poster of Malcolm X during Black History Month would be a nono, but posting notes about killer Mexicans illegally coming across the border would be fine.

Don’t even think about posting a drawing of two men holding hands.

In worlds like that, only white, heterosexual, Christian couples deserve to grace the halls.

There’s another contradiction. The school board introduced a resolution that says parents should decide whether their children should wear masks to school.

So let me get this straight. Parents can decide what’s in the best interest of their children when it comes to masks. But they can’t decide whether their child can bring certain signs to school.

Freedom is a big no-no

I would say this makes no sense, but to some, it makes perfect sense.

We talk about freedom as if it applies to everyone equally, but that’s a fallacy. People like those on the Big Walnut school want to define the boundaries of freedom so that it meets their ideology.

You’re free to do as you please as long as I approve.

Board member Alice Nicks said she’s heard from some people that they shouldn’t have to see certain flags. Then tell them not to look. Elected officials should not endorse homophobia.

The district, on its website, says “The mission of the Big Walnut Local Schools is to inspire and guide each student to his or her maximum potential.”

At the Nov. 16 school board meeting, President Doug Crowl interrupts when he doesn’t like what he’s hearing and warns the large audience he’ll have people thrown out after it lets out a hearty laugh when he said this:

“You want to blame hate. You have so much empathy. And no one should fear when they go into our schools. Let’s just say we have a child who grew up in a household that’s very religious. You think they’re not feeling condemned when they walk into a room” and see an LGBTQ+ flag.

By the way, this is the same Crowl whose behavior once landed the district in court.

With this bigoted, intolerant and freedom-killing resolution, he and his cronies are going to put the district there again.

Ray Marcano is a long-time journalist with writing and editing experience at some of the country’s largest media brands.