Teachers and parents within the Temecula Valley Unified School District are responding today after the superintendent was terminated due to a controversial decision to remove a book and related curriculum materials from a social studies program.
During a closed-door session, the school board voted to fire Superintendent Jodi McClay. This action followed a narrow vote by the board to remove a textbook that discusses gay rights and history from the social studies program for kindergarten through fifth grade. The materials in question include the history of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician elected to office in California.
Educator Edgar Diaz expressed his dismay, stating, “I am appalled that teachers are being targeted for their essential work in providing students with a safe space to be themselves,” in an interview with CBS 2.
Joseph Komrosky, the board president of the Temecula Valley Unified School District, recently referred to Milk as a pedophile during a meeting held to discuss the program.
On May 16, the school board rejected a proposed curriculum and textbook for the kindergarten through fifth-grade social studies program. The majority of board members deemed the materials to contain “morally objectionable material.” Board members Jennifer Wiersma and Danny Gonzalez joined Komrosky in voting against the materials.
The conversation centered on the inclusion of Harvey Milk in the supplementary materials for the curriculum.
Komrosky questioned during the meeting, “Why even mention a pedophile?” in reference to Harvey Milk.
Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Komrosky’s statement on Twitter, stating, “An offensive remark from an uninformed individual. This is not Texas or Florida. In the Golden State, our children have the freedom to learn. Congratulations, Mr. Komrosky, you have our attention. Stay tuned,”.
The comment referring to Milk as a pedophile was likely in response to a biography that suggests Milk had a relationship with a 16-year-old boy when he was 33 years old.
The district staff noted that the primary textbook for the curriculum does not mention Milk, but he is mentioned in supplementary materials provided to upper-grade students.
Educator Andrew Enriquez emphasized, “It is our duty as siblings and family members to protect these children, even if it means risking our lives,” in an interview with CBS 2.
Some parents support the board’s decision to remove the material from the social studies program.
Parent Tracy Nolasco expressed her agreement, stating, “Once you internalize that information, it becomes a permanent part of your mind. It’s not like eating a bad meal that you can simply vomit out. It stays with you,” in an interview with CBS 2.
However, the board’s rejection of the curriculum may potentially put the district in legal jeopardy with the state. Earlier this month, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond sent a letter to county school superintendents, district superintendents, and charter school administrators in California warning against the banning of books while outlining educational civil rights and legal obligations.
“In just the first half of this school year, 1,477 books were banned nationwide, with teachers and librarians facing threats of imprisonment for shelving the wrong book,” they wrote. “As elected state leaders representing the values of all Californians, we respond with one unified voice: Access to books, including those that reflect diverse experiences and perspectives, is a fundamental freedom that we must protect and foster.”
The letter states that schools or districts that ban materials may be required to provide additional justification to the Attorney General’s Office.
Additionally, the board’s decision has left the district without textbooks for social studies classes in kindergarten through fifth grade.
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