OnPolitics: Culture wars and classroom books

The parents object to a book titled "Pride Puppy," for instance, that tells the story of children who chase their dog through a pride parade.

Advertisement Read in browser Read in browser On Politics Thu Aug 10 2023 Marina Pitofsky | NOW reporter Hi OnPolitics readers. Let's take a look at Montgomery County, Maryland, one of the most liberal counties in America, nestled north of Washington, D.C. It's the site of a battle between religious parents and public school officials over whether elementary school students should be allowed to opt out of reading books with LGBTQ+ characters, USA TODAY's John Fritze reports. 🏫 Back to school: Three sets of parents and an advocacy group representing other families are asking a federal court in Maryland to suspend the policy. The parents object to a book titled "Pride Puppy," for instance, that tells the story of children who chase their dog through a pride parade. Another, "Prince and Knight," features a romance between two male characters. "Born Ready" is about a boy coming to terms with his gender identity. Wait, what's the issue here? In a lawsuit, parents are claiming that the schools denying the option to opt out of engaging with books infringes on their religious beliefs. Touching on an argument that has become a conservative rallying cry, they say the policy also interferes with their ability to raise their children. The school district says it's invested in creating inclusive classrooms, arguing that students engaging with materials doesn't mean parents don't get to make their own choices about raising their children. Culture wars in the the classroom: The case represents how controversial issues have rocked schools across the country, with fights stretching from book bans to the treatment of transgender students and more. 📚 Keep reading: Parents vs. schools: Who decides curriculum? Stay in the know on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter FBI shoots and kills Utah man wanted for threats against Biden The FBI shot and killed a Utah man while agents were trying to arrest him for charges related to threatening statements targeting President Joe Biden. READ MORE Advertisement Why Trump's next indictment is different as security worries abound Upcoming charges in the Georgia Jan. 6 probe pose more complex and potentially dangerous security concerns than Trump's three others, officials say READ MORE Chief Justice Roberts more popular than Biden or Trump, poll finds Chief Justice John Roberts performed well in a Gallup poll in part because many Americans – nearly a third – had no opinion of him at all. READ MORE 'Another flop': White House slams new House Republican Oversight report In its third report, House GOP Oversight panel claims evidence Joe Biden benefitted from son Hunter business dealings. White House says it shows no such thing READ MORE How Trump's free speech defense will play out in his 2020 election case Legal experts warn the argument Trump is protected by the First Amendment in the 2020 election case might not hold much water in court. READ MORE Sign up for the news you want Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don't miss out! We're always working to add benefits for subscribers like you. SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔ SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔ Advertisement Newsletters   |    eNewspaper   |   Crosswords Follow Us Problem viewing email? View in browser Unsubscribe  •   Manage Newsletters  •  Terms of Service  •   Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights  •  Privacy Notice  •   Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy  •  Feedback