While many positive achievements transpired during the retiring school superintendent’s tenure, an uncertain legacy will also endure.
Under the banner of combating gender bullying and making LGBTQ+ students “feel safe,” her administration went far beyond the “affirming” guidance offered by the state. Today, many more gay pride flags fly in our schools than national, state, town, armed services and sports team flags combined. Elmwood second and third graders must use the repainted gay pride crosswalk to play. Parents and students alike are now “expected” by the superintendent to use the many neopronouns for at least seven newly recognized genders.
What should alarm everyone are the unknown and unintended consequences of these policies. Our schools have high rates of adolescent anxiety, depression and gender confusion. Some students are being placed on puberty-blocking drugs and undergoing surgeries that will permanently exclude future fertility. Scientific research into gender theory is in its infancy. We have no solid evidence that these school policies are helpful. Many European nations are now throttling back and rethinking their strategies. Many immigrant parents, especially those from South Asia and Latin America, find that these policies clash with their moral, cultural and religious values.
With a similarly superior attitude, the new role models and heroes posted on our school walls are chosen based more on gender and race than on merit. Did the first Hispanic female astronaut and the first openly gay congressman really do much more for America than Washington or Eisenhower? Does the administration really believe that the children of highly educated and accomplished immigrant parents need our schools to “teach them” that “even people of color” can succeed in America?
And, with what can only be described as a purely classist bias, our schools no longer teach almost anything about “lower” subjects like home economics, food production, the construction trades or how cars and houses function.
As for equity in our schools, how much effort is placed into recruiting male teachers? At present, about 95% are female. Is that a no-brainer good idea or a sad fact we can do nothing about?
Earning a doctorate in English does not somehow confer expertise in other fields such as biology, sociology, psychology or law. We can only hope that the next superintendent confines himself or herself more to education and less to social activism.
— Angelica Varas, Hopkinton
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Imagine getting angry because you saw a Latino on a poster. Or a rainbow.
I am so grateful for Dr Cavanaugh’s leadership in this area. Embracing and celebrating our diverse identities and cultural backgrounds contributes to an increased sense of welcome, belonging, and safety for all. And importantly, this serves us all by enabling greater learning for all.
While academic learning must be the central focus, I hope we can all also agree social learning is equally vital. One of my children was in a classroom that piloted inclusion of students with different learning styles and needs – what a gift this first experience was for him and all of us! The learning that comes from being in community with others that may struggle where you don’t and also excel where you may be struggling was the greatest learning opportunity. The idea was resisted by many but is now accepted as a gold standard for all our little learners. When we come into community done well with others that have different experiences, our understanding and empathy has a chance to really grow.
The discussion about appropriate healthcare for transgender kiddos is best handled with deep compassion and care by qualified professionals and the individuals and their families only – those that do not or will not lean in with understanding should be mindful that there are real concerns for their safety and their futures. Again, I hope we can all focus on safety and care first even if understanding lags.
There is more I would like to say but will close with my deep appreciation for Dr. Cavanaugh’s courage, persistence, and much appreciated leadership on issues surrounding equity and inclusion. I hope we find the right candidate to build on the foundation she has built.
Imagine getting angry because someone made it easier for a child who didn’t look like you or act like you feel as though they belonged somewhere, maybe for the first time in their lives.
And then, imagine if it had absolutely zero impact on anyone else’s lives who don’t actively choose to publicly clutch their pearls over it. The horror.
Good lord.
The school policies this writer despises do nothing more than create a safe environment where students may learn.
That’s what schools are supposed to do.
I cannot denounce this letter hard enough. What an appalling lack of empathy, or even facts. Let’s let the children be themselves and be happy.
It is not “social activism” to ensure that the schools represent the students and staff in them.
Having Pride flags in classrooms signals to vulnerable students and families that there are safe spaces for them in a climate where safety is not guaranteed (case in point). Having a moral objection to the existence of another human being does not mean those people should be erased or hidden, but that students should learn that in our big wide world people are different from you and that is okay – no one human should be valued over another.
Having pictures and stories that represent diverse histories and experiences builds awareness, empathy, and tolerance in an often dangerous and intolerant world. The answer to increasing diversity in our schools and government should be celebrated, not plastered over by the whiteness that already dominates our history books at the cost of the other stories that are just as important and valuable of women and communities of color, and LGBTQ+ folks.
I am hopeful that Dr. Cavanaugh’s championing of representation and valuing diversity in our halls and classrooms carries forth through generations to come.
I am not surprised that homophobia has become en vogue with what happened in November. I am from South Asia and I find this bigotry disgusting. As a male, I applaud her efforts for more male teachers because men are so marginalized in the society, sarcasm. Bless her heart.
I love that my kids had life skills in middle school, curriculums change with the times & don’t think the school administration ever thought LifeSkills was “lower”.
Outside of that this letter is very disturbing the amount lack of heart and consideration the author has for inclusion and acceptance in our community and especially teaching our children to be accepting and have empathy for others. Maybe the author needs to grow her level of compassion, especially during this season of giving.
I’m not sure what your actual involvement in the schools is, but a simple google search of Dr. Cavanaugh would have shown you that her PhD is in educational studies and she holds a Master’s degree in teaching. In her tenure as Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, the academic performance of our students and schools has surpassed where the schools have previously been. People are literally moving here because of the excellence of our schools. Now maybe you don’t like that the diversity that our growing population has brought because not everyone thinks and believes as you do, but I applaud that she is concerned about the safety and well being of every student in the district.
I cannot say how strongly I disagree with everything you have written. As for your question about recruiting male staff, if you take a look at the DESE website, you can see how Hopkinton compares to all other districts in the state. Your 95% statistic is garbage and I am certain not supported by any actual facts. According to DESE, 19% of Hopkinton’s teachers are men, 18% of Holliston’s teachers are men, 17% of Milford’s teachers are men and 16% of Westborough’s teachers are men.
As for puberty blockers, you do know that the schools don’t prescribe them, right? Those come from people with actual medical degrees which clearly you lack. And if you believe in science and you’ve done any research on them at all, you would know are also used to treat precocious puberty in children who are not transgender and are totally reversible once stopped.
Your letter is full of so many lies and inaccuracies, it would be impossible to address them all individually. But if you are serious in your concern about mental health and our students, you should consider that our LGBTQ students are more than 4 times more likely to attempt suicide than their cis gender heterosexual peers. This has very sadly played out in youth we have lost in Hopkinton to suicide. Please consider that before spewing more homophobic bigotry around town. And any Superintendent who is worthy of serving in Hopkinton should want to make sure our most vulnerable students feel safe while providing the educational leadership needed to continue to legacy of excellence Dr. Cavanaugh leaves behind.
I suspect that this is merely the parroting of MAGA talking points and has little to do with reality at HPS. Are the schools putting students on puberty blockers? No, that’s ridiculous. I’m guessing there is little factual basis in the claims made by the writer.
Years ago, I remember learning about the accomplishments of people of color, in my small rural town. I don’t recall people getting all wound up about it then nor should they now. This country belongs to everyone, not just the white males.
FWIW, my HHS student has five male teachers. Perhaps there are more at the HS level.
I would like to go line by line disproving almost ever sentence of this opinion article, but I’ll stick with one…. “We have no solid evidence that these school policies are helpful.”…. There are about 12 academic citations at the bottom of this article proving that policies in schools that help affirm LGBTQ students help them in so many ways… https://youth.gov/youth-topics/lgbtq-youth/school-experiences#_ftn…
While I don’t necessarily agree with everything Superintendent Cavanaugh did in her tenure, I’m proud my son can attend a school system where I know he can thrive.