Starting next spring, two high schools in Montgomery County, Maryland will be offering an LGBT studies pilot course making it the first school district in the nation to offer such a course.
On May 12, the Montgomery County Board of Education unanimously approved the new course which will focus on “gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender history and culture,” according to WTOP News.
After the initial kickoff in two schools next spring, the course is expected to expand to eight more schools the following school year.
WTOP reports that the curriculum for the first semester-long “LGBTQ+ studies” course “will explore history and culture.” Juniors and seniors who have previously completed American History will be able to enroll in the course.
Scott Murphy, director of secondary curriculum and districtwide programs for Montgomery County Public Schools, told school board members there has been a strong interest in such a course and that some faculty members have already started working on developing curriculum.
“During initial implementation, we would gather feedback and then come back to you about the success of the pilot to either open it up to all schools or to continue to revise the pilot course,” Murphy told the board.
School board members strongly praised the proposed course with board member Rebecca Smondrowski saying, “It’s been a long time coming and I believe it will open a lot of minds.”
Patricia O’Neill, another board member, said she’s proud of the community and its commitment to equality.
“I feel like we’ve come so far in having an open conversation and for students to have the right to take this social studies elective in recognition of the times we live in,” O’Neill said. “But I don’t want to ever let go of … the civil rights implications for our LGBTQ students.”
Nate Tinbite, the board’s student member, said the course is “much-needed in our district.”
Happy that my colleagues and I voted today to launch the first ever LGBTQ+ Studies pilot course in the nation!
I am grateful that @MCPS students will soon learn about the diverse and beautiful history that #LGBTQ individuals have been a part of through this new curriculum. 🏳️🌈💙 https://t.co/LdyJBT25IG
— Nate Tinbite (@NateTinbite) May 12, 2020
We can only expect to see more of this as time goes on. LGBT content has long been normalized in public schools, something against which we have been fighting adamantly here at Activist Mommy.
Parents, if you object to your children learning about sexuality and alternative lifestyles as part of their high school curriculum it is time you start paying attention.
Before it is too late.
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