OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
Administrators in a Wisconsin school district have taken matters into their own hands by voting to ban the display of political propaganda in classrooms as well as the left-wing trend of preferred pronouns.
Both the school board and the superintendent in Wales, Wisconsin agreed with the decision and voted unanimously on the issue.
The Kettle Moraine School Board, which is located about a half-hour west of Milwaukee, announced a new policy that prevents employees from displaying partisan political materials.
This includes the gay pride flags, Black Lives Matter flags, and t-shirts. Faculty and staff are prohibited from including their preferred pronouns in school emails.
“We live in a world where politics are highlighted, and it puts people in uncomfortable positions,” superintendent Stephen Plum said.
“I feel the staff can fully support students. I feel that every staff member, custodian and teacher ought to know that it’s really in the best interest of the students to look out for them and to have strong, healthy relationships that develop therefrom.”
This policy will likely see major pushback from the Left.
“If you have a policy that says ‘nothing political,’ does that mean you can’t have a sign up that says, ‘Support our Troops,’ or ‘Believe Women’ or ‘Save the Planet?’ By some people’s definitions, all of those things are political,” said Christine Donahoe, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin. It is not clear whether Donahoe attended the meeting.
“It really looks like targeted attacks at specific viewpoints, like LGBT communities, or welcome and safe spaces to students of color,” she added.
An incoming freshman to the district who identifies as transgender likewise opposed the measure.
“I don’t want to be misgendered and I want people to know, especially if I’m meeting new people, I want them to know they can feel safe around me,” said Edith Cramer, who claims to use he/him pronouns.
However, school board president Gary Vose stood by the decision.
“This isn’t a case where we’re trying to discriminate against any group or groups for that matter,” Vose said, “but rather just to bring clarity to allow staff to know where the line is drawn on these various things.”
