“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts. The
right defense against false sentiments is to inculcate just sentiments. By starving the sensibility of our pupils we only make them easier prey to the propagandist when he comes.” – C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man

It is no secret that MA schools are starving the sensibilities of our students. Rather than “inculcating our pupils with just sentiments,” schools are driven by woke trends, trading traditional values for so-called equity, and granting our students access to materials so obscene it would have made even the worldly-wise former atheist C.S. Lewis blush.

At MFI, we are on the front lines, keeping parents informed about some of the biggest attacks on their students in MA public schools. While the list of offenses is long, we are calling attention to three of the most dangerous issues threatening MA students today.

Harmful Transgender Ideology

MA is a national leader in promoting radical gender ideology to children. MA public schools push transgender ideology on kids through lessons taught in classes, rainbow flags and pride celebrations, storybooks read to elementary students, sex ed curricula, CRT/DEI/SEL* programs and initiatives, books available to students in school libraries, student groups, school assemblies, safe school programs, and the deliberate efforts of activist school officials. It’s no surprise that the Trevor Project, a pro-LGBT research group, reports that youth are identifying as transgender at an increased rate. In fact, MassHealth has
spent $7.6 million on “gender transition” treatments for children since 2012. MA taxpayer funding for “gender-affirming” care for children has increased by over 600,000% in just ten years! Read the shocking facts that MFI uncovered through a public records request to
the MA Executive Office of Health and Human Services. MA children are being groomed toward transgender identification while in school and commodified by the lucrative sex reassignment industry.

Graphic Content in School Libraries

Protecting children from graphic content used to be commonly recognized as a basic duty shared by parents and educators. This is no longer the case. Now, many MA school districts are adding books to their school library collection that contain explicit descriptions of sex acts, gore and violence, extreme vulgarity, transgenderism, drug abuse, and more. Many of these titles, brought in under the guise of “diversity” and “inclusion,” would be considered pornography if given to a minor in any other setting but are allowed in schools due to a legal loophole. When concerned parents and community members object to these books being made available to children and teens, they are labeled “book banners” by activist librarians and school officials. Parents can no longer count on their child’s school to protect them – it is now up to parents to educate themselves on what titles are being made available to their children. Read our Parent Advisory Book List for a sampling of titles to be on the lookout for. Search for books in your local school library here. Read reports and ratings on problematic titles here and here. And share our Banned and Challenged Books info sheet with friends and community leaders to expose the graphic content in books found in MA school libraries.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is not the biologically based sex ed most of us remember from our school days. It is something entirely different. CSE is a specific type of sex ed written upon the premise that children are sexual from birth, and therefore
have the right to sexual pleasure. CSE is geared toward all students (K-12) and contains material that is often graphic and seldom age-appropriate. It also normalizes sexual activity and high-risk sexual behaviors for minors and teaches minors how to consent to sexual activity. Listen to former CSE educator turned whistleblower Monica Cline discuss the deception and harms of CSE. Read our robust recommended resources list to learn more about CSE and what parents can do to protect their children. Visit our sex ed map to view district-specific reports demonstrating what is being taught in sex ed classes.

Faced with these challenges and others, there is no doubt that Lewis’ propagandist is here – in the classroom, in the School Based Health Center, in the Guidance Counselor’s office, and in the curriculum itself. So what can you do to guard your students against becoming “easier prey?” The first thing you can do is, just that – pray! And then use these tools to protect your children, grandchildren, and the children in your community who attend public schools.

·     Run for School Committee: Common sense policies that protect kids and help them thrive are desperately needed in MA schools. During February and March, MFI equipped and trained people to run for school committee. If you missed our trainings, contact Michael King at [email protected] to learn about future opportunities. 

·     Join the Opt Out Movement: This school year, almost 3,800 students have opted out of graphic sex ed – and that’s just in Worcester! Concerned Worcester parents have been on the front lines of this battle, and they are making a difference. Bring the Opt Out Movement to your own school district! Check out this blog post to learn more.  

·    Parents, know your rights: Many parents are not aware that they have the right to review their child’s curriculum, opt them out of sex ed, protect them from invasive surveys that ask questions about sexuality, and more. Read our PDF that explains your parental rights regarding sex ed and surveys and exercise those rights today.

·    Students have rights too: MA students don’t lose their First Amendment rights when they enter a public school building. Students have the right to organize a Bible club, pray, read their Bible, and talk to other students about their religious beliefs. Many school districts do not understand the law around these matters and wrongly stop Christian students from exercising their faith. Share our Students Rights page with the students in your life so that they can know – and protect – their rights.

·    Know the law: There are many misconceptions about what the state of MA requires of schools when it comes to sex ed curricula and access to explicit library books. Educators and administrators may insist that these graphic materials are required, but that is not true. Check out our Memo on Sexually Explicit Content Laws that breaks down exactly what the law says about sexually explicit content in school, and then share it with your friends and neighbors.

·    Speak up locally: As a member of the public, you have a right to address your local school committee when public comment is on the agenda. The recent court decision, Barron v. Kolenda, reinforces this right. Read MFI’s legal brief for more information on this key decision and what it means for your local meetings.

·    Speak up to your representatives in Boston: The Massachusetts legislature is considering HB544/SB268 which would mandate a controversial sex ed framework for public schools across the state. Read our legislative brief to find out why MFI opposes this dangerous mandate. Stay tuned for a call to action when it’s time to petition your legislators.

Many families feel that the best way to protect their children from Lewis’ propagandist is to leave public school entirely. MFI is working with churches to support innovative educational solutions for families. If you are looking to join the public school exodus, you’ll want to investigate these options:  

·     Learning Centers: Learning centers are a key part of the alternative schooling movement as churches and families take back the responsibility for children’s education. Watch the recording of our webinar, Discover School Options in MA, to find out more about the Learning Centers and small church schools available in your area. Read our MA Learning Center List to see if there is a location near you. And if you want to see a Learning Center first-hand, attend a tour of the Real Life Learning Center in Somerville on April 1. Sign up here.

·    Christian school options: Click here to view MFI’s list of Christian schools in MA. If you know of a school that isn’t included, email Mary Ellen Siegler at [email protected] so we can update our list.

·    Homeschool networks: Homeschooling is more popular than ever, and with the wide variety of resources and networks available to today’s families, many parents are finding homeschooling surprisingly doable. If you would like to explore the homeschooling option, check out MFI’s list of homeschooling and online school resources.

And finally, sometimes the best offense is a good defense – and the best way to mount a good defense is to stay informed! Here are some easy ways to keep up to date on these issues, and others:

·    Join Massachusetts Informed Parents (MIP): MIP is a Facebook group that is home to over 8,600 members. If you’re not a member click here and join now! With new posts from admin and community members daily, joining MIP is one of the easiest ways to stay in the loop on the latest news in MA schools, connect with like-minded parents, share information, and ask questions.  

·    Subscribe to the MIP Substack: Sign up once with your email address and you’ll get fresh new content delivered right to your inbox. The MIP Substack is an excellent source for credible information about what’s happening in MA schools, and also a great way to stay connected if you are not on Facebook.

·    Share this blog post with family and friends! Spread the word about the good work MFI is doing to support parents and protect MA children.

Modern education is at a crisis point, but we are not without hope. Stay plugged into MFI for the latest updates on education in MA and join us as we face the propagandists and fight forward to protect our students.

Please donate today to help us continue the vital work of protecting parental rights and safeguarding children in education.

For our families,

Andrew Beckwith, President & General Counsel

*Critical Race Theory (CRT), Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and Social Emotional Learning (SEL)