“Want to earn six hours of community service and get a better understanding of gender identity?”
This was the question posed to Ashland High School students via the February 15, 2024 “AHS Daily Announcements” email. To earn six hours of community service, students were invited to attend a 3 week-long book discussion on Gender Queer: A Memoir, a book which includes graphic depictions of oral sex, discussions of sex toys, and references to pedophilia and pornography. The discussion was to be led by an Ashland Public School staff member and a community member from “Ashland is United,” a local diversity, equity, inclusion group. To sign up for the discussion group, students only needed to contact the advisor of the C.A.R.E.S. Team, an AHS club that focuses on “anti-racism, equity, and social justice.” Parental consent was not required for students to sign up for the book group, and it was not mentioned in the Ashland High School Weekly Updates newsletter that is distributed to many parents.
Just a couple of months later, in the April 12, 2024, “AHS Daily Announcement” email, high school girls and nonbinary students were invited to participate in a one-hour focus group about digital media. The group was run by the Education Development Center, an outside nonprofit, and students were assured that “everything discussed during the group will remain confidential.” Students who participated were promised a $20 Amazon gift card! To sign up, they just needed to email the Director of Guidance. Again, no parental consent seemed to be required, and the focus group was not mentioned in the Ashland High School Weekly Updates newsletter.
These are only two examples of the disturbing and inappropriate “opportunities” advertised to Ashland High School students in their daily announcement emails. While parents are technically allowed to subscribe to these emails, many may not be aware of this option. Parents in Ashland might falsely assume that subscribing to the weekly update newsletter is sufficient to stay informed.
But Ashland isn’t the only town that shares important (and troubling) information via online formats. Last December we told you about an “LGBTQ+ Awareness Day” happening at Newton South High School, where a former school committee member was set to perform as a drag queen for students during the school day. We learned about that event from the school newsletter. And back in March, we told you about Rainbow Clubs, including one at Ditson Elementary School in Billerica. We learned of Ditson’s club through their online newsletter too. By the way, the Ashland school district has a Rainbow Club also. It was mentioned in the January 8, 2024, edition of the David Mindess Elementary School Updates newsletter.
The flood of digital information we handle every day can be daunting, yet it’s crucial for parents to remain vigilant and subscribe to all notifications provided by their school district. It’s essential to engage with every digital communication channel your child’s school utilizes. The era of paper notices carried home in backpacks is over; schools have shifted to digital communications, and we must adapt as well. Does your child’s school publish an online newsletter? Make sure to subscribe. Check if they post online announcements and subscribe to those too. Also, don’t forget to follow their social media accounts at both the district and school levels to stay fully informed.
Knowledge is power, and staying as plugged in as possible helps you protect your child. If you learn of any activities at your child’s school that you suspect may be illegal, could infringe upon your or your child’s rights, or might be discriminatory, please reach out to us. We are happy to help parents navigate these difficult issues. Contact us at [email protected].
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For our families,
Jess Richardson
