All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Police Called to School After Teacher Resigns for Using Pride Flashcards
One parent called the controversy a "publicity stunt" by politicians.
Police were called to an elementary school in North Carolina where a teacher resigned her position last week after it was learned she used a set of LGBTQ-inclusive flashcards to teach colors to her students.
The unidentified teacher at the Ballentine Elementary School in Fuquay-Varina used a set of Progress Pride Flag Rainbow Families flashcards in her preschool class of special needs students, causing one concerned parent to reach out last week to State Rep. Erin Pare who in turn alerted House Speaker Tim Moore, the News & Observerreports.
In a statement linked on social media, Moore said he immediately contacted the school's principal who confiscated the flashcards in question after confirming with the teacher they had been used in class as reported. Lisa Luten, a spokesperson for the Wake County School District, confirmed to the paper that the teacher resigned Friday.
\u201cFlash Cards Depicting Pregnant Man Used in WCPSS Preschool Classroom in House District 37 https://t.co/KpnbngXMrv via @ErinforNC #ncpol #ncga\u201d— Speaker Tim Moore (@Speaker Tim Moore) 1653683767
Pare defended her actions in a television interview on Tuesday.
"A lot of loving families come in all different shapes and sizes and thank goodness for that," Pare said on Fox News, noting she was thankful "loving families come in all different shapes and sizes" but also adding "when you're looking at a card in front of a preschooler that has a mommy hugging a daddy with a baby in his belly, that's just not age-appropriate material to be showing preschoolers, and I'm glad that this principal and the district acted immediately."
\u201cThis morning I had the opportunity to be a guest on @FoxNews with @steveforschools to discuss the use of a flash card of a pregnant man to teach colors in a @WCPSS preschool class. Please listen via the link below.#ncpol #ncga\n\nhttps://t.co/m8fR4yPm4s\u201d— Erin Par\u00e9 (@Erin Par\u00e9) 1654000819
One parent disagreed with Pare's assessment, and strongly objected to the use of her child in what she described as a publicity stunt.
"My special-needs child is being used as a prop and I hope that anyone reading about this remembers this come November when it comes time to vote that this is not supporting our children, not supporting our teachers, not supporting our schools," Jackie Milazzo, whose child is in the preschool class, told the News & Observer.
While there were no specific threats reported by school officials, police were called to the campus yesterday as many parents were concerned in light of the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and 2 adults dead.
One person echoed that concern in a comment to Moore's tweeted statement, telling the speaker to "read the room."
\u201c@NCHouseSpeaker @ErinforNC Dude, read the room. This is not what most parents are worried about right now. We just want our kids to come home from school alive.\u201d— Speaker Tim Moore (@Speaker Tim Moore) 1653683767
Illustrated by Pakistani-Canadian designer, calligrapher, and illustrator Zainab's Echo, the Progress Pride Flag Rainbow Families set of 12 flashcards use the colors of the Progress Pride Flag to "celebrate LGBT2SQ+ Families of diverse races, ages, sexualities, genders, and abilities." The cards retail for 20 Canadian dollars -- which is about $16 -- and are currently sold out.
While having harsh words for those with strong negative reactions to the situation, Milazzo had only words of praise for the teacher.
"She is an amazing teacher who has worked tirelessly in an unpredictable school year to provide a safe, loving, and inclusive classroom for our children to grow," Milazzo said.