To the editor:

About a year ago, Kendall Qualls and his wife, Sheila, presented an educational talk about the origin and status of critical race theory (CRT) at the New Ulm Event Center. Current members of the ISD 88 School Board and staff were invited to attend. We thought these people would be willing to have an open mind and learn about the issue from a different point of view. We thought wrong.

Only one board member attended. We learned about the socialist/Marxist beginning of critical theory that eventually became the CRT we know today. The Minnesota Department of Education at one time promoted CRT on their website, but has since removed all mention of its existence. CRT has now been replaced by more benevolent words like Diversity, Inclusiveness, and Equity (DIE).

Our current ISD 88 School Board is heavily invested in DIE. On Aug. 25, all ISD 88 staff attended Teachers Workshop Days. An hour-long “speaker panel” was presented by Education Minnesota (the Minnesota Teachers Union). The LGBT+ community was represented by various educators in an effort to “allow everyone to be more compassionate, supportive, and less judgmental.” No mention was made of this presentation (public record) during the School Board meeting later that same evening. During public comment after that meeting, I expressed my opposition to that “speaker panel.” In my opinion, LGBT+ issues are adult issues (age 18 and older), and therefore outside the scope of ISD 88 educational responsibilities.

On Sept. 14, a forum was held with the board candidates for the upcoming election. I had hoped that we could finally get an answer from all the candidates to a petition that was presented to the existing Board earlier this year which states: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity is not appropriate in kindergarten through at least grade 3, and therefore any such instruction should be eliminated from those classrooms as soon as possible.”

I personally did not sign that petition because I didn’t think it went far enough. I don’t believe LGBT+ belongs in our schools at all. If and when these issues occur, we should let trained counselors, counsel. The hosts of the forum ignored the question, even though it was properly presented (and there was ample time to ask it). It is my sincere hope that at least The Journal will ask the candidates that very question.

Paul Platz

Lafayette