{"id":11222,"date":"2023-11-29T20:22:32","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T20:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/?p=11222"},"modified":"2023-12-01T19:36:35","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T19:36:35","slug":"overflow-crowd-urges-delay-on-parents-bill-of-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/2023\/11\/29\/overflow-crowd-urges-delay-on-parents-bill-of-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Overflow crowd urges delay on ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’"},"content":{"rendered":"
A new North Carolina law called the Parents\u2019 Bill of Rights drew a packed house of speakers at the Nov. 16 Durham Board of Education meeting. Many community members urged the board to delay implementing the law, but some called for speedier compliance.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cReject the bill, and enact a policy that protects queer youth,\u201d said Ashley Golsch, anthropologist, echoing comments by several other speakers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, not all speakers agreed. Rosaria Butterfield, a 61-year-old retired professor, urged the board to implement the new law.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFollowing the law also protects each and every one of you,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Parents\u2019 Bill of Rights, which the N.C. General Assembly passed in August after overriding Governor Cooper\u2019s veto, mandates schools to notify parents regarding any changes in their student\u2019s mental, emotional or physical health services and inform the parents if the student requests name or pronoun changes. The law also prohibits curriculum content on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality in kindergarten through fourth grade and grants parents access to review all curriculum and view all materials students borrow from the school library.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n North Carolina school districts were given extensions for compliance with some elements of the law, but several school districts are grappling with what to do to respond to community concerns and how to interpret the law.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the DPS board meeting,\u00a0 community members \u2014 some dressed in neutral suits, dresses and Patagonia jackets, while others wore rainbow leggings and caps, and dangly, colorful jewelry \u2014 filled every seat in the room and spilled into the hallway. People took seats in the hallway and watched the live screen, waiting for their turn to enter the room and comment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n