After hearing Tuesday's oral arguments, most legal analysts say that the Montgomery County, Maryland parents are likely to get their opt-out. But while the High Court deliberates the legal case, Dr. Alex McFarland of Alex McFarland Ministries and an American Family Radio co-host says homosexual indoctrination in the classroom has serious consequences.
“When a teacher is presenting, as normative, homosexual sodomy and transgenderism, yes, that is undermining the faith that the majority of American parents are trying to impart,” McFarland said.
One book discussed in the arguments “Pride Puppy!” which had been used in the pre-K curriculum for Montgomery County Public Schools.
The rhyming alphabet book, which was described as "affirming and inclusive" by its publisher, allows readers to spot items starting with each of the letters of the alphabet while offering "a joyful glimpse of a Pride parade and the vibrant community that celebrates this day each year,” Fox News reported.
The book's related "word list" directs its young readers to look for illustrations of a “drag queen,” “leather,” and “underwear,” The Globe and Mail reports.
The arguments included this exchange between Justice Neil Gorsuch (shown at left) and Alan Schoenfeld, the attorney representing the school district.
"And they're being used in English language instruction at age 3?" Gorsuch asked.
"'Pride Puppy!' was the book that was used for the pre-kindergarten curriculum. That's no longer in the curriculum," replied Schoenfeld.
"That's the one where they're supposed to look for the leather and things - and bondage – things like that," Gorsuch responded.
"It's not bondage. It's a woman in a leather..."
A "Sex worker?" asked Gorsuch.
"No. That's not correct. No," replied Schoenfeld.
"Gosh, I read it...drag queen?" said Gorsuch.
Schoenfeld said the leather is actually a woman in a leather jacket and that "one of the words is drag queen."
In another exchange, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson suggested that parents with a problem with the content should take their children someplace else.
“If the school teaches something that the parent disagrees with, you have a choice. You don’t have to send your kid to that school. You can put them in another situation,” she said.
Matt Whitlock, a Republican communications specialist and former staffer for Utah Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee, took a different view.
“So, your ‘choice’ is have your 3-year-old sit through trans story hour without question, OR pay for expensive private school/ shift to home-schooling. Not an actual ‘choice’ for a lot of working families, and your tax dollars will fund the woke schools whether your kids goes there or not,” he wrote on X.
McFarland says safeguarding the faith of the students and the authority of parents to raise godly kids as they see fit should be the number one priority of for every family.
“The parents in Maryland, or any state, have not only the right, but I would say the obligation to remove their children from woke indoctrination.”
Difficult choices for parents
McFarland says when a teacher denies logic and the basic facts of biology, it sows the seed of doubt in a child's mind about their parents and their faith.
“Gender confusion is not a birth condition. Gender dysphoria, i.e. transgender ideation, is a response to emotional, psychological pain.”
As difficult as it may be for parents, McFarland agrees with Justice Jackson.
He says every Christian family should pull their children out of public schools. Yes, it will be expensive and yes, some changes may need to be made.
“When we think something is important, we find a way,” he said.
