The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) has announced its support for House Bill 551, which will require schools to keep parents informed about their child’s education.
Brad Dacus, President of the PJI, described the bill as "very common sense."
"This is about protecting parents' rights in education, making sure that public schools respect parents, engage in transparency, respect efforts by parents who want to opt their children out of something, and promotes accountability in public education," Dacus explains.
He said there is no reason why a public school that wants to have the trust of parents should in any way deny this kind of legislation.
"They should be in favor of it. We at Pacific Justice Institute, through our Center for Public Policy, have weighed in heavily for this. We have an office in Massachusetts weighing in on this, and we're hopeful that this legislation will become law, especially in view of the recent Supreme Court decision, the Mahmoud v. Taylor case," states Dacus.
In that case, the Supreme Court respected parents' rights over their children's education and their rights to opt out of certain course materials and receive notice on matters of their concern.
Dacus said the side that wants to keep parents in the dark on what their kids are being taught in school does have some traction.
"Massachusetts is known as being a fairly liberal state with a liberal legislation, and in addition, the teachers union is understood to be very powerful. They've signed off on this radical leftist agenda, and part of that agenda is to keep parents in the dark,” Dacus says. “It's very demeaning to parents. It treats parents like they don't know what's best for their children, and…so there is a definite contingency opposing this."
Dacus continues to say there is no guarantee House Bill 551 will pass.
He concluded that, in part, the majority of parents in Massachusetts and across the U.S. believe transparency is important in school districts, that districts should respect parents who object to radical sexuality and gender indoctrination of their children.
"…and at the very least believe that parents should be aware of what's happening, and parents’ rights to…opt their children out should be respected," Dacus said.
