A school board meeting in Southern California turned hostile on Tuesday as community members spoke out about the board’s rejection of specific state-endorsed curriculum.
The Temecula Valley Unified School District recently voted on whether or not to reject state-sponsored curriculum that features gay rights activist and purported pedophile Harvey Milk. Milk, who is known for being the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, has been criticized for his alleged relationship with a 16-year-old when he was in his thirties.
The school board opted to reject supplemental materials that mention Milk for elementary school students.
Following this decision, California Governor Gavin Newsom described the school board’s actions as “cancel culture.” The governor proceeded to announce that the state will be purchasing the rejected textbooks for the students. He also threatened the school board by saying the state will fine the district for “violating state law” if it does not reverse course by the next board meeting.
“If the school board won’t do its job by its next board meeting to ensure kids start the school year with basic materials, the state will deliver the book into the hands of children and their parents – and we’ll send the district the bill and fine them for violating state law,” Newsom said.
In a written statement to rebut the Governor’s remarks, Temecula Valley USD school board president Joseph Komrosky clarified that the school board did not “ban” a textbook, but rather decided not to adopt the curriculum. Komrosky explained that there were concerns both about Harvey Milk as an individual and if the community was properly informed and engaged about the curriculum.
“The Board of Education of the Temecula Valley Unified School District did not ‘ban’ a book at its May 16, 2023 regular meeting. Instead, the Board of Education determined not to adopt as curriculum a history-social science program for District-wide use that had been part of a pilot study conducted by the District.”
The rhetoric of the California governor resulted in a hostile environment at the Temecula Valley USD school board meeting last Tuesday. Several members of the community were ejected from the event, including one teacher from the school district who called a board member a “homophobe.”
Among the many speakers at the board meeting was Turning Point USA Faith Contributor John Amanchukwu. Amanchukwu gave a powerful speech where he spoke out against the dangerous narratives being pushed on students by our public schools.
Temecula Valley Unified School District is yet another battleground for the culture war in America. Parents and community members must remember to stay vigilant and actively engaged to take back parental control in our school systems.
“Now more than ever the Church must unite to fight against those who seek to pervert the heart and minds of our children. We can’t allow mental rapists like Gavin Newsom, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama to control the narrative. This is good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, and truth vs. corrupt pedagogy. Will you join the battle for the sake of righteousness? Let’s disturb the peace one city at a time!”
-TPUSA Faith Contributor John AmanchukwuThis piece first appeared at TPUSA.
