Honesty Condemns Forest Hills School Board’s Refusal to Vote on Toxic Censorship Resolution
August 18, 2022 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLUMBUS — Today, Honesty for Ohio Education released the following statement condemning the Forest Hills Local School District Board of Education’s refusal to hold a vote repealing the Resolution to Create a Culture of Kindness and Equal Opportunity for All Students and Staff.
Displaying a shameful lack of interest in serving their community and a disregard for students and families, the Forest Hills School Board refused to hold a vote considering the repeal of the “Culture of Kindness” resolution, during its board meeting last night.
Board member Leslie Rasmussen motioned for a vote to repeal the resolution after several community members shared public comment against the resolution, including a petition to repeal it with more than 3,000 signatures. The petition and comments show that residents are deeply concerned about the harm and risk to psychological safety that would be inflicted by the resolution, highlighting seven suicides since 2017. Other board members remained silent, refusing to second Rasmussen’s motion to vote.
The Forest Hills community rallied against the resolution immediately after its passage in June, with students, families and a teacher filing a lawsuit for its repeal. Residents denounced attempts to ban education around antiracism, intersectionality, and identity, which will cast a chilling effect on education.
“It is clear that the Forest Hills community does not want the toxic ‘Culture of Kindness’ resolution poisoning their schools. This brazen act of disrespect for the students, families and educators by refusing to hold a vote against the resolution is yet another attempt by extremist elected officials to hold honest education hostage and weaponize race and identity,” says Cynthia Peeples, founding director of Honesty for Ohio Education.
“Research shows that Ohioans want educators to prioritize honest education and thoughtfully examine all aspects of our history and cultures, unpacking the highlights and lowlights that define our nation. The so-called ‘Culture of Kindness’ resolution shuns honest education and is clearly influenced by the three educational gag orders peddled in the Ohio Statehouse, first promoted by national groups with no interest in serving children and families in our communities.”
Honesty for Ohio Education calls on the Forest Hills Board of Education to listen to their community, repeal the “Culture of Kindness” resolution immediately, and empower educators to provide an honest, high-quality education grounded in truth, facts, and diverse perspectives for every young person, regardless of background, race, identity, or zip code.
Displaying a shameful lack of interest in serving their community and a disregard for students and families, the Forest Hills School Board refused to hold a vote considering the repeal of the “Culture of Kindness” resolution, during its board meeting last night.
Board member Leslie Rasmussen motioned for a vote to repeal the resolution after several community members shared public comment against the resolution, including a petition to repeal it with more than 3,000 signatures. The petition and comments show that residents are deeply concerned about the harm and risk to psychological safety that would be inflicted by the resolution, highlighting seven suicides since 2017. Other board members remained silent, refusing to second Rasmussen’s motion to vote.
The Forest Hills community rallied against the resolution immediately after its passage in June, with students, families and a teacher filing a lawsuit for its repeal. Residents denounced attempts to ban education around antiracism, intersectionality, and identity, which will cast a chilling effect on education.
“It is clear that the Forest Hills community does not want the toxic ‘Culture of Kindness’ resolution poisoning their schools. This brazen act of disrespect for the students, families and educators by refusing to hold a vote against the resolution is yet another attempt by extremist elected officials to hold honest education hostage and weaponize race and identity,” says Cynthia Peeples, founding director of Honesty for Ohio Education.
“Research shows that Ohioans want educators to prioritize honest education and thoughtfully examine all aspects of our history and cultures, unpacking the highlights and lowlights that define our nation. The so-called ‘Culture of Kindness’ resolution shuns honest education and is clearly influenced by the three educational gag orders peddled in the Ohio Statehouse, first promoted by national groups with no interest in serving children and families in our communities.”
Honesty for Ohio Education calls on the Forest Hills Board of Education to listen to their community, repeal the “Culture of Kindness” resolution immediately, and empower educators to provide an honest, high-quality education grounded in truth, facts, and diverse perspectives for every young person, regardless of background, race, identity, or zip code.
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Honesty for Ohio Education is a nonpartisan, statewide coalition that champions honest education, affirmation of identities, cultures, and experiences, the well-being of students and educators, and local control in education. The coalition represents more than 40 national, state, and local organizations, and hundreds of students, families, and educators across the state.