BREAKING NEWS: Hilliard Issues Statement Recognizing Their Actions were “Not Appropriate”
Hilliard Principal Retracts Order to Teachers to have Students Lobby City Council
HILLIARD, OHIO—Hilliard City Schools has released a statement retracting the administration’s previous order to teachers to read a script and play a video for students pressuring them to lobby in support of a Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity ordinance before the City Council.
The Official Statement Reads:
“The Hilliard City Schools Board of Education and administration has been clear on their support of diversity and inclusion of all students and supports our students’ personal involvement in the political process as they choose. However, board policy sets clear expectations that literature promoting or opposing political figures, candidates or issues, not be distributed in the school setting.
In this case, we understand that students were not required to write letters in support of a particular issue, but any distribution of political literature to our students was not appropriate and should not have occurred.
We discussed this with all involved and set new guidelines to assure this type of situation does not reoccur.”
In response to this statement, Center for Christian Virtue President Aaron Baer said:
“While we’re grateful that the Hilliard Administration recognizes turning teachers and students into lobbyists is an unethical breach of the public trust, their statement seems to ignore the gravity of their original actions.
“There was a fundamental failure and breach of trust that enabled a communication like the original email to go out. It is a great responsibility public schools are entrusted with to shepherd young minds, and to abuse that power by forcing dangerous political agendas on students is wholly unacceptable.”
“I am incredibly grateful for the strong community response to this disastrous email from the Hilliard Administration. Because so many citizens and families rose up, your voice was heard, and teachers and students were spared from an unacceptable bullying and intimidation campaign.
“The leadership at Hilliard Davidson needs to understand that celebrating diversity isn’t just about recognizing how we may look different. It’s also about respecting different perspectives and worldviews. The original email from the Hilliard Davidson administration failed to honor this timeless truth, and CCV is committed to ensuring no student or teacher is ever intimidated like this again.”
Read CCV’s original statement and the initial Hilliard Davidson email here.
For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or info@ccv.org.
As Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel.
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