By: Chad Felix Greene<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a growing environment of left-wing activism in schools, especially related to LGBT ideology, parents who have not been able to influence curriculum have had the option of opting their kids out of classes. Not any longer, at least according to a federal appeals court<\/a> in a Maryland case of three families suing for the right to religious freedom for their elementary school-aged children in public schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August of 2023, three families \u2014 one Muslim, one Christian, and one Jewish \u2014 brought a case against the Montgomery County Board of Education<\/a> for a recent policy change removing the opt-out option for curriculum. Previously, parents received advanced notice of materials that would be read to their children and could opt out. The school board announced that parents would no longer receive advanced notice of materials, and they could no longer opt out of readings or lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A year prior, according to the case, \u201cIn the spring of 2022, the School Board had determined that the books in its English language arts curriculum were not sufficiently representative because they did not include LGBTQ characters.\u201d Maryland law requires schools to give parents the opportunity \u201cto view instructional materials to be used in the teaching of family life and human sexuality objectives.\u201d The school board also has an opt-out policy for religious exemptions in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there is a clause that states that \u201cif such requests become too frequent or too burdensome, the school may refuse to accommodate the requests. Schools are not required to alter fundamentally the educational program or create a separate educational program or a separate course to accommodate a student\u2019s religious practice or belief.\u201d Deciding that LGBT inclusion in the curriculum was fundamental to the educational program and the requests were too burdensome, the school board simply declared parents could not opt out of LGBT content any longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last week, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman dismissed the parents\u2019 concerns and noted<\/a> that every court that has reviewed similar mandatory public school curricula has found that \u201cmere exposure in public school to ideas that contradict religious beliefs does not burden the religious exercise of students or parents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She insisted, \u201cThe parents still may instruct their children on their religious beliefs regarding sexuality, marriage, and gender, and each family may place contrary views in its religious context.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo government action prevents the parents from freely discussing the topics raised in the storybooks with their children or teaching their children as they wish,\u201d Boardman wrote in Thursday\u2019s order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The decision was upheld<\/a> by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Their reasoning was that the parents could not demonstrate how the LGBT-themed books would be used in the classroom and therefore could not determine if they would infringe on their beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eric Baxter, vice president and senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, argued, \u201cThat runs contrary to the First Amendment, Maryland law, the School Board\u2019s own policies, and basic human decency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cParents should have the right to receive notice and opt their children out of classroom material that violates their faith,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In contrast to the Fourth Circuit\u2019s reasoning, reviewing the Montgomery County Public Schools website makes it clear why these books are in the classroom. The website has a dedicated LGBT section stating<\/a>, \u201cWe have welcoming, affirming schools, classrooms, teams, and clubs. We value all of our children, youth, teachers, staff, and parents.\u201d The section provides an extensive list of LGBT content, resources, and \u201cHow to\u201d guides for students, staff, and parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/White_Oak_Middle_School_entrance2_Silver_Spring_MD_2022-08-17_17-27-46-1200x675.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt should be obvious to anyone that forcing parents to accept LGBT instruction for their children violates their religious freedom.<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Judge\u2019s Ruling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Contrary to the First Amendment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n