WHEN VALUES CLASH Court Declares Parental Rights Can’t Be Left at the Classroom Door
In debates over education, one theme has echoed for generations: Who gets to decide what children learn? Parents wanting to have greater control over what their children learn in the classroom is nothing new. You may even recall reading about the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, in which Tennessee accused a high school teacher of violating the Butler Act by teaching human evolution in a public school. Many parents in our country worry that their children will learn things in school that contradict or conflict with their religious values and beliefs. They believe they should have the right to determine whether their child learns about these controversial topics, and a recent Supreme Court decision shows that the government agrees with them. In 2022, Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland decided to integrate books that referenced LGBTQ+ ideals into their curriculum. These topics were always portrayed positively in the books, and teachers were even instructed and encouraged to frame these concepts as unquestionably correct. Any religious objections would be dismissed as hurtful and wrong. Initially, parents could opt their children out of reading these books, but the district revoked that policy in 2023. The parents responded by suing the Montgomery County Board of Education in the court case, Mahmoud v. Taylor . The parents argued that the new policy was a direct infringement on their First Amendment right to exercise
“The Supreme Court sided with the parents, ruling that the school district’s refusal to notify parents or give them the ability to opt their children out interfered with the parents’ religious upbringing of the child.”
their religion. If they wanted to prevent their children from reading or learning about these topics, they should be able to do so. The school board responded that accommodating every religious objection would be impractical and place an unreasonable burden on teachers. They argued that parents who disagreed with the curriculum had the option of enrolling their children in private schools. The Supreme Court sided with the parents, ruling that the school district’s refusal to notify parents or give them the ability to opt their children out interfered with the parents’ religious upbringing of the child. This decision does not solely impact the Montgomery County School District; it applies nationwide. This means that parents who have children in public schools have the right to opt their children out of any content that could undermine their religious upbringing. It requires some proactivity on the part of parents to stay ahead of the curriculum and identify any content that could undermine religious values. School boards will need to notify parents if there is any impending content that could raise concerns, to protect themselves. While some parents may see this as a step in the right direction, it’s worth noting that in America, there are 370 unique religious bodies, according to the 2020 U.S. Religion Census. That’s a wide range of values and beliefs for school boards to navigate, and they must do so carefully to avoid infringing on anyone’s First Amendment rights.
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