There are clearly double standards in the Columbia Central School District

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Opinion

By Matt Schepeler

In January members of the Columbia School District voted 6-1 to deny a request that would allow a prayer/invocation to be said at the start of school board meetings. They did this on the advice of their attorney, which I think was a cop out, but that’s not what really bothers me.

Here’s what does bother me: Prayer is not allowed in public schools for students unless it is “student-led,” a policy with which most people, including me, agree. I personally don’t want Muslims coming in and praying over my grandchildren, or, worse yet, the Unitarians coming in an effort to indoctrinate the little tykes.

Before you Unitarians get up in a huff, this is supposed to work both ways. You don’t want the Baptists coming into the schools and teaching children that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven, any more than Baptists want you coming in and reciting poetry, or the Catholics coming in and singing, or whatever it is certain groups do.

Fair enough?

However, Unitarian indoctrination of our children in public schools is alive and well, and in the case of Columbia Central schools, it didn’t have to sneak in. It walked right through the front door, sponsored 39% from your tax dollars.

Let me explain.

In November of 2023 The Exponent ran a story of a parent who was angered to find out that her child was participating in an LGBTQ+ “PRISM” club in Columbia schools.

The PRISM club was formed after teacher Chris Holbert applied for a grant from an organization called MOASH, which stands for Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health. At the time, Holbert noted that the organization approved a $1,000 grant, but they actually sent $1,500, presumably because they were flush with cash. Interestingly, MOASH says on its website that 39% of its funding comes from the federal government.

Projects MOASH support include providing LGBTQ+ inclusive training for school staff; creating a school-wide gender-affirming clothing supply closet; working with a community organization to host a program or event for LGBTQ+ youth; and organizing a school-wide event for LGBTQ+ history month, a day of silence, or local awareness weeks.

Holbert served as acting advisor to the club.

There are people who will say “Fine. The LGBTQ+ movement is different than a religion,” but if that is the case, why were some of those advocating hardest for the club at the Columbia School Board meeting prominent members of the Universalist Unitarian Church of East Liberty?

After all, the Unitarians do refer to themselves as a “church,” do they not?

The Unitarians are up front about their mission to proselytize the world with the LGBTQ+ agenda, which is their right. Yet they want things both ways when it comes to pushing agendas in schools: It is fine for them, but bad for everyone else...especially those exclusionist Baptist-types.

Predictably, there was a big brouhaha at the November 2023 Columbia board meeting, and while a few residents came out in favor of a special alert advising parents what their children are involved with at school – especially in a controversial club such as this – the room was clearly stacked against them.

The board voted to uphold the club, again, on the advice of their attorney. One school board member even apologized to the students in the club who were present, which still makes me want to throw up, as they were getting a great lesson in civics. I swear, we have become a nation of such pansies.

For the record, I’m not against the students’ right to gather and discuss any issue, and I hate the thought of marginalized students being picked on, teased, singled out or bullied. We need to be diligent so that all our students are provided a safe and encouraging learning environment.

However, any divisive and controversial gatherings such as PRISM should be student-led, just as we require from other religious groups, or when offering prayers. Teachers should certainly not be advising them and seeking to fund them.

It’s interesting that a little over a year after that 2023 meeting, we learned that the Columbia School District is struggling with a large budget deficit. I've never seen such this issue arise in the Columbia district. While people are sure to say “Well, this had nothing to do with that,” don’t be so sure about it. People are tired of this kind of thing, and in this day and age, they can choose to send their children wherever they want.

It seems like quite a dilemma for a school board to tackle, eh?

Perhaps they should get together and pray about it.

Oh, I forgot.

They voted against that.

Matt Schepeler is publisher of the Brooklyn Exponent. Feel free to comment below in the space allocated below or reach him at Matt@EveningViews.com.

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