Marysville school board races: Keep religion out of schools

Published 1:30 am Sunday, November 5, 2023

As an educator for over 30 years, as well as a lifelong, practicing Lutheran Christian who firmly believes in the separation of church and state, I am concerned by what appears to be an attempt to take over local school boards by “evangelical” individuals, who seem to feel it is their religious calling to decide how and what all of our children learn.

At least one candidate for the Marysville School Board, interviewed for the Herald (“School board candidates to navigate financial woes in Marysville,” The Herald, Oct. 24), decries the practice of equity, diversity and inclusion in our public schools. This same candidate, whom I am assuming has no degree in psychology, goes on to state that “Students exploring their gender identity have mental disorders.”

Yikes.

She also states that our schools have no place in preparing students for lives of activism and political discourse, cornerstones of a democratic society. We need school leaders who value history and the study of its outcomes, who support teaching children to learn how to struggle with issues that ultimately help them think for themselves, who support teachers who nurture children and encourage them to be who they are and who they can become. If you are a podcast listener, I encourage you to listen to NBC’s “Grapevine,” an informative podcast about just this issue. And remember to exercise your right and privilege to vote. It matters!

Laurie VanderWeyst

Marysville