Comments Received Regarding Adoption of Anti-Bullying Curriculum

December, 2009

Lesson 9 was adopted by the Alameda School Board in May, 2006. At the time of adoption additional work needed to address the six protected classes in State legislation for anti-harassment. In August the Superintendent formed a Community Advisory Committee to determine if the current Caring School Curriculum or if it needed to be replaced. In November, a report was given to the Superintendent and the Board of Education summarizing the findings of the committee. as well as recommendations to the Superintendent. For the December 8 BOE meeting the Superintenent made her recommendation to the Board of Education.

An email was sent from John Knox White to the signors of the online petition supporting No on the Recall of three board members with the following points:

Retain Lesson 9. The courts and the community have affirmed their support for this important tool
Direct the Superintendent to continue identifying additional curriculum components necessary to ensure safe schools where all students in our school community see themselves and their families positively reflected.
Reaffirm the board’s support for curriculum that nurtures an environment where all students feel safe, included and important.

Signors of the online petition were encouraged to write and share their thoughts. Therefore a vast majority of the emails received by addressed the three point listed above or simply request that Lesson 9 not be abandoned. Here are the individual comments as opposed to a generic email of the three points:

The list of emails are listed in order received with the most current emails listed first.  I only received five emails before John Knox White email and an Email from Concerned Parent sent to their list of supporters.

• I do not support the promotion of gender identity disorder (this is the medical name for transgender) or homosexuality in schools.

  We are living in America, I don't know why school district has to force kids to learn something is too personal instead of school subject. We respect other people's choices, should we get the same respect back? I still don't understand why there is no opt-out.

• Most organizations, when faced with budget crises, trim everything not essential to their core functions. Families cancel vacations, don’t buy new things, cut out luxuries, turn down their thermostats, eat more basic meals (staying away from expensive things like steak, lobster etc). Corporations shed flight departments, box seats at sporting events and other perks as well as activities not directly related to productivity. Why is our school district not doing the same? We should not be teaching an “anti-bullying” curriculum at all. We should not be wasting time with the various “celebrations” of this or that added on politically “correct” issue like Earth day or Harvey Milk day. We should be only focused on academic matters such as reading, writing, arithmetic, civics and history. If we still have something left over we should spend it on sports and the arts.

  The best anti-bullying program is teachers who maintain discipline and address matters promptly. The most effective tool they have is communications with the child’s parents. This works far better than any amount of lectures or lessons applied to all the children and is more efficient in that it does not have to involve the whole class.

  The school district’s adoption of lesson 9 at a time of financial difficulty is particularly unwise. Trying to force LGBT indoctrination on our children is unconscionable at any time, but doubly so when you are trying to find more money for the school system. I, for one, am unlikely to support any further taxes for the school system because of the continuing attempts to use the schools for “progressive” political and ideological indoctrination of small children. Soon, I and many others may feel forced to withdraw our children from the AUSD and seek private, parochial or home-school solutions instead. This will cause further erosion of funding for the public schools. Politically, it will become increasingly difficult to gain support for our school system as more people become disgusted with what is being done with our school tax money.

  Homosexuals and persons with gender identity disorder (Transgendered) form a small minority of the population, less than 3 percent of adults (according to the NHSLS survey conducted for the US Dept of Health and Human Services). Of that group of people, the number who form long-term relationships is very low and the further subset who decide to adopt or otherwise obtain children are an even smaller percentage. By contrast children of Christians, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, even children of incarcerated convicts all represent much larger groups. It seems to me that the AUSD is risking a great deal for what is, essentially, a non-problem (LGBT harassment in grade school). Even if AUSD wins in our activist courts, it still stands to lose in the long run either through the ballot box (recall election, next regular election, next request for a tax raise etc.), or through the withdrawal of children from the system.

  I urge you, even at this late date, to find a way to stop the continued implementation of lesson 9 against the wishes of parents. I also urge you to steer our schools back to preparing our children to compete in the real world, where assertiveness, confidence, and, of course, competence in academics are of paramount importance.

• I do not support the promotion of gender identity disorder in schools. BACK TO BASICS EDUCATION - stop the irresponsible spending. Stop the anti-bullying curriculum.
• I want to write to support the staff report and to suggest that the board direct staff to develop a list of books that meet the framework and policies that the Board sets, but that the list not come back to the board for adoption.

  The board should be setting policy and delegating the implementation issues to staff. Should the board decide to approve a list of books, they will be setting precedence that any and all changes to this list should be voted on by the board. Parents always have the ability to challenge the list based on whether or not they are consistent with School Policy, so no voices would be shut.

  The AUSD School Board has bigger issues to tackle than whether "Tango Makes Three" turns children gay or not.

• What is the board thinking lately? Are they just in retaliation mode? Is there something wrong with being concerned about educating our kids without spending dollars not available on ill conceived lessons that will not benefit our children's education? Bullying and teasing have never been approved of in any educational setting and I'm fairly certain there are already policies in effect to deal with it, if and when it comes up. Let's not punish the morally conservative parents in the city by seeking to spend thousands of dollars on unnecessary "lessons". The actual sexual complaints haven't even been about gender identity, but from heterosexual kids towards other heterosexual kids. Anyway, the district would have to teach the other side of the issue, since this is a controversial topic. I believe both sides need to be presented. How much are going to spend on good old fashioned Godly, moral teaching???
• I am writing to urge you to retain Lesson 9 and in doing so resist efforts by the intolerant to weaken this important curriculum. I also want to encourage the superintendent to continue the effort to identify additional curriculum components that will help ensure that Alameda's schools are safe and that the diversity of Alameda's families is positively reflected in the anti-bullying materials.
• As an Alameda citizen and parent of two school-aged children I ask you to please retain Lesson 9.
• Please keep our schools safe and tolerant for all children. This is so important for our society. Alameda has always been a city that accepts and protects a variety of people. This needs to be continued.
• My family pleads that you and the board have compassion for the innocent kids being taught to lose their joy in the sex they were born with and their heterosexual pride.

  For public schools to take licensee in the deconstruction and confusion of our children's natural sex is criminal. With this devolving confusion, the only option for parents is to remove their children from AUSD public schools. Please consider the looming costs of bullying children and their parents of heterosexual families.

  Standing for the innocense of our children

• Please retain all of the new anti-bullying lessons, including Plan 9, without an opt-out option. Tolerance of those different from you is a lesson that our schools need to teach to all children.
• We are living in America, I don't know why school district has to force kids to learn something is too personal instead of school subject. We respect other people's choices, should we get the same respect back? I still don't understand why there is no opt-out.

  Since California's education system is in deep trouble, should we spend more effort on how to bring the PE, art & music programs back?!!!! I really don't understand why we spend so much effort, time & money on some subject is so personal.

  We live in Alameda for years, I didn't see or hear any bullying incidents happened in our son's classes. However, I saw all the educational programs I used to enjoy when I was young were getting cut, which is so sad. Yet, none of you who spending so much effort on the anti-bullying program people seems to care.

  Why we have to split into two different groups?! Why can we work together to bring back all of those wonderful programs?! Children are innocent. We should nurture them with wonderful music, arts & healthy body but NOT the arguments. It is so ashamed that Alameda is soon no longer a wonderful place for kids.

• Please don't water down the Caring School Community curriculum. Keep in mind the bigger picture of what it is meant to do for our kids. They've been using the whole curriculum for class meetings that help them learn skills to get along with one another in the classroom and on the playground. If the curriculum is changed substantially now because of one narrow concern, the kids and teachers will lose the momentum they've gained in the past couple of years. If anything, we need to build on that curriculum with additional resources such as junior coaches, conflict resolution training and visits by credentialed psychologists who can work with specific children and small groups who need to work through problems. Teachers in particular need some continuity with the curriculum, given that each year they are given new curricula to introduce (math, science, etc.) and values-based curricula will fall to the bottom of the priority list if teachers are continually asked to start over with new materials.

  I hope the district and the board will keep the bigger picture in mind when considering changes to this piece of school life. Teaching our children emotional literacy is just as important as reading, writing and mathematics. The results don't show up in state test scores...they show up in the principal's office, the playground and everywhere else in the community our children will be interacting.

• Would you force a Muslim to draw a picture of Muhammad? Would you force a Jehovah's Witness to recite the pledge of allegiance? So why is it suddenly acceptable to force all kids to listen to Lesson 9 when it goes against their parent's moral beliefs? Please remove Lesson 9 from our schools.

  Alameda schools are in financial crisis. Instead of following special interests, please work on the more important thing - improving education by spending time and money on reading, writing, and arithmetic. Stop the decline of our children's test scores.

• As a parent of two elementary school students in Alameda, I write to urge you to continue the work for a more comprehensive curriculum that addresses all protected classes.

  I support incorporation of Second Step and Steps to Respect, as recommended by both the teacher committee and the community advisory committee.

  Lesson 9 and the Caring Schools Community Curriculum should be maintained, without an opt-out, until the comprehensive curriculum is identified and implemented. It is also imperative that the curriculum be implemented in a timely manner so that the work can be expanded to the middle and high school levels.

• Please continue support of Lesson 9 to ensure that our schools are safe places for all students. Don't compromise and water it down!
• Please retain your support of Lesson 9 to ensure that our schools are safe places where all students can see themselves and their families positively reflected. I support an anti-bullying curriculum in the schools.
• I do not support the promotion of gender identity disorder or homosexuality in schools. As a parent of two boys in the school district and a homeowner I am very sadden by all of this. Looking at your website, it would appear they are a little bias about the support of Lesson 9, you should really look into that.
• At age 4, our daughter will soon be old enough to enter the Alameda school system. We believe that respect for everyone is the true American Way, and expect her experience at school to reinforce - not undermine - this basic value.
• Please retain Lesson 9 in our school's anti-bullying curriculum. This lesson may be the only time my four children will see their family represented in materials presented at school. They have a right to not feel odd (because their family type is ignored and always left out) or bullied (by intolerant peers) about their family. At a minimum, my kids hear regularly from other kids that it is not possible for them to have two moms.... at worst they have been "Yucked" by kids when they shared that they have two moms.... this is not fair for our 3, 5, 6 and 8 year olds to have to hear.
• Please retain Lesson 9 in the curriculum, direct the Superintendent to ensure that tolerance education covers everyone, and reaffirm the Board's support for safe schools. Anti-bullying lessons that cover different types of families are not about sex and should not be subject to a parental "opt-out" for "health education." Please don't allow yourselves to be bullied by a small group of citizens threatening a recall based on a distorted interpretation of Lesson 9.
• We think it wise to adopt an anti-bullying curriculum that directly addresses the bullying issues that everyone has been complaining about. I have 3 kids in AUSD, and 2 in elementary school. Both my kids have been bullied and I do think that bullying occurs all the time for a myriad of reasons. I think it would be extremely helpful for students to receive training on how to handle bullies and how not to be a silent bystander. I don't think Lesson 9 addresses bullying in an effective way that will benefit all kids. It only addresses bullying toward kids with LGBT backgrounds. That is a very narrow minded approach to anti-bullying. I hope the Board will adopt a specific anti-bullying curriculum and retire Lesson 9 as it is controversial at best and doesn't do our kids justice when it comes to anti-bullying.

  Finding literature to satisfy all 6 protected classes/per grade level seems like a daunting task, as well as too time consuming for the classroom teacher to teach throughout the year. Is this really necessary? I think many of these things will come up during the anti-bullying lessons. It does seem to be getting off the original task of protecting kids and making schools safe. If the LGBT community want representation in schools, maybe Harvey Milk Day is the avenue that they should take. It seems as if the LGBT Lesson 9 came about not because of the desire to have anti-bullying and safe schools for all, but rather because they wanted representation and acknowledgement as a group in our educational system. Let's not confuse the matter.

  I hope the Board will support the Superintendent's recommendation, minus the adoption of the literature books for all 6 protected classes which would be a loss of too much classroom academic learnig time.

• Please make sure we retain Lesson 9 and direct the Superintendent of Schools to continue identifying additional curriculum components necessary to ensure safe schools where all students in our school community see themselves and their families positively reflected. There is no more important mission for our schools than to create such a supportive environment. Do not allow a small number of intolerant people to control our school curriculum.
• We are writing to you on this issue to express our support for those of you who have stood up in support of Lesson 9. As a child psychologist and teacher who have worked with children in school settings for over 15 years, our opinion is that children need explicit discussion around issues of tolerance. We cannot tell you how many times we have heard language that is derogatory towards homosexuals used by children on the playground. The words "That's so gay", "homo", "fag", etc. are spoken by children who would never think of uttering racial epithets, because over the past few decades society and most parents have made it clear that such race-related intolerance and hateful speech is not acceptable. It is time that children were given a similar message regarding intolerance towards our LGBT community.

  Please do not give in to the natural desire to find a lesson plan that will satisfy everyone, as any such plan would have to be so watered down as to be essentially useless. Recent research has shown that children need information that is specific and clear on issues such as these--they will not benefit from being told vague information such as "everyone is equal" or to "treat everyone the same".

  We understand that it can be difficult to stand firm on an issue that has engendered such passionate feelings, but we urge each of you to stand up for what you know to be right.

• I am appalled that we are having to continue dealing with this. Please retain Lesson 9 as part of the reasonable curriculum addressing diversity and helping to create a safe environment in our schools for everyone. This has been discussed, voted upon and decided. I think that it is now time to move on to more significant issues other than a minority's fears of and paranoia regarding equality.

• Have compassion for the innocent kids being taught to lose their joy in the sex they were born and their heterosexual pride,

• Thank you for sending. I know one way or another Lesson 9 will have to be watered down. I like the idea of a curriculum that touches on all protected/considered minorities or different somehow classes. I'm curious if as many African American teenagers commit suicide as gay ones, or other classes. That's my greatest concern - that we raise our children to understand that others have feelings, that what they say and do matters, and to empower them to make the right decisions and treat people the way they would want to be treated --- even under the duress of peer pressure. It's not easy. But starting early helps so much.

  Please keep me in the loop as things unfold. And let me know how I can be on the Committee to represent parents in the AUSD or however I can be a part of the process. Busy life, like everyone else, but this is so important.

• By all means stick to your guns and approve the complete anti-bullying texts with out an opt-out. the very people who would opt out are the very ones who need it most
• I am writing to express encouragement to you to continue your efforts to make Alameda's schools places where ALL students feel that they are both safe, and respected and valued members of the school community.

  To this end I urge you to retain Lesson 9, which has been affirmed by Alamedans and the courts, and is a necessary tool to assist in ensuring that these goals are met.

  I trust that you will also work towards finding and introducing into the curriculum further means of helping Alameda's students find themselves and their families positively reflected within their school community.

• I am a parent of a child in the AUSD. I strongly support protecting all children from bullying. I strongly support Lesson 9.

  Do not allow anti-gay bigotry to triumph in Alameda by replacing Lesson 9 with a curriculum that does not explicity protect children from gay families. The primary goal of the anti-gay forces in Alameda have been to silence the school district about gay families. They were never interested in protecting chidren from any group. If you neuter the anti-bullying program, these anti-gay forces will win and children will lose.

  The school board must stand firm on this issue. Teachers do not want to be hanging in the wind when they step forward and try to protect a kid from bullying. If the school board backs down, teachers will know that they are on their own, if they try to protect gay kids or kids from gay families.

  The current lawsuit had no legs and an Alameda Superior Court Judge tossed it. However, if the AUSD refuses to protect kids, those kids will have excellent lawsuits that the AUSD will lose (just as several other school districts have lost). Let's just do the right thing and protect kids in the AUSD.

• The community has affirmed its support for this important program. I urge you to direct the Superintendent to continue identifying additional curriculum components necessary to ensure safe schools. Schools where all students see themselves and their families positively reflected.

  I strongly urge the Board to support that curriculum that nurtures an environment where all students feel safe, included and important.

• I urge each of you and your full Board to support Lesson 9 and also, any other ways that will sensitively reinforce our teachings-in-the-home about tolerance of All kids.

  We must do all we can in this world to preserve the spirit that treats all people equally, and that promotes understanding and respect. All faiths and nations must honor these principles that each has codified.

  Please do not forget that the rights of everyone, and the responsibility to promote and protect those rights of equality are enshrined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights, and also in the United Nations Charter and the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- due to the wise leadership of Americans who helped conceptualize the United Nations with standards and aspirations relevant to the entire world..

  Please direct the AUSD leadership and schools toward this goals that will make our children, our schools, our community and the world better.

• First let me say how much I appreciate all the work you put into being board members. It truly is amazing to see you showing up, so often and for such long events.

  I am a fifth grade teacher at xxx. We have several households in our school community headed by lesbian couples. In the past several years, parents and teachers have become concerned about children bullying other children because their parents are gay, or that the child perceived as gay. My understanding of the purpose of including LGBT in our curriculum in Lesson 9 is that gays and lesbians are never, ever included in any of our texts. Although children who are not from gay households are also bullied in school, those children already have multiple positive representations in our current curriculum. Regardless of anyone’s personal beliefs about what other people do in the privacy of their own home, we need to make sure that all our children feel safe at school.

  Our fifth grade anthology, Expeditions, published by Houghton Mifflin, contains multiple positive references to many of the protected classes. Children love seeing representations of their lives, families and the challenges they face. Boys and girls, Asians, Blacks, Spanish speakers, Caucasians and Native Americans are all present in our stories. Many different physical handicaps are presented, always in a supportive, positive light. Religion is touched on only very lightly, mostly in the guise of addressing cultural traditions. In our anthology, married parents, divorced, families with only one parent are all present. The only families missing from our curriculum are members of the LGBT community. Most of the protected classes are already amply covered in our curriculum.

  Lesson 9 is not perfect. No part of the curriculum is ever without faults. Lesson 9 does give teachers an opportunity to present the topic of LGBT to our students with enough structure that teachers feel comfortable. We need to keep Lesson 9 until we can more comprehensively include LGBT people in our day to day curriculum.

• Please leave the current anti-bullying curriculum in place. Add to it, please don't subtract from it.
• Let's jsut do the right thing and keep Lesson 9.
• I'm strongly in favor of sustaining an AUSD curriculum that supports all students in our community.

  Don't let outsiders set your agenda -- please keep Lesson Nine. Our community and our local local courts support you.

  In addition, please encourage the Superintendent to actively identify additional curriculum to further ensure safe schools where all students in our school community see themselves and their families positively reflected.

• Do these other curricula specifically address the issues of LGBTQ children and families, using the actual words, or do they skate around them? I know that some members of the Alameda community, those who opposed Lesson 9, have been lobbying hard to remove that specific content. We NEED our children to learn to cope with diversity of ALL kinds and we NEED to protect ALL our children from bullying and violence, no matter what the ostensible reason.

  I really appreciate the time you are taking to answer my concerns. I can't come to the meeting, but I want to voice my support in any case.

• I'm writing to urge you to vote tomorrow night to retain Lesson 9 and to direct the Superintendent to continue to identify teaching materials to help create safe schools for Alameda's children.

  I applaud those of you who have stood up to the wrath of the homophobic segments of the community.

• My daughter attends Edison School and I look forward to Lesson 9 being included in the curriculum. It is an important step forward to prevent the perpetuation of bullying and prejudice in Alameda schools.
• I am a mother of a child who will enter kindergarten in 2010. I was outraged by the homophobia-based attempt to recall school board members. I want my son to attend a school where respect and care for all is one of the highest priorities.
• I am writing as a parent of a child who will enter kindergarten next year at Edison, and also as a Christian minister at a church that includes both heterosexual and lesbian and gay families (First Mennonite Church of San Francisco). I long for my child to attend a school district where tolerance and respect for all people are taught and modeled as it is at our church. Please retain Lesson 9. Both the courts and our community have affirmed their support for this. Please utilize a curriculum that reflects the diversity of all of our families.

  Thank you for your support in the past of a curriculum that nurtures an environment where all students feel safe, included and important.

• I support the retention of Lesson 9 and I hope that the school board does not change the curriculum to water down the important lessons in it. As a parent of two students at AUSD schools, one in elementary school and another in middle school, I have spent a lot of time volunteering at the schools. I have seen firsthand, and I have been told by my children, of students using terms that are derogatory to homosexuals in a very casual and hurtful way. When my daughter was 8, some of the students thought it would be funny to tease her and called her a lesbian in a way that suggested it was wrong to be a lesbian. My daughter, who happens to come from a family with a father and a mother, shrugged it off, but she said: "I feel bad for the students who heard this who have two mommies. Why is it bad to be a lesbian?"
• Please DO retain Lesson 9. When my daughter begins school in Alameda next year, I'd like it to be with the knowledge that we live in a progressive, just and modern Alameda.
• I applaud the Alameda School Board for its stance against intolerance and hope it will stand firm and reject the fears of a group of folks who seem unable to accept those who are different and fall outside the acceptable "norms" arbitrarily set up as a result of prejudice and misunderstanding.

  I was born in Alameda and received my education here. I have seen some strides in acceptance taken in the last 70 years but see this effort as especially positive and healthy. Thank you for stepping in and showing compassion and empathy.

• Leave the curriculum as originally designed.
• We support the retention of Lesson 9 in the AUSD school curricula.
• We're writing to express our support for Lesson 9. If recall supporters were truly concerned that Lesson 9 does not include a broader definition of the classes of children who are bullied, they'd work on making positive improvements to the program rather than launching a negative, punitive recall against Board members with whom they disagree. Alameda must continue to be a safe and tolerant community. We cannot allow a few shrill voices to force their religious views on those of us who are able to get along with eachother despite our various differences.
• I signed the statement against the recall petition. I believe the school board is working to protect and educate ALL of our students and is doing a very good job. Please do NOT let a (very) vocal minority sway your actions and cause you to rethink what you know is the correct thing to do.

  Some of the supposedly tolerant people I have spoken to about this issue have only said that they would like other forms of bullying to be included, and that was the reason they were "against" the curriculum as chosen. I argued that our teachers were intelligent enough to add some words into it and therefore include a wide swath of marginalized children/people. Bottom line is that bullying of ANY kind for any reason is not to be tolerated and with education we can (hopefully) undo some of the damage that some parents have inflicted on their "sheltered" children.

• The Lesson 9 curriculum is important and supported by the Alameda community. Please retain it.
• I am writing you to support your decision of lesson 9. I went to AUSD my whole life (Lum, Wood, AHS) and am currently in the U.S. Coast Guard. I have been following this story very closely and have been proud that most of the members have stood by their beleifs, as well as the community of Alamedas beleifs. These decisions will make a huge impact on my future, because I plan on moving back to Alameda and raising a family there. I can assure you, that if the teaching of tolarance is not provided in AUSD schools, my children will not attend AUSD schools.
• I am writing to add my voice to other Alamedans who believe that anti-bullying curriculum is critical to our schools, that it needs to address homophobia specifically, and that Lesson 9 is a mild but importatn first step.

  History has shown us that school boards can play a powerful role in defending civil rights. Please do not bow to reactionaries by removing this lesson.

• I am a teacher in Alameda and I have two children who attend Alameda schools. I piloted lesson 9 last year and am actually teaching it again today. I feel that it is a valuable addition to my curriculum. I urge you to continue to support teachers and families in Alameda by keeping lesson 9.
• I applaud your work so far in protecting and educating all the children of Alameda. I encourage you to continue this good work by retaining Lesson 9 in the tolerance curriculum and by continuing to have the Superintendent explore additional curricular material to foster a safe and healthy school environment for all children. Bullying, homophobia, racism, and sexism are not part of a civil society and I thank you for affirming that in schools.
• Please retain lesson 9. It is important that studuent who may have same sex parents in alameda, receive the same support and educational oportunities as children with heterosexual parents. All students should feel equal and safe in school.
• Last spring, you did the right thing by voting to institute Lesson 9 into the Safe Schools curriculum, including LGBT families into the anti-bullying lessons already being taught. I am writing to request that you not give in to a very vocal minority in rescinding this lesson. We teach our children to treat people based on how they behave towards others, not for the color of their skin, how they worship, the country they or their parents come from, or their level of intelligence or physical ability. LGBT youngsters and their families deserve this same level of respect.

  The curriculum will NOT teach children how to be gay...sexual orientation is inborn, not chosen or taught. The curriculum WILL teach children that LGBT people are just that...people, and as such should be treated as they would treat any other people. It WILL teach them that it isn't right to tease a classmate who has two mommies or two daddies just as it isn't right to tease them for their skin color, their religious beliefs, or their ability to read or play sports well.

• I am very disturbed to hear that this coming Tuesday's School Board meeting will include a vote on whether or not to continue with the current Anti-Bullying Curriculum including Lesson 9.

  This curriculum, including Lesson 9, has the support of educators who actually asked for such a curriculum and the support of the majority of the community. And as I recall, it has the support of the majority of the School Board. It is also obvious to most that we are definitely in need of education on the subject matter. We need education at home and education at school and if not at both, at least at one.

  I hope you continue to have the courage to fight, on behalf of our children, for a school environment safe from all sorts of bullying and fear mongering.

  I thank you for the time that you give to this community and look forward to your support for the current Anti-Bullying Curriculum, including Lesson 9.

• Alameda children should learn respect and concern for ALL of their classmates.
• I am writing to encourage you to KEEP the anti-bullying Lesson 9 as it is currently written. I know that hours and hours of research, committee work, wordsmithing and ground-truthing went into the development of Lesson 9. It is important for our children to learn tolerance and respect at an early age so that it carries through the challenging middle school years and blooms in high school.

  I know when I grew up we didn't have lessons on tolerance, bullying and treating each other with respect. I know kids who suffered greatly because of the mistreatment of fellow students and limited action by the school. Society has come a long way in its understanding of bullying. I want to ensure that the School Board doesn't get bullied into altering Lesson 9 due to a few misinformed parents.

  Please stand firm for our children and for Alameda. Keep and approve Lesson 9 as is. Our children and our community will benefit from your strong action.

• Thank you for taking the time to consider my opinions. I encourage you to vote to continue to expand the anti-bullying curriculum to include specific lessons that provide our students with increased knowledge of all of the protected classes. This will allow our children to gain understanding of and appreciation for the differences amongst people of the world, a knowledge that will serve them to live peacefully amidst the variety of cultures they will encounter in their lives.

  You may remember that I, as a first grade teacher at Henry Haight and parent of two AHS students, was a member of the original committee that developed the lessons to provide our children with information about LGBT families and individuals. I stand committed to the work we created, and believe that the expansion of that work is imperative. LGBT people are unique in that their differences are more invisible than the other protected classes and more vulnerable as a result. This was the reason we began the anti-bullying work, at the request of teachers, with LGBT lessons. Generalities provide no protection for anyone. Only explicit instruction on the various racial, cultural, religious, gender, sexual orientation and abilities and disabilities help our children to apply anti-bullying principles to their everyday lives and the people they meet. Children are observant. They notice differences and ask specific questions. They deserve consistent, well thought out, age-appropriate explanations for the differences they encounter - explanations that clarify the value of all human beings.

  Please don’t throw out the good work that has already begun. We need to learn from the painful process our community has endured and do not repeat the community forums that allowed people to express their bigotry behind thinly-veiled diversions from the central intention of this work – to protect all children from harassment and damage to their self-esteem. Please vote to recognize the professionalism of teachers. Direct the teachers to expand the anti-bullying lessons to all of the protected classes. Representation of each of the protected classes in selection of materials is essential, but community micromanaging of curriculum selection and development is inappropriate and unproductive.

  You have the responsibility to enable the District to effect the next phase of anti-bullying work in Alameda, so that it will include and value all people, reflecting the ideals upon which this country was founded. Thank you for voting to protect all of our children by affirming their right to be visible in the curriculum.

• Please Retain Lesson 9: The courts and the community have affirmed their support for this important tool

  Please continue identifying additional curriculum components necessary to ensure safe schools where all students in our school community see themselves and their families positively reflected.

  I would like to reaffirm the board’s support for curriculum that nurtures an environment where all students feel safe, included and important.

• I imagine you are getting many emails these days. I am wirting to simply ask you to continue to affirm curriculum that addresses the needs of all protected classes, but at the same time to remember that the LGBTQ community is the community that is most underrepresented at this time in our society and in our schools. For this reason, I would ask you to continue to keep Lesson 9 in place while working to build a curriculum that fills in the gaps that exixt for any of the other protected classes. I know this issue has taken so much of your time and energy. I simply ask you to respond to the needs of the families in our community, many of whom want to see a curriculum that not only reduces bullying but addresses the bullying that happens to kids of same gender parents and to students who themselves are strugging with their identity. In addtiion, since so much of the opposition to Lesson 9 has been by those who feel that their religious beliefs are being infringed upon, I want to say that there are many people of faith who also feel strongly that a curriculum that is inclusive of the LGBTQ is in keeping with our belief in a God who affirms every human being as a beloved child of God. We say at our church every Sunday, what we believe to be the core message of Jesus: No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here. I can only hope that my son willl feel this same acceptance when he starts school in Alameda in a few years.
• Last spring, you did the right thing by voting to institute Lesson 9 into the Safe Schools curriculum, including LGBT families into the anti-bullying lessons already being taught. I am writing to request that you not give in to a very vocal minority in rescinding this lesson.

  We teach our children to treat people based on how they behave towards others, not for the color of their skin, how they worship, the country they or their parents come from, or their level of intelligence or physical ability. LGBT youngsters and their families deserve this same level of respect. The curriculum will NOT teach children how to be gay...sexual orientation is inborn, not chosen or taught. The curriculum WILL teach children that LGBT people are just that...people, and as such should be treated as they would treat any other people. It WILL teach them that it isn't right to tease a classmate who has two mommies or two daddies just as it isn't right to tease them for their skin color, their religious beliefs, or their ability to read or play sports well.

• Please retain "lesson nine". A lot of money and time have gone into this choice. You knew what you were doing when you chose it, and you should resist bullying aimed at getting you to spend more time and money to chose yet another curriculum. I don't need to tell you that time and money are two things that are currently in short supply. Stick to your guns.
• As an Alameda resident and a public school educator, I am strongly in support of anti-bullying curricula that specifically addresses homophobia. Homophobia negatively impacts all young people by creating social pressure to conform to very limited expressions of gender and individual identity. Our youth need to be taught that they are all wonderful, amazing, unique individuals, and that their self expression and acceptance of each other is crucial to learning to live well in a democracy. This is one of the strengths of public education; it's ability to bring us together across many differences and give us opportunities to build relationships and acceptance and the ability to work together respectfully.

  Please don't water down this important anti-homophobia lesson. Please don't cave into pressure from a small, hateful, scared portion of our community.

• I am writing to respectfully request that you retain Lesson 9 as the courts and community have affirmed are an important tool in our schools.

  At the end of last year there was a strong message given to the community that Caring School Community and Lesson 9 was not the conclusion of our search for inclusive curriculum but the beginning. I strongly hope as the BOE and Superintendent works with teachers to find the best curriculum, that Lesson 9 and CSC continues to be implemented without the option of opting out.

  In the future, I hope the LGBTQ community may not only be represented in our anti-bullying and character education programs but also in other areas as well. We are a diverse group of people who deserve to be honored, celebrated and respected just like the other deserving protected classes.

• Please stay the course. Do not give into the prejudiced position of those that fought for the recall effort and promote educational curriculum leading to discrimination and exclusion of those of alternative persuasions and beliefs.

  The underlying tenant of the United States is to welcome all, irrespective of race, socioeconomic status or beliefs. The goal of any educational institution should be to provide a pathway to our youth, allowing them to join our society as well-rounded, non-biased individuals that provide added value to both the economic and societal foundations of the community. The actions of those fighting against Lesson 9 represent a position counter to that held by the State of California, which has repeatedly stood for affirmative action against discriminatory practices.

  The curriculum of the AUSD should remain all-inclusive, containing a strong stance towards intolerance and bullying in any form. Please do not give in to those wishing a society of exclusion and discrimination. Thank you for making the tough decisions and not backing down to date.

• Please keep Lesson #9 and maintain the curriculum against anti-gay bigotry.
• The time for treating homosexuals as second-class citizens should be long past. Please keep the anti-bullying curriculum just as it has already been approved. Children in very young grades are tossing around words like "fag", so they have already lost their innocence - that is not the danger. The danger is that bigotry will be allowed to live on in our community. Please don't allow that. Teaching children to respect one another, and treat one another with kindness, is NOT "indoctrination". Don't be fooled by the lie that children can be "recruited" to "become homosexual". That is rubbish.
• Please don't let them bully you into changing Lesson 9. Lesson 9 should stay as is. Considering I voted for each of you at one time or another, I supported you then and I support you now.
• As a parent of a school age child and a teacher in the district I strongly request you to retain Lesson 9 - a critical piece of tolerance education appropriate for school age children.

  I also encourage Ms. Vital to work with the School Board members to continue to identify additional curriculum components necessary to ensure safe schools where all students in our school community see themselves and their families positively reflected. Accomplishing this task will help to nurture an environment where all students feel safe, included, and important.

• I am writing to you as a mother of two future Alameda students, to respectfully request that you continue your efforts started many months ago with the adoption of Lesson 9, with out the option of opting out.

  It was a courageous and necessary vote last May. You listened to the voices of our teachers and community who were crying out for tools to address the homophobic bullying and lack of representation of LGBTQ families within our curriculum.

  It has also been encouraging to listen to the repeated message that Caring School Community and Lesson 9 was considered to be the start of our journey rather than the end.

  As you review the many possible lessons to build upon the work that has already been done, I hope you listen carefully to what is being suggested by AUSD teachers and community. And until a more comprehensive curriculum is adopted, I encourage continued implementation of CSC and Lesson 9.

  As suggested by the community advisory committee and teacher committee "Second Steps and Steps to Respects" is also suggested in addition to lessons that explicitly discuss the LGBTQ community.

  By implementing a more comprehensive curriculum, AUSD would be meeting the developmental needs of our children and creating safer schools for everyone. When students feel safer they are better prepared for the job of learning.

  And because it was mentioned at the last Board Meeting, I do want to share that I look forward to working with you to support a parcel tax.

  My daughter will start kindergarten next fall and my son will start the following year. I hope that their family, one that happens to have two moms, is both protected and reflected in the curriculum.

• I'm happy that the courts affirmed last week that the anti-bullying curriculuum should stay. I applaud the school board for approving it in the past. That being said, please stand strong against the vocal minority who thinks that Lesson 9 should be removed. Most of Alamedans are caring individuals who want diversity (in religion, ethnicity, looks, gender, sexual orientation) taught and retained in our schools. Please retain Lesson 9.
• I am distressed to hear that a minority of zealots are once again trying to bully the district into diluting a curriculum which promotes tolerance. It is more important now than ever before for our schools and our entire community to send a clear signal that Alameda respects diversity and will not tolerate bullying or hate crimes directed at any group, including homosexuals.

  Anything less will send a signal to the rest of the Bay Area that Alameda is a place that winks at bigotry and homophobia. The corporation I work for, like virtually all major corporations, does not condone such intolerance. The courts have denied this effort and by now it should be clear that the overwhelming majority of Alamedans want nothing to do with any effort to suggest that homosexuals are second-class citizens or in any way deserving of mistreatment.

  Please retain Lesson 9 as is. And direct the superintendent to create an environment where ALL students feel safe, included, and respected.

• Please don't allow a small number of vocal people change the Lesson 9 implementation. It is very important that our children (and their families) know that all people are unique and loved. No person or family group should be singled out for distain or criticism. Our country is NOT a religious country. Our community is cohesive and supportive of all people regardless of their background, language, family unit or economic status. You should not let any hateful agenda hold sway over your mission to have Alameda children learn to tolerate and respect all community members.

  I support your strong efforts not to water-down the Lesson 9 effort to have children learn about the greater world, greater society, and the value of all humans.

• I greatly appreciate your commitment to keeping all children safe. I strongly encourage you to retain Lesson 9, to further prevent bullying of any child. Please let all students know that they are an important part of our community and that we care about their safety.
• Last week I attended the School Board meeting as a teacher, a parent and concerned Alameda homeowner.

  I was so glad to know that you have addressed such an important issue as teaching tolerance and respect. The curriculum already developed which has received your support - a curriculum that nurtures an environment where all students can feel safe and included, is a good start. I urge you to direct the Superintendent to continue identifying additonal curriculum components necessary to ensure safe schools where all students in our community see themselves and their families positively reflected. The courts and the community have now affirmed their support. Please vote to continue on this path of tolerance in our schools.

• Please do the right thing and retain Lesson 9.

  My children attend Earhart and Lincoln schools, and both have told me they have overheard children on the play yard calling others "fag" and using other anti-gay epithets (perhaps without knowing exactly why such terms are hurtful). As children of two recently wed uncles, my children do not understand what the fuss is about. Their lives have been entwined with the gay community since birth. They don't see why their uncles' marriage threatens others. I would like all children at Alameda Schools to understand the same thing.

  Please, retain Lesson 9.

• Please retain lesson 9, continue to identify, continue to ID additional curriculum components necessary to ensure safe schools where all students in our school community see themselves and their families positively reflected! And, thank you so much for your support for this curriculum that nurtures an environment where all students feel safe, included and important.
• I am writing today to urge you to retain Lesson 9 and the explicit provisions it makes for preventing bullying of LGBT students and/or the children of LGBT parents.

  I am writing as a resident of Alameda. I am writing as a life-long Christian, active member of the Episcopal Church and President of Oasis, the LGBT Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of California. I am wiring as a parent of two grown children who served on Countless PTA committees as well as the Board of Education of one of America’s poorest cities. I am also writing as a gay man, one who was bullied mercilessly in school until adolescence when I grew too strong to taunt.

  As a leader of the Episcopal Church in the Bay Area, I believe that protecting children from bullying for any reason is an important and appropriate issue to be clearly addressed in the curriculum of our schools. This goal is completely consistent with my understanding of Christian scripture and the education I received while earning a Master of Divinity degree at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. To argue that Lesson 9 violates Christian teaching is to argue that God supports the bullying of children. That is not consistent with the faith of a great many Christians in our community and across America.

  Whether or not homosexuality is a sin is a matter which Lesson 9 leaves to parents, their clergy and their church communities. Whether or not it is permissible to bully LGBT students or the children of LGBT parents is not a matter of faith – it is instead a question of tolerance. It is no more permissible for taunting a child for their beliefs as an evangelical Christian than it is to bully a child with LGBT parents. You, as our elected representatives, cannot shirk your duty to reduce bullying of our children.

  We have not heard any reports of evangelical Christians being bullied for their beliefs. Sadly this cannot be said for LGBT students or the children of LGBT parents. Remember: Lesson 9 grew out of concerns based by parents as well as the recognition of school staff that more needed to be done in this area. To categorize the call for Lesson 9 as a response to one parent is simply untrue. All you have to do is listen to kids on a school playground and you will hear one say “That’s so gay!” in a tone that makes clear these words are not meant as a complement.

  Some in Alameda say they should be permitted to “protect” their children from the “pro-homosexual” message that it is not permissible to bully LGBT students or the children of LGBT parents. In approving Lesson 9, you made the sensible decision to require all students participate in this curriculum. It would be unfair to all of the other students if a small select group were, for whatever reason, to be exempt from learning how to live and work in a diverse society. No religious group should be able to force a community’s public schools to teach it is acceptable to bully one group of students. We would not consider this request seriously if it came from a church that believes in white supremacy and wanted to bully the “non-Arian elements” of our community. The fact that we are having this discussion makes it important for you to support Lesson 9 as a sign that Alameda’s public schools offer an environment where all students feel safe, included and important.

  It might be more convenient for the Board to adopt an alternative to Lesson 9, one that does not explicitly mention LGBT students or the children of LGBT parents as students who merit special attention. But that convenience would send a clear message that these students do not need any protection, that everything is fine, that no one ever teases a child for having a “queer parent” or bullies a LGBT student. If Alameda had achieved this state of nirvana-like tolerance, Lesson 9 would never have been requested by parents, supported by front line educators, created in concert with a group of community leaders and approve by the Board. To replace Lesson 9 with an amalgamation of materials pulled from various sources and stands conspicuously silent on protect LGBT students is to make Alameda’s public schools substantially less safe for LGBT students or the children of LGBT parents.

  Making the schools less safe for these students opens our community to criticism, court action and a level of conflict unseen in Alameda for some time. The courts have long been clear that schools must protect LGBT students or pay them (presuming they survive) compensation. Not long ago, in our own state, a gay elementary school student was shot to death in class. Using the standards offered by opponents of Lesson 9, there was no reason to require a curriculum like Lesson 9 before that child died. While no one can guarantee Lesson 9 will prevent an individual act of violence, this curriculum offers Alameda’s best hope for minimizing the chance of violence against LGBT children. Simply put: Lesson 9 is too important to be cast aside.

• have a child who attends a public school in Alameda. I am very proud that the AUSD was able to block the opposition toward the "tolerance" curriculum. I want to let you know that we -and many of our fellow parents and friends- are in full support of the curriculum the way it was originally intended and want to keep it unchanged. Please do not let a small group of people divert from the true intent of the curriculum. We want our schools to teach tolerance and to be welcoming to all children.
• Please continue with the Lesson 9 curriculum. My daughter came home talking about the first lesson in a positive way. Although she had one friend whose parents pulled him out, the lesson gave us an opportunity to talk about issues that may not have come up otherwise. We discussed how hard it is to stand up to a bully, and how kids with two dads or two moms shouldn't be teased.

  I fully support the new curriculum to encourage awareness and understanding so that no one is picked on and isolated.

  Thank you for voting in favor of the new curriculum. It makes me proud to live in Alameda where we aren't afraid to talk, discuss or read.

• Please continue with the Lesson 9 curriculum. My daughter came home talking about the first lesson in a positive way. Although she had one friend whose parents pulled him out, the lesson gave us an opportunity to talk about issues that may not have come up otherwise. We discussed how hard it is to stand up to a bully, and how kids with two dads or two moms shouldn't be teased.

  I fully support the new curriculum to encourage awareness and understanding so that no one is picked on and isolated.

  Thank you for voting in favor of the new curriculum. It makes me proud to live in Alameda where we aren't afraid to talk, discuss or read.

• Please don't let a few vocal citizens deter you from going ahead with your current tolerance education program, especially lesson 9.
• With appreciation for your good work in the face of what appear to be strong forces of intolerance, I urge you to stand for tolerance in all curriculum decisions..

  Especially, I urge you to choose curricula that include specific references to the need for tolerance toward gay and lesbian parents and their children.

• I am 17 and a Junior at ACLC. I served on the diversity committee that put together the guide lines of what we wanted to see in the new anti bullying curriculum. The committee wanted the new curriculum to address all of the protected classes, however, I have been informed that the curriculum currently being looked at does not address any of the protected classes due to a few members resistance to having anything regarding homosexuality taught. I would therefore urge the school board to keep lesson 9 or choose a curriculum that address all of the protected classes. Simply ignoring LGBT people will not make them disappear. Children will eventually have to acknowledge that LGBT people do exist in the world, weather they like it or not. This doesn't mean they should be taught that gays are the most wonderful people in the world, but it is counter productive to not acknowledge them at all. Please don't sacrifice the saftey of Alameda children just because of pressure from a few individuals.
• Please proceed with carrying out the Lesson 9...for as many students as possible!!

  I am sure that because you are very involved School Board Members, you will continue to look for those curriculum items which promote safe schools for all students, no matter what their family constellation is.

  It's just vitally important tha we make our students feel safe in their school environments...why on earth would anyone be opposed to this?

  Please focus on what is the very best for ALL students.

• My children and I believe in the diversity of life. I talk with my children about issues of tolerance and discrimination and what it means to have different types of families. Not all children have parents that are able and willing to do this. Lesson 9 brings an opportunity to create a environment where all children can learn why and how to accept each other for who they are. The Anti-bullying curriculum allows our children to do their hard work of learning without fear. Both these Lessons bring about an opportunity to create not just a better learning environment, but in the long term a better society for all of us.
• We need to set the example for tolerance and support for ALL of our students. Please do not fall into the well of bigotry.
• I am yet another Alameda resident who believes that Lesson 9 is much needed in the school curriculum. We as a community need to do all we can do to teach and model respectful tolerance of each others differences. This is not a religious issue. I am a practicing Christian who attends church every Sunday and am also a Girl Scout Leader. This is not about anyone's faith. This is about how to live together in peace. Learning to respectfully disagree is an important life lesson, useful in every arena. Learning not to bully is a FUNDAMENTAL lesson that must start early. Lesson 9 seems like the best first tool to keep us moving toward the more peaceful and respectful community we know we can be.
• Three of you took a courageous stand last Spring that sent a message that our LGBT community members do not have to be invisible in our school. As I understand it, one of you was close to joining them, although wanted an opt out option. Before and since last Spring, you have taken tremendous heat from a segment of our community. I am sure taking on this issue has been very difficult. I certainly wish it weren't, but I thank you deeply for your service.

  With daughters in 1st and 3rd grade I have been impressed to see students and families of different race/ethnicity's, religions, and disabilities reflected in their textbook and homework sheets. Word problems ask how many apples "Miguel" "Deandre" "Ming" have in total if each has two. They read stories about the Jalapenos Bagel shop, a family business run by a Mexican and Jewish family that bridges their two cultures. They celebrate Black History Month in the Media Center, with books by African American authors read by the teacher and available to the students to check out. Their reading text books include disabled characters.

  These honest representations in the curriculum were not present in California 30 years ago when I was in school. Now they are. And they are needed. Kids need to see themselves and their families positively reflected at school. Just as this has occurred for the other protected classes, it need to happen for LGBT students and families.

  Please continue to stand up for these students, and work to expand our anti-bullying curricular resources to explicitly address bullying for all six protected classes.

• I am writing to ask that you please retain Lesson 9 as part of the AUSD curriculum. It is only through the efforts of the community that we will teach our children to respect and value every individual and to respect all life styles. Bullying of any type is not acceptable in our society and in our schools.
• Please do NOT put the Aniti-bully lession back in closet
• I urge you to retain Lesson 9. Please direct the Superintendent to continue to identify additional curriculum components necessary to ensure safe schools where all students can feel safe safe and see their families positively reflected. I strongly affirm the School Board's efforts to establish policy and curriculum that provides safety for all student and supports an environment that nurtures all students.
• I am concerned that movement is afoot to gut the Lesson 9 cirriculum of materials that portray all of our families, including our schools' GLBT families, in a positive light. Please continue to identify additional cirriculum materials that speak to the reality of GLBT families, their experience, and their right to a peaceful presence without the threat of bullying. All students need to feel safe and respected. By avoiding discussion of the reality of GLBT students and students from GLBT families, you continue the threat. Silence equals continued bullying and contributes to GLBT teen suicide. Keep speaking up for this marginalized group.
• As an active, dedicated member of the Alameda family community, with a wonderful 5 year old son in the AUSD school system, I urge you NOT to put the issue of LBGT families back in the closet.

  Since starting Kindergarten, our son and our family have made wonderful new friends with families in our area and they are all very supportive of our two mom family, and especially our son. But that is not the case for all parents, and definitely not the case for all children.

  I spoke with the Kindergarten and 1st Grade teachers at his school, asking what they thought of Lesson 9, and they unanimously said, "Of course we need to teach this! What is the big fuss about?"

  My child was the "Star Student of the Week" in his Kindergarten class a couple of weeks ago - the Star Student makes a big poster, drawing pictures of him/herself, and his/her family, favorite foods, favorite things to do, favorite place to be, etc. And then on Wed of that week, s/he gets up in front of the class and the teacher helps the student to talk about themselves, their family, and everything on their poster. The parent/s of the child are invited to be there too. He asked me to be in front of the class with him, so I did. He shows his terrific drawing of his family and says "This is my mama, this is me, and this is my mommy." And as Kindergarten kids do, they openly showed their surprise or disbelief or lack of understanding. "You have two moms?" some said, gently and curiously. "You can't have two moms!" And my wonderful son said, "Yes, I have two moms, uh huh," and smiled at me. I took the opportunity to explain that there are families of all kinds, loving families with one mom or one dad, or one of each, or two moms or two dads, or just grandparents, or an aunt - all different kinds of families.

  The Star Student also brings a family photo and he chose a nice portrait of the three of us. So they saw his family - a two mom family - for the first time, and he was happy and proud and took questions like a teacher. He was so great. And because of that, the kids saw that everyone has some kind of family, but not necessarily just like theirs. And I'm sure they went home and chatted with their parents about it. From there, it's up the parents and community to make the choice for segregation, judgement and "less than" in speaking about the LGBT parent community, or embracing all loving families and understanding that all people go through the same rites of passage, growth, maturity and responsibility. That's all that matters.

  It's all about visibility for all families ~ it's no one's business to judge, and the school definitely offers information, not judgement, not "How to." To think otherwise is to lose the point of the entire lesson: visibility and discussion can promote tolerance and understanding.

  From my lifelong experience, it is often the parents -- not the next generation -- that have problems with embracing positive changes in the world.

  Thank God for the Civil Rights movement - and thank God for the strength of yet another misrepresented, misunderstood, judged, feared and too often hated community to stand up and say "Enough." For the health and lives of our children and who they will become in the world and in themselves, we must not water down the important information in Lesson 9.

  As the next generation often does, they will bring their positive change with them and change the world into a better place one step at a time. But they cannot do it without our support.

  Not one more gay child should ever take his or her life simply because that one aspect of themselves is not tolerated in the community. It should never happen again. There is a place for everyone in the world - and that is the message that Lesson 9 brings to my son's class.

  Kindergartners and 1st Graders are at a perfect place in their development to learn about families of the world. The LGBT family is one of them. Visibility, without judgment or "how to" allows our children to see the larger wonderful picture of our world and the people we around us who share this great community with them.

• As a lesbian mother of 4 wonderful children that have graduated from Alameda schools I implore you to move forward with Lesson 9 as you work to develop the anti-bullying curriculum for other protected groups. It is not only the students that need the lessons it is the teachers as well. My children endured many anti-gay hate comments while attending Alameda schools. Children taunted our son saying that his mothers were gay so he must be gay too. This shows a clear lack of understanding on the part of children that would be easily overcome through education. During family life class our daughters objected to the lack of open mindedness of the teachers is defining a family. As a parent at back to school night I observed teachers saying "Fathers sign in while Mothers complete this form". Teachers need to be taught that not all families are comprised of mothers and fathers. Lesson 9 is too late for my children but if minds and hearts can be opened to the reality that "yes we are out there, even if you don't like it" and "yes we are contributing members of society in every way just like straight families and we deserve respect and dignity", it might not be too late for other families. We applaud your courageous decision to adopt this curriculum it is well past the time to implement it.
• I find this quote amusing. I don't know how far out-of-context it is... "dissenters have actually written that: 'It is all over AUSD schools and curricula today. Words like "tolerance", "anti-bullying", "safe school", "ally", "diversity" and especially "feelings". This is all by design, and is all pro-homosexual.'"

  Whether or not you initially voted for Lesson 9, I know you take your work very seriously and are doing your best to serve the interests of Alameda's kids.

  My husband and I appreciate that you all have an extraordinarily difficult task and of course it's impossible to pleaseeveryone. We encourage you to continue laying the groundwork for tolerance and kindness to everyone, not only the mainstream and majority

• Please do not let a few fanatics allow children to be bullied just because they are not heterosexual. Nature made them homosexual and there is nothing they or anyone else can do about it. It is a fact of life - just like red hair or blue eyes.
• Please continue identifying additional curriculum components necessary to ensure salfe schools where all students see themselves and their families positively reflected.

  Alameda needs the board's support for curriculum that nurtures an environment where all students feel safe, included and important.

  P L E A S E DO NOT PUT ANTI-BULLYING EDUCATION BACK IN THE CLOSET.

• As an Alameda homeowner, resident, and small business owner I support Lesson 9 and the on-going efforts to ensure all students are safe and supported in our schools. Many thanks for continuing to support a curriculum that nurtures an environment where all students feel safe, include and important.
• I am writing you to plead you to keep the anti bullying curriculum in tact and inclusive of the lgbtq community. The small minority protesting the inclusion of this group does not speak for the rest of Alameda. I want to be proud of this town and know that I am raising my family in a tolerant and educated place.
• As members of the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) Board of Education you have the responsibility “for putting in place the proper keystones for students to learn and achieve at the highest level possible.” How can students succeed in the AUSD if they feel bullied or disrespected in school? Also, how can they succeed if they are taught that it is acceptable to disrespect others and then learn their intolerance is unacceptable once they move beyond AUSD?

  Please do not replace the anti-bullying curriculum with new resources that do not explicitly address the importance of providing an environment where all children feel understood, reflected, and welcomed as full members of the community—whether they are children of color; immigrants; disabled; from minority religions; or lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender children (or children in families with a parent, sibling, relative, or neighbor in any of these groups).

  First, please retain “Lesson 9” without the illegal option of an opt-out (the courts and the community have affirmed their support for this important tool).

  Second, please direct Superintendent Vital to continue identifying additional curriculum components necessary to ensure safe schools where all students see themselves and their families positively reflected.

  And, finally, please reaffirm your Board’s support for a curriculum that nurtures an environment where all students feel safe, included, and important.

  It has been an embarrassment to see this debate played out in Alameda. I have no children attending your AUSD schools, so your Board’s decision will not impact me directly. As a taxpayer, however, I do have a stake. Rest assured, if AUSD schools are not properly addressing diversity and educating the students to understand the importance of respecting others, I will vigorously oppose any future parcel tax to benefit AUSD.

• I applaud the support the AUSD school board has for Lesson 9 despite the ignorant voices in the community. Also, I commend the Courts for its recent rejection of the lawsuit against Lesson 9.

  Having had two children who had gone through their entire educational years with the AUSD, I am well aware of the immediate and dire need for an anti-bullying education curriculum. Our children on many, many occasions had been victims of bullying throughout their years with the District. Even more upsetting was to see the extreme emotional duress our children had to face with bullying. Do you realize how helpless we as parents felt to have had our children begin to 'hate having to attend school' because of the it? We are disappointed to hear such incidents continually occur to this day in this District.

  Our children are now young adults but still we worry about ALL Alameda children who currently (and in the future) attend the AUSD. These are ALL 'our' children as we ALL live in this community. We all should expect nothing but tolerance and respect for/from each other. Let us as adults not just set examples but let us start by having a curriculum such as Lesson 9 guide our children to be knowledgeable, respectful and tolerant of the diversity in our schools and community.

  Our family supports you, the AUSD school board, for continually creating policies to support a safe environment for ALL children of our community. Please retain Lesson 9 as it is a first step towards that goal.

• I have been an elementary school teacher for over 20 years and am currently working for AUSD. I am also a resident of Alameda with children in the school district. I am writing to encourage you to retain lesson 9 of the anti-bullying curriculum. In my opinion the curriculum is too mild. I hear children use the term gay as a put down all the time. I'm sure if they understood the term and knew how hurtful it is to gay people, they wouldn't say it. They are not bad children, they are uneducated about what they are saying and the remifications of their words. You have a responsibility to protect all of the children in your care, not only the heterosexuals or students who come from heterosexual families. I'm sure the people who are fighting this curriculum believe they are doing the right thing for their children but their children need the education more than anyone. To this end, I'd like to encourage you to continue identifying additional curriculum components necessary to ensure safe schools where all students in our school community see themselves and their families positively reflected.
• PLEASE SUPPORT THE ENTIRE ANTI-BULLYING PROPOSITION.

  NO TO THE RECALL OF CARING AND INTELLIGENT BOARD MEMBERS!!!!!!!!

• When human values are not taught at home, they must be taught in school, and you have the responsibility to teach students the skill they need to live in a diverse, modern world. To respect others, and be respected by others, is probably the most important value you can teach – surely the same thing you want in your own lives. So please have the courage to teach tolerance and anti-bullying so that Alameda can move forward, and not be held back by a vicious minority.
• As an Alameda homeowner, I financially support the schools. As as community volunteer for the Midway Shelter, I support Alamedans in need.

  It's time for all Alamedas to come together. Don't put tolerance back in the closet!

• I am an Alameda citizen, and while I don't have kids myself, I do know residents with children in Alameda schools and I follow the latest news about the school system.

  I am writing to ask you to please retain Lesson 9. We need to ensure safe schools and promote tolerance. All students in Alameda should feel safe, included and important, including GLBT students and the children of GLBT parents. Alameda is a forward-thinking, progressive community. Don't move backwards -- affirm and retain Lesson 9.

• Do not give in to people who are affraid of their own shaddows. These people will spread hatred and intolerance to their children if society does not act.

  Stand by your decission - it is simply the right thing to do. Just be sure that lesson 9 teaches tolerance for all.

• Please retain lesson 9. The discussions that have taken place in the community regarding this curriculum only show just how much this lesson really is needed.
• Please do not put anti-bullying education back in the closet. We have no room for hate!
• Lesson 9 has already been written with care. We have an opportunity to be leaders in social justice rather than followers. Is there a problem with saying that those who are or may be gay or from families with gay parents are as equally loving, caring and deserving of respect and good treatment as those who are or may be straight or from families with straight parents? Please let the AUSD curriculum support a safe and nurturing environment for all students.
• As a teacher for 34 years at Island High School, I saw first hand the effects of intolerant behavior. I was proud of you, the School Board, when you voted for the non-bullying education.

  I certainly hope you will continue to support teachers and administrators as they work to create safe schools for ALL students. Keep the Tolerance Education curriculum you passed.

  The students of Alameda deserve the best, give it to them all.

• Upon further review of the Open Minds to Equality Curriculum (a third time actually!) I personally found the curriculum to be too mature for our 4th and 5th grade students in Alameda.

  I had high hopes for this curriculum as it addresses all 6 of the protected areas. The first book of its kind that I have seen in my 21 years of Diversity Advocacy in the school system.

  Unfortunately it focuses on hardship. There is subject matter that many of our elementary children have not been exposed to i.e. teen pregnancy. A possible resource for secondary schools, depending on the need of the school population?

  I believe the focus of our elementary curriculum should be positive, historically, and culturally based.

  Positive imagery in words and illustrations are of top importance. I have shared these ideas with the Teacher Committee and Ruben Zepeda as he too was taking a more in depth look at the OME curriculum. Our teacher advisory consensus is now updated as I've discussed.

• Of course we should proceed with the "anti-bullying" curriculum. All students need to be tolerant of all others, not just the ones that some people deem to be worthy.
• I understand there is work underway to replace Lesson 9 with a new more generalized anti-bullying curriculum. PLEASE DON’T! It is important that issues of intolerance be identified by name: race, creed, color, and yes, sexual orientation. Simply recognizing families with non-traditional structures and same sex parents is a huge step toward including all of Alameda’s children in the community.

  Please continue to identify curriculum components that ensure all students in our schools see themselves and their families positively reflected.

  Please support curriculum that nurtures an environment where all students feel safe, included and important.

• I am the mother of a 10th grade Alameda High School student. My child also attended Wood Middle School and as a parent who has frequented both campuses, I have heard some of the derogatory language and witnessed aggressive bullying that tolerance education, under Lesson 9, attempts to address and mitigate. Please retain Lesson 9, which has been supported by the courts and a broad spectrum of our Alameda community. I ask that the Superintendent and School Board reaffirm their support for Lesson 9 curriculum and encourage and support additional curriculum that ensures the safety of all students attending Alameda schools. All of our Alameda students deserve to live and learn in a community environment that is free of hate based hysteria and violence.
• Support a curriculum that nurtures an environment where all students feel safe.
• If we are to have effective education in our community, every student must be able to focus on learning while they are in school. Feeling safe and included are the foundation upon which such focus rests.
• I strongly support you and lesson 9 that you put into place. Please do not water it down by not acknowledging the groups that are targeted/involved.

  I have a first grader at Edison and preschooler. This directly affects my family and I hope you have the courage to do the right thing.

• Should the schools stop celebrating Martin Luther King's birthday because we don't celebrate Harvey Milk's? Or Mohammed's? Would Milk or Mohammed feel that denying the King holiday would promote fairness and tolerance all around?
• Given the events in the past week, I would like to once again express my appreciation for your efforts in putting in place the strongest and most inclusive anti-bullying curriculum possible. Toward that end, I would urge that you:

  Preserve Lesson 9 unless and until you come up with something at least as strong for providing protection, inclusion and visibility (without an opt-out) to all of the children currently covered: those with same-gender parents, those who don’t fit into gender stereotypes, those (and this really means all children) who are vulnerable to being called “faggot,” “so gay,” “sissy,” and all of the other taunts and sources of bullying that teachers asked for support in addressing. This last week’s court ruling was not only an affirmation of the protections you approved from Lesson 9, it was also a compelling message that you’ll be on stronger legal ground with a robust, explicit anti-bullying curriculum.

  Trust our educators to assemble a curriculum that will protect all students and work efficiently in their workload. They can draw from many resources, including:

  • exercises in “Linking to Literature”
  • recognized sources such as Teaching Tolerance and the Anti-Defamation League; and
  • any exercises from “Open Minds to Equality” that might be age-appropriate and relatively non-controversial.

  Also trust our educators to assemble inclusive, quality literature. If you open this part of the curriculum up to more political wrangling, you will again have a non-product and a controversy that will keep falling back on your laps. One way you can do this accountably without an elaborate input structure would be to limit your search to already recognized literature lists, such as:

  • the California Approved Reading List;
  • “Linking to Literature”;
  • again, recognized sources like Teaching Tolerance and the Anti-Defamation League.

  You have a mandate, you have legal protection, and you have a community who overwhelmingly want our children to be taught tolerance and provided with safety. Now is your opportunity to do the right thing and do it decisively.

• I thought you might be interested in this article. http://cnsnews.com/news/article/57953
• I am grateful the Alameda Unified School District wants to prevent bullying at schools, but am sad because the second half of the proposal will further divide our community. Now that we are making painful decisions like closing schools and cutting music, we need to come together and focus more on our similarities than our differences. When you remove “LGBT” Lesson 9 as promised, please keep the character lessons, Caring Schools Community, for Grades K-2 and add the anti-bullying lessons, Steps to Respect, for Grades 3-5. We can all get behind what the Board President said last meeting and agree there should be “no bullying no matter what.”

  We all agree that children should not be putting each other down with “LGBT” words, but nor should they be putting each other down with any words. I would rather we all work towards a goal that has some chance of success than sending us into more than just into six separate corners to fight. Within the six protected classes there are hundreds of subclasses … how do you cover all religions and atheism, or all disabilities, equally? And what about kids called heterosexist, homophobic or a hater or bigots? Some in Alameda say “LGBT” behavior is preventable and treatable, so agreement on sexual orientation is impossible.

  The current “LGBT” Lesson 9 took teachers two years to write, and after three months of public debate (including two community requested revisions) was still opposed by most in Alameda. It appears that this time you are planning to allow no time for public feedback or revisions for lessons! Yet the bias of the teacher committee you are considering authorizing to write about thirty six new lesson plans is known by their selection of the anti-heterosexual, anti-Christian, anti-capitalism, Open Minds curriculum. Board Policy 6144 protects schoolchildren from being taught only one side of controversial issues. Scientific studies and clinical experience prove that individuals can, and frequently do, change sexual orientation and sexual identity.

  Most Alameda taxpayers and parents want students to have open minds about scientific evidence. Please lead our school community towards harmony by replacing Lesson 9 with Steps to Respect in the 2010 school year. Everyone is included in “no bullying no matter what.”

• The School District’s briefing in the Balde v. AUSD litigation suggests that the District’s primary tactical approach to the litigation was to try to avoid a showdown over the legality of Lesson 9 by replacing it with an entirely new approach before the court could rule on the merits. There are, of course, legitimate reasons to want to avoid litigation, but there are also serious downsides to rescinding Lesson 9 without having something better already in its place, such as sending a message of retreat. There were also serious problems inherent in the proposed new approach, as was painfully evident from the discussion at the November 24 Board meeting, where Board members practically threw up their hands in frustration at trying to figure out how to make it work.

  Fortunately, you no longer have to balance the desire to avoid litigation against your commitment to the action you took in May, adopting Lesson 9. The court rejected the District’s attempt to dodge the legal issues, ruled on the merits, and affirmed the validity of the existing approach. More specifically, today’s Superior Court ruling confirmed exactly what no fewer than 20 Alameda lawyers told the Board back in May – that the legal arguments raised by the opponents of Lesson 9 are totally without merit and that you should not let those arguments distract you or weaken your resolve to adopt programs to protect all Alameda students. As a result, you need not and should not spend precious Board time trying to revise what you did in May. Lesson 9 can and should stay in place, and the answer to the concerns expressed by multiple Board members at the last meeting regarding the time being devoted to this process is that the Board can and should move on from trying to figure out how to fix a problem with Lesson 9 that does not exist.

  At the same time, some of the opponents of Lesson 9 also raised some legitimate concerns – not with Lesson 9, but with the fact that members of other protected classes are subject to harassment as well, and that there is no Lesson 9 analogue specifically addressing the needs of any of the other protected classes. Whether or not you believe that opposition to Lesson 9 was routed in the fact that Lesson 9 didn’t address other protected classes is irrelevant; you took the high road, acknowledged the legitimacy of these concerns, and directed staff to come back with a more comprehensive curriculum, and you should move forward with that as well.

  Of course, it is also important to bear in mind that every protected class listed in Education Code section 200 is unique, with its own unique history and role in our society, and, as a result, will not necessarily need to have the same treatment or exposure in the curriculum in order to protect its members. Your adoption of Lesson 9 was based, in part, on your recognition that the LGBTQ community is uniquely invisible in the existing curriculum. In other words, all protected classes need not be treated identically in order to create equal opportunity for all Alameda students.

  In sum, the Board should wrap up its work on these issues on December 8 by retaining both CSC and Lesson 9 and supplementing them with the more comprehensive approach that staff and the community worked so hard to develop by adopting one of the four recommendations of the teachers committee (referred to as “bundled packages” in the November 24th presentation). You should then delegate responsibility to your staff to make any necessary future changes to ensure that the program is implemented effectively to satisfy the general goal of making all students feel seen, welcomed, safe, and supported. By doing this, you will: (1) conserve the Board’s time and energy for other pressing matters (such as the Master Planning process and general budgeting matters that are essential to retaining the viability of the now more inclusive Alameda schools) and (2) avoid micromanagement of your staff over this issue, recognizing that staff has the necessary tools and expertise to ensure an effective program and to adjust it over time as necessary, all the while being able to rest assured that your actions are both appropriate and consistent with state law.

  Finally, although an appeal of today’s decision is possible, the decision is strong, well reasoned, and supported by “reasoning in the alternative,” making it unlikely to be overturned. Moreover, any appeal will be competently handled by your existing legal team, not to mention a host of top flight lawyers who have already offered to help on a pro bono basis. It is, in any event, out of the Board’s hands at this point. So it should not factor into your calculus.

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