by Peggy Robin
As a graduate of the Montgomery County Public School System (B-CC class of '71), I am the grateful recipient of a free, first-class public education. Now I've learned there's something else that MCPS has done, much more recently, to earn my gratitude: They are vigorously defending their policy of allowing teachers and school libraries to teach using books with LGBTQ characters, against the wishes of parents who claim a right to advance notification so that they can pull their children from class to prevent them from being exposed to any material they deem offensive to their religious views.
One of the books at issue in this particular case is Pride Puppy by Robin Stevenson, illustrations by Julie McLaughlin. You can look at it here: https://www.amazon.com/Pride-Puppy-Robin-Stevenson/dp/1459837428/ref=asc_df_1459837428
The case is Mahmoud v. Taylor, and it's being argued in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 22.
A coaltion of educators, librarians, parents, and supporters of the GLBTQ+ community have planned a rally on the steps of the Supreme Court in support of the Montgomery Country Schools' side of the case on Tuesday morning.
DC Area Educators for Social Justice (one of the organizers of the rally) describes its purpose in these words:
As the nation’s highest court hears arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a pivotal case centered on the fundamental right to inclusive education and representation, human rights advocates, educators, students, families, artists, and faith leaders will unite in a bold and joyful demonstration of support for inclusive education.
This is not just about one lawsuit or one school system—it's about the soul of public education in the United States. The rally calls attention to rising efforts to ban books, erase diverse identities from curricula and classrooms; threatening the civil liberties of marginalized students and their families.
If you would like to attend this event, here are the details:
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
8:00 AM 2:00 PM
U.S. Supreme Court (1 First Street NE)
Registration (not required) at https://www.dcareaeducators4socialjustice.org/events/rally-for-inclusive-education-at-the-supreme-court or scan the QR code in the flyer shown below.
I hope to see you there!
I hope to see you there!
p.s. The last time I went down to the US Supreme Court on the day of orgal arguments was for Roe v. Wade. My mother, then Executive Director of the National Capital Area ACLU, had a ticket to attend but did not want to use it, and so gave it to me (I was a college student at the time). Things went well that day, I thought -- but am anxious to find out how things will go this time around, in front of a very different set of justices....
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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.
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