A trustee for one Texas school district is urging the district to restrict displays of racial inclusivity after a child was reportedly “traumatized” by a classroom poster of children of a variety of skin tones holding hands.
That trustee, Melissa Dungan, is part of the Conroe Independent School District board. She reported that the poster impacted a first-grade student to the point where the child had to swap classrooms.
Now, she wants CISD schools to limit displays similar to the poster, stating that those portrayals represent “symbols of personal ideologies” to justify the crackdown.
During a board meeting on Aug. 1, Dungan initiated the discussion about certain items in classrooms, stating she had been personally approached by a number of concerned parents about these “supposed displays of personal ideologies,” such as the poster and the display of Pride flags.
“I wish I was shocked by each of the examples that were shared with me, however, I am aware these trends have been happening for many years,” Dungan said.
She said that schools should limit displays in classrooms to the American flag, Texas flag, school flags, and college pendants and remove any politically-motivated posters or displays.
District officials pointed her to an existing policy that prohibits political displays in school classrooms, but Dungan wants to expand that policy.
Another trustee wanted Dungan to clarify her reasoning on what she found so unacceptable about the poster.
“Just so I understand, you are seriously suggesting that you find objectionable, a poster indicating that all are included,” Stacey Chase said.
Dungan wouldn’t give her personal thoughts on the poster but pushed the board to adopt stricter standards and adhere to state policies already in place.
“When children are told what and how to believe whether it verbal, in writing or through visual symbols, they miss out on the freedom to think for themselves and…
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