'Monkey kidney vaccines' and 'teaching kids to hate America': Group speaks out during Carson City School Board meeting
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Wed, 05/26/2021 - 9:20am
During the Carson City School Board meeting on Tuesday evening, a number of citizens took over the public comment period to voice their opposition to students wearing face masks for the remainder of the school year, as well as the board’s use of the word “equity” at a previous meeting.
Even though only two of those who spoke said they have children in the Carson City School District, the attendees voiced their concerns about children wearing masks for the remainder of the school year, which ends next Thursday, June 3.
Many public commenters discussed popular pieces of misinformation, such as the disproven idea that the COVID-19 vaccine alters DNA, or that there is no scientific evidence supporting that masks work and that the masks are "killing children."
One man stated that all of the school board members should be fired because the vaccine contains aborted fetal cells, monkey kidney cells, E-Coli, animal parts, spermicide, and more, and that every one who gets the vaccine will be dead within two years.
Many of those who spoke stated they were against the school district teaching critical race theory, which the school district has never suggested the schools should teach.
The confusion came from a meeting held on the school district’s refresh of its strategic plan, in which the word "equity" was used during the meeting.
In education terminology, according to the National School Board Association, “Equality in education is achieved when students are all treated the same and have access to similar resources. Equity is achieved when all students receive the resources they need so they graduate prepared for success after high school.”
However, many of the individuals who spoke were under the impression that the word equity had a connection with the highly-debated "critical race theory," which is an academic movement started by civil rights scholars and activists in the U.S. in 1989 which is “based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature (…) but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to oppress and exploit people of color,” according to Britannica.com.
Prior to the opening of public comment, Carson City School District Superintendent Richard Stokes gave a prepared statement which stated in part:
A possible explanation for this misunderstanding could be due to the use of the word “Equity.” At the May 4 Community PLC meeting, citizens referred to the meaning of the word “equity”; as it is used in the document “Critical Race Theory,” by Christopher F. Rufo (April 19, 2021). In educational conversations, use of the word “equity” is used when school staff works to provide additional resources to students in need. There is no hidden political agenda in this effort to assist students.
Those interested in obtaining a copy of the current Strategic Plan, which does not contain the word "Equity" in any form, can find it here.
Despite this explanation, many still voiced their dissent against the school district teaching critical race theory because, they said, it would teach children to hate America.
Multiple commenters stated that the school district should not use the word “equity” in any form because it might be misunderstood as having ties to Marxism.
Other protests were less clear. One woman, who stated she was worried about “world control,” played a recording of herself speaking along with piano music, with what appeared to be her praying for America to “not fall to socialism and communism.”
The last day of school for students of the Carson City School District is Thursday, June 3, which will have a minimum day schedule.
Carson Middle School will host an 8th Grade Drive-Thru Promotion ceremony at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 4.
Eagle Valley Middle School will host an 8th Grade Drive-Thru Promotion ceremony at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 4.
The Carson High School Graduation will be held on the CHS Football Field Saturday, June 5 beginning at 9 a.m.
The Pioneer High School Graduation will be held as a Drive-Thru ceremony on Wednesday, June 2 at 6 p.m.
