The divisiveness on the Chilliwack school board has reached a whole new level, with two sitting trustees encouraging police action against a third.
At the centre of the issue is a battle over library reading material and its contents B次元官网网址� an debate amongst trustees that first began in June when sitting trustee Heather Maahs took issue with B次元官网网址楢ll Boys arenB次元官网网址檛 BlueB次元官网网址� being available at a local school library.
B次元官网网址淚t desensitizes kids and itB次元官网网址檚 all in the name of LGBTQ because itB次元官网网址檚 boy on boy, and IB次元官网网址檓 talking young boys being depicted in stories with things IB次元官网网址檝e never even heard of,B次元官网网址� she said on an internet talk show at the time. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 bad.B次元官网网址�
Most recently, in a Facebook post on Aug. 17, Willow Reichelt argued against banning books with LGBTQ2S+ and anti-racist content, suggesting that B次元官网网址渘o one advocating book banning in 2022 has any business being involved in public education.B次元官网网址�
On Aug. 19 Reichelt returned to Facebook, saying she had received two emails threatening to report her to the RCMP. A post being shared by the Facebook group EXPOSING SOGI 123 threatened the same.
B次元官网网址淎re you a parent with children in Chilliwack schools? Are you tired of the pornographic material/books being shown to minors, children under 16? Do you want to DO SOMETHING about it? I am looking for parents in Chilliwack who are willing to file police reports against the trustee pushing these books on our children, Willow Reichelt and anyone else who approved of their use in schools. I am hoping to be ready to file our reports to the sex crimes unit of the Chilliwack RCMP.B次元官网网址�
Reichelt grabbed screenshots from trustees Darrell Furgason and Barry Neufeld, who appear to encourage the filing of police reports.
B次元官网网址淚f you want to get traction on this post, you should post it publicly!B次元官网网址� Neufeld wrote. B次元官网网址淏e prepared for some nasty pushback, but ALL parents need to know!B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 am not not surprised about Willow ReicheltB次元官网网址檚 response to your concerns,B次元官网网址� wrote Furgason. B次元官网网址淪he and the other 3 B次元官网网址榳okeB次元官网网址� Trustees all stand in favour of sexual B次元官网网址榚ducationB次元官网网址� being taught to young students in our District. I totally agree with your concerns about sexualizing young children, and suggest that you do proceed with your actions with the RCMP.B次元官网网址�
In her Facebook response, Reichelt said enough is enough.
B次元官网网址淪o now two sitting trustees in the span of 24 hours have tried to get me arrested for defending freedom of thought,B次元官网网址� Reichelt responded. B次元官网网址淎 reminder of my supposed crime: I told people to read books and think for themselves.B次元官网网址�
Reichelt has been a staunch defender of B次元官网网址楢ll Boys arenB次元官网网址檛 Blue,B次元官网网址� saying it has been given a starred review by Kirkus (Book Review Service) and glowing reviews by School Library Journal, Booklist and the New York Times.
B次元官网网址淒iverse representation leads to empathy, compassion, understanding and a sense of belonging,B次元官网网址� she said in June, responding to MaahsB次元官网网址� comments. B次元官网网址淪exuality is part of human experience, and some books written for a teen audience contain sexual content. Young-adult fiction presents this content in an age-appropriate manner and tends to focus on the social-emotional aspects.B次元官网网址�
The Progress reached out to Neufeld and Furgason for comment, but did not receive a response before this story was published.
The Chilliwack school board election is Oct. 15.
The field of declared candidates includes Reichelt, Maahs, Furgason, Neufeld, David Swankey, Carin Bondar, Teri Westerby, Margaret Reid and Brian Vangarderen.
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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