Parent's Choice Advocates Studying Critical Race Theory In School

By Brian M. Johnson, The Bristol Press

August 21, 2021

Parent’s Choice, a group advocating for parents’ ability to opt out of their children wearing masks or studying LGBT and critical race theory curriculum, has formed a Bristol branch, with local parents planning to bring their concerns to city education leaders.

Jen Van Gorder, a member and one of the organizers of the Bristol group, said she has been fighting mask mandates for more than a year. She has been encouraging more and more people to come to Board of Education meetings and have their voices heard.

“A lot of people have been afraid to speak up because they’re worried about reprisal, but a bunch of us are standing up now and you can too,” Van Gorder said.

The Bristol Parent’s Choice group met recently at Marilyn’s Pub, with more than 20 local parents participating. Also in attendance were local legislators Henri Martin and Whit Betts as well Republican mayoral candidate Jeff Caggiano and several Republican candidates for City Council and the Board of Education.

“We met with some of our representatives and went over our concerns,” Van Gorder said. “We’re trying to encourage them to speak out as well. A lot of the time, you see representatives afraid to come out in support of issues which are considered controversial. It’s time to stand up for what's right, whether it’s in their best political interest.”

Van Gorder said it is the government’s responsibility to protect the rights of citizens. She said the mask mandates have been “overreach” from the beginning and she feels they are “never going to end.”

“I didn’t agree to co-parent with the governor or the health director,” she said.

Van Gorder said masks are “unsanitary” since “kids are dirty” and they put masks on their tables, touch them and then bring them to their faces. She said many parents have had their children complain of headaches or fatigue from wearing masks all day.

Van Gorder said she doesn’t believe critical race theory belongs in school and is concerned that LGBT curriculum is resulting in the “sexualization of children.”

“It’s not right to teach kids about sexuality; let kids be kids,” she said. “I believe there is an epidemic of kids coming out as ‘bisexual’ or whatever just trying to fit in.”

Betts said that, as a representative, it was helpful to hear these parents’ point of view.

“This is a highly motivated group that feels that it is a parent’s right to decide what they want to do with their children,” he said. “They feel that this right has been taking away by the government. They struck me as being very determined and very sincere.”

Betts said these issues “need to be discussed” so a best solution can be found for everyone involved. He said he has also personally heard from constituents whose children have struggled with masks.

“A mother told me a story about their child coming home and saying ‘I did something very bad. I took off my mask to say hi to someone while we were eating lunch,” Betts said. “They thought that they had some something super bad. To have a kid say that is shocking and disturbing to me. We need to be aware of the impact this is having on kids.”

Martin said the meeting at Marilyn’s Pub was coordinated after a group of parents came to the “Coffee with your Legislators” event which he holds monthly with Betts and Rep Cara Pavalock-D’Amato. He and Betts moderated the meeting since Pavalock-D’Amato was away on vacation.

“It gave us an opportunity to listen to a different set of opinions and I think everybody learned something,” he said. “The parents felt like they were listened to that they were allowed to share their concerns.”

Martin said he feels Parent’s Choice “have a right to stand up” and voice their objections to curriculum. He said he plans to have a public forum addressing critical race theory in the future.

“It’s a conversation that the community should have,” he said. “Thank God we live in a country where people have the opportunity to voice their concerns.”

Van Gorder encouraged parents who want to become involved in the Parent’s Choice group to reach out on facebook.com/unmaskourkidsct.

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.