Despite hearing more than an hour of public outcry, the Roanoke County School Board unanimously approved new rules about “curricular and noncurricular school and classroom displays” Thursday night. “All classroom displays must directly relate to the curriculum and instructional goals of the courses of study conducted in that classroom,” the new policy says. Over the course of 80 minutes, 27 members of the public spoke their concerns to the school board. Those speakers said the new policy is not supportive of LGBTQ+ students, and prevents teachers from displaying material — such as Pride flags — to display their support for those marginalized people. The policy arose after a series of contentious school board meetings, starting in May when a member of the public addressed the board to accuse specific school members who displayed rainbow-patterned classroom items of being “groomers” and “sexual predators.”Those comments spurred a series of counter-complaints in support of LGBTQ+ people at following board meetings.

Source: Libya Today July 28, 2023 19:09 UTC