Having kicked the general public they represent out of their meetings, the school board in Loudoun County, Va. heard on Aug. 10 from a white, female, Christian teacher who said she is fed up and is quitting the posh, well-funded, and well-paying district.
Teacher Laura Morris tearfully told board members that “equity training” and political rigidity forced her to resign. She said she could no longer work for an organization that told her “white, Christian, able-bodied females” needed to be reined in.
“I quit being a cog in a machine that tells me to push highly-politicized agendas on our most vulnerable constituents – the children said the ten-year teacher, who was currently working in Leesburg, Va. Her story appeared at DailyMail.com.
“This summer I have struggled with the idea of returning to school, knowing that I’ll be working yet again with a school division that, despite its shiny tech and flashy salary, promotes political ideologies that do not square with who I am as a believer in Christ,” she said.
Morris also expressed dismay at the “lack of consideration for the growing population of concerned citizens in this division,” pointing out that the meeting at which she was appearing was in an empty hall.
As dissent to its decisions and policies grew, the district decided to prohibit a general audience and allow only 10 scheduled speakers to enter the building at a time.
Morris also spoke of “emails sent by the superintendent last year reminding me that a dissenting opinion is not allowed, even to be spoken in my personal life.” Alarmingly, she also said that she had been sent a form – as had her colleagues – with instructions to fill it out if they heard others within the school system criticizing “the controversial policies being promoted by this school board.”
Morris went on: “Not only that, but within the last year I was told in our so-called equity training that white, Christian, able-bodied females currently have the power in our schools and, quote, ‘this has to change.”
“Clearly you have made your point. You no longer value me, or any other teachers you have employed in this county. So since my contract outlines the power that you have over my employment in Loudoun County Public Schools, I thought it necessary to resign in front of you. School board, I quit. I quit your policies, I quit your training, and I quit being a cog in a machine that tells me to push highly-politicized agendas on our most vulnerable constituents – the children.”
“I will find employment elsewhere. I encourage all parents and staff in this county to flood the private schools.”
Asked about her resignation, the board response was: “LCPS does not comment on personnel matters.”
