“Parents’ Rights” Signage Has Appeared Across Shasta County. Here’s What We Know.
The signs do not endorse any particular candidate, instead promoting an ideology that some Shasta County Board of Education candidates have used in their campaigns.
Across Shasta County, a mysterious crop of political signs have appeared on front lawns, in the entrances to buildings, and on chain link fences along highways. In large letters, the signs read, “Parents’ Rights Under Attack,” calling on people to vote in upcoming school board elections which will be held on November 5.
The signs have led to questions from some community members because they do not endorse any particular candidate or campaign. Shasta Scout looked into who might have paid for the signs and what evidence exists that parents rights are under attack in Shasta County. Here’s what we learned.
Who Paid for The Signs?
The signs don’t include a disclosure about which candidate or committee paid for them. Shasta Scout attempted to ask for additional information at individual businesses where signs are currently displayed but was not provided any information about who paid for them.
Leslie Sawyer, Chair of the local branch of Moms for Liberty (M4L), a nationwide nonprofit that organizes around perceived threats to parents rights, said the signs were not paid for by that group. She told Shasta Scout a number of individuals donated for the signs, which were chosen by one of the candidates for the Shasta County Board of Education. Sawyer did not confirm which candidate she was referring to.
A group of candidates running for the SCOE Board, including Teresa Roberts, Richard Gallardo, Jackie LaBarbera, and Michele Renee Tyson, have united around the talking point that “parents’ rights are under attack”.
In response to a request for comment, Roberts said she helped pay for the signs, but did not disclose who else organized the effort. The other three candidates running on a “parents rights” platform did not respond to Shasta Scout’s question about whether they contributed to the signs.
Is it Legal to Place Political Signs without a Disclosure?
Because the signs don’t endorse a specific candidate or measure, they don’t appear to require the usual funding disclosure statement under California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPCC) rules.
Shasta Scout reached out to the FPCC with a picture of the signage. The organization’s response emphasized that FPCC regulations about disclosures on signs (and in campaign expense reports) are tied to specific candidates and ballot measures. Since the signs endorse neither a specific candidate nor measure, they’re likely not required to comply with disclosure rules–but an FPCC attorney is formally reviewing the signage to determine compliance.
What National Group Popularized the Idea that Parental Rights are Under Attack?
In 2021, as the nation reeled from the COVID pandemic, M4L launched in response to vaccine mandates, describing itself as a “parents’ rights” organization.
Today, one of the organization’s main focuses is targeting public school policies and curriculum that affirm queer people. The Southern Poverty Law Center compares M4L’s strategy to that of parent groups that attempted to re-segregate public schools during the civil rights movement. While one of their approaches to activism is encouraging their supporters to run for local school boards, the group’s leadership advocates for the abolition of the federal Department of Education, something which would require fundamental restructuring of funding streams.
Much of the narrative pushed by M4L is informed by the fear of “gender Marxism,” the idea that acknowledging the role of race, gender, and disability in societal inequities is part of a nefarious “Marxist” legacy in which the working class are attempting to seize the means of production from the ruling class.
M4L frequently cites the case of January Littlejohn, a Florida mother who sued her local school board over an alleged violation of her parental rights in 2021. While Littlejohn gave permission for her student to use a gender-neutral nickname at school, she later became upset when she found out that staff had asked the student what bathroom they preferred to use.
Littlejohn’s lawsuit, titled Parental Rights in Education, was dismissed in 2023. In that ruling, the judge wrote that parental liberty interests under the U.S. Constitution are a “murky area of unenumerated constitutional rights.”
Are any SCOE Candidates Connected to Moms for Liberty?
Gallardo did not respond to Shasta Scout’s request for comment. LaBarbera told Shasta Scout she is not a member but supports many of M4L’s political goals and maintains close relationships with the local chapter. When asked if she had a formal connection to M4L, Roberts clarified that she is not a member of the organization before criticizing Emotional Learning and Critical Race Theory. Tyson is listed as a board member of the local branch of M4L.
Are Parents Rights Under Attack in Shasta County?
Locally, the culture war over “parents’ rights” came to a head at a school in Butte County last year when a Chico mother named Aurora Regino filed a lawsuit against her local school district. She claimed that her child was encouraged to “socially transition” by being allowed to use a different name and pronouns at school. According to Regina, the use of new pronouns at school was akin to a medical treatment, while school officials said allowing the student to use their preferred pronouns was simply an accommodation. The lawsuit demanded that the Chico Unified School District remove its “Parental Secrecy Policy,” which did not exist. Like the earlier lawsuit in Florida, this case was eventually thrown out by a district judge.
Here in Shasta County, there have been no publicized lawsuits by parents against school districts over gender issues.
A school board in the Anderson Union High School District did recently file a lawsuit against the state alleging that parents rights will be violated by a new California law known as the SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from requiring staff to inform parents when a student requests to go by a different name or pronoun at school. Importantly, the SAFETY Act does not mandate that school staff withhold this information from parents only that they can’t be required to share it.
M4L Chair Sawyer appears in the suit as the only Shasta County parent plaintiff. As attorneys for the state pointed out in a recent motion to dismiss the case, Sawyer and other parent plaintiffs in the case have alleged only a moral objection to current California law, not that children were harmed because of it.
Sawyer was also the only person to give public comment in support of a recent symbolic City Council resolution making Anderson a “Parent Right to Know” city.
What do other SCOE Candidates have to say about Parents’ Rights?
Other candidates in the SCOE Board race say they do not believe parents’ rights are under attack.
In their interviews with Shasta Scout, Don Aust, Jessica French, Cindy Vogt, Amy Cavalleri, and Michael Orlicky all confirmed that SCOE has no jurisdiction over individual school district policies.
What Protections do Parents Have in Public Schools?
California’s Education Code does not prohibit teachers from informing parents that their child is questioning their gender identity, saying instead that schools cannot enforce policies that require staff to notify parents.
The law also says that the state Department of Education will develop ample resources for “parents, guardians, and families of LGBTQ pupils and strategies to increase support for LGBTQ pupils,” with the express interest of involving a student’s family as much as possible in any gender-related conversations – as long as involving their families wouldn’t immediately endanger them.
On the topic of parents’ rights more generally, California Education Code grants parents significant power to be directly involved in the education of their children. Parents are entitled to obtain education records, manage how their children’s private information is distributed, access information about school curriculum, and pull their children from sexual education classes, among other rights.
If you know of a specific documented example in which a local parent was kept in the dark about their child’s gender expression, Shasta Scout wants to hear from you. Email us: editor@shastascout.org
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When I was a kid I was a total Tomboy. I would play out in the dirt with my brother with his tonka toys and we’d play games and build forts in the field. If you do that now they want to give you hormones and change your gender. My brother played dolls with me when we were stuck inside and sometimes he’d let me dress him up as a girl. Those memories are precious. These days they would have him surgically altered and give him hormones to actually turn him into a girl. We both grew up to be a healthy man and woman married and had children. All of them are boys. So many kids are getting older and are speaking out to the sec changes they were forced into. These decisions should be personal and only made after they turn 18.
Vickie, who are the “they” who perform these nefarious things? Where does the funding for this hormone therapy as and surgery come from?
I saw the first of these Parents’ Rights Are Under Attack today, and posted right next to it was a vote for Michele Renee Tyson sign. First thing that came to mind was that anyone campaigning from this camp could could do what Tyson did, like remora suckered onto the lower jaw of a shark.
Public Schools have failed PERIOD…….Test scores nation wide don’t lie! Please pull your heads out of the sand!
Thanks Jon, you just proved my point that the schools are the only ones who ever get blamed.
Jon: Does this mean you’re for abolishing public education? I’m trying to connect your comment to this article.
If only people paid more attention to the leading cause of death in school age children.
Saw one in the back window of a Stimpel – Weilbelhaus pickup that Corkey was driving last week.
https://anewscafe.com/2024/10/28/redding/after-months-years-rumors-lead-to-facts-revealed-about-candidate-corkey-harmons-tragic-family-ties/
OMG tHe CHILDREN tHe CHILDREN!!!
The double standard gist got #DOUBLE.CROST… again +!+
An interesting follow up to this piece might be a hard look into the background of M4L – while it purports to be a “grassroots” organization, my understanding is that it is mostly funded by one or more of the Koch brother groups . . .
Cork: Thanks for the suggestion.
You should heed the example I shared. Telling a Jew he can’t be one of us is just how it starts. Next up is the blood libel and forced conversion. Then comes the inquisitions and pogroms. This is a pattern that has been repeated throughout the history of Western civilization and it’s always done by good people trying to improve their culture.
Criticism of an individual’s actions is valid but labeling and libeling an entire group is not. One reason for parents to be involved in the classroom is to keep in check any teachers who may impose their bigoted or discriminatory thoughts on young minds. Herbert Marcuse was a professor at UCSD when I was there. His theories have infected higher education in the USA. He was right about one thing, societal change begins with education so what is being taught and who is doing the teaching becomes very important for a the future of the nation. Many parents were shocked by the comments of teachers when Covid19 brought the classroom into the home. This is a second solid reason for more parent volunteers in the classroom. I thank you for your honesty.
So, it would be valid to criticize the actions of a single teacher, but not the entire group of teachers? What sort of comments are you talking about?
As the extreme right wing of the Republican Party has bullied its way into prominence with the agenda of dominating the political and social landscape of our nation, we have seen the rise in attacks on all of our institutions. And public schools are no exception.
In an effort to profit from public school funding and to convince parents that somehow their “rights” are not being respected a variety of approaches have been attempted to ally parents to their cause and turn them against public schools. Private for-profit schools using government funded vouchers have long been promoted. But the attempts have mostly failed. The next step in the agenda to control the education of our children is to take control of the schools through the election process.
Those who want to impose their beliefs on the educational process are now using the same tactics that have brought division to our country. The false accusation that your “rights” are being ignored. That your voice is not heard and the only way to have your voice heard is to elect candidates that make the claim that they will restore your “rights”. While in truth what they want is to bring their narrow religious and world view to the classroom. We can see examples in states where books are banned and speech is controlled. Where a particular kind of religion is promoted and where parents “rights” are ignored unless they conform with the edicts of those in charge.
The “Attack on Parents Rights” crowd are not in favor of parent participation unless it is to support their agenda. Public schools have a multitude of ways that the voices of parents can be heard. Using the emotional, but false, issue of schools turning children gay, those seeking to gain control of public schools, their funds and curriculum are trying to manipulate parents to gain positions on school boards.
We have seen how chaotic and destructive the “parent’s rights” folks have been when they are elected to boards. If we want our children to learn critical thinking in a safe environment free from condemnation, bigoty and shame. If we want an environment that promotes equality, individuality and learning we cannot elect those who promote “Parents Rights” only if those rights fit their agenda.
A fair evaluation of US primary and secondary education is needed. Nationwide our schools are failing. There is far too much fear mongering and labeling going on and questioning the motives of concerned citizens even here in these comments. We have known about these problems for decades. Moms for Liberty are good people concerned about education. The teachers commenting here are good people doing their best as well. We are not getting our money’s worth and frankly money is not the issue. Many studies have shown that educational outcomes do not improve with more money and educational titles. It is not a left-right issue so let’s not pretend it is.
Moms for Liberty is a thinly disguised Christian Nationalist group. That might be good for them, but it bodes evil for anyone not of the correct denomination. One of these candidates, Tyson, actually blocked a young man from her Facebook page because, “You (he) is not one of God’s chosen people.” The irony is that the young man in question here is Jewish. Go figure. What is at issue in the SCOE Board election isn’t whether or not the schools are failing–I disagree with you on that score, schools can only succeed at educating young people if they can get the parents involved because parents are the primary educators of their children. What is at issue here is who controls the SCOE budget. The claim that “we are not getting our moneys worth” is just another worn-out trope. If you want your money’s worth, then get involved with your kids education. The schools play catch-up teaching kids how to read because parents are not reading with their kids. Algebraic concepts are difficult to teach because most parents don’t understand them and cannot assist their children with their homework. So, as a result, we get students who can’t read at grade level and who cannot reduce fractions or simplify equations. But the only people who ever get blamed for this are teachers and schools. The students of this county need the supports that SCOE provides to schools. Jackie LaBarbera has already attempted to eliminate one of those supports–community schools, a program that puts control of what supports are needed at a specific school in the hands of those schools. Yet, she is running as the candidate for local control. It’s kind of hard to figure out how we are going keep local control if we eliminate the program that gives it to us. Another M4L candidate is Trustee Gorman, who is in the middle of his four year term. In both of hos first years in office, Authur Gorman voted against the Local Control Accountability Plan or LCAP. Mr Gorman has endorsed all of the M4L candidates. It seems really obvious to me that what these people want isn’t local control, but rather personal control so they can implement a political agenda. If they succeed, you can kiss public education goodbye.
The first sentence says it all. Labeling an entire organization as ‘evil for anyone not of the correct denomination’ is a gross exaggeration. They have done many positive things, like getting more parents involved in the education of their children. I would think that would be an effort worth supporting since parents are indeed a big part of a child’s success in school.
Do not for one moment try and convince people that this is a right wing agenda. It entirely the left that is embracing all trans and allowing for children to be confused about their gender.
LBGTQ students have the right to a free public education in a safe and harassment free environment as every other student. To my knowledge, the only policy SCOE has regarding trans students is an anti-harrassment policy that includes all students, not just LBGTQ students. Can you tell us which parental right is being impinged and which policy is abrogating that right?
There’s more to education than the three R’s. In the modern world, safety is a primary concern. We didn’t have active shooter drills when I was in school, nor did we have an epidemic of autism and emotional disturbance. Teachers are not questioning kids about their gender identity. It’s not in any curriculum I have ever seen. We ask more from teachers than you may realize. Teachers have to know how to implement a three tiered system of behavioral intervention. That requires specialized training. They are mandated reporters for child abuse, more specialized training. They are on the front lines of the drug wars. More training. Frankly, they don’t have the time to waste talking to kids about gender identity. I am all in on increased parental involvement in education. Your kid’s teacher would love to have you volunteer to spend a few hours a week in the classroom. Your school administrator is always looking for parents to serve on the site council and the curriculum committee. There are many ways for parents to be more involved in their child’s education. Including the parents groups that never went away. It’s important that we be accurately informed on these issues. All of these candidates are running for a board that administers a budget of 86 million dollars of our money. I don’t want anyone on that board who won’t tell me the truth about where they got the money for their campaign. That’s what this is really about. Parents rights are not under attack, public education is being attacked by people whose political agenda is to eliminate public education. Please don’t vote for them. Your kids futures depend on your choice here.
As a former teacher, I completely agree with Robert’s comments. Vote to support public education, not dismantle it so it can be privatized for monetary gain. Parent’s rights are NOT under attack!
Thank you for your well reasoned response. I am a retired teacher.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply to this excellent article, Robert. I’m a retired teacher and I have to agree with your suggestions about how parents can be more closely involved in their children’s educations. Volunteering in the classroom is a great idea and lets parents see what teachers are really doing rather than fall victim to fear mongering, which has unfortunately become rampant in the last few years.
Golly, I wonder who………………
Glad my children and grand are out of elementary and high school. Praying for my future great grandchildren. The government is far too involved in our lives. They obviously have more money than they know what to do with. Time for good scrubbin’ to quote George W. Bush when asked what the first thing he would do when if he got into the White House.
First of all, regarding forced outing of LGBTQ+ youth to their parents, these so-called “constitutional republicans” need to read the 4th amendment, “the right of the people to be secure in their persons against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be infringed.” If they think parents should have final say, even if they’re violent, they are not qualified and shouldn’t even be running for a position where they’d be mandated reporters on child abuse. If they’re going to discriminate, they’re bullies and as such, definitely have no business being trustees. Second, Roberts and LaBarbara lied, Gallardo is a spineless little coward for not replying, and Tyson admits she’s affiliated with a hate group – but make no mistake, they are all 100% Moms for Liberty, and this is why we need to overturn Citizens United and get much tougher campaign finance laws because I’d like to know what else they are lying about, and I’d like to know before the election, before our children’s futures are completely destroyed. None of them are reporting who paid for the largest signs they’re plasting all over Shasta County. LaBarbara ducked the candidate forum, they’re bought and paid for weasels who don’t have our good, our children’s good, or our teacher’s good in mind. Look what they’ve done to our county with their power on the board of supervisors, over our dead bodies will they do it to our SCHOOLS. They’re going to erase all the progress of helping kids learn, socialize, etc. by defunding community connect and so many millions of other things. Their goal is to destroy public education and end the right to learn, as well as get rid of all protections for marginalized groups, I as an autistic/OCD neurodivergent person will NOT stand for IT, and NONE of US will stand for it!
100% agree Joshua. They should be required to disclose their affiliations and policy beliefs in their candidate statements. They write a fluff piece about being a loving Mom and long time Redding resident and people have no idea they are voting for hate at the deepest level, allowing them to make decision about all children not just their own.
We send our children to school to learn Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. We don’t send them to school to be questioned about what gender they think they are or want to be. These thoughts don’t just pop into elementary school age kids without teachers bringing up the subject. It is not a teachers job to discuss this subject with children without the parents permission in writing.
Bring back the PTA
Spot on. I grew up when gays were just gays and there was not an agenda being pushed in schools. Parents Rights must be re-established.
Judy: What agenda?
Which parent right has been abrogated? Which policy or curriculum pushes an agenda?
You need to stop with this nonsense. What do you think of the 27 social media platforms your kids are scrolling on all day long? Be a better person and stop with your lies.
Which one of those social media outlets is operated by the public school system?