By BCN Senior Editor | The Black Community News
The National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) letter to
President Joe Biden requesting that the federal government investigate parents
has caused enough backlash to prompt the organization’s board of directors to
issue an apology to members.
NSBA president Viola M. Garcia and Interim Executive
Director and CEO Chip Slaven asked President Biden in September to bring the
power of the federal government down on irate parents who speak and protest at
school board meetings about “transgender” policies and exposing their children
to “critical race theory” indoctrination. Parents are also concerned about
whether it’s necessary for their children to wear masks all day.
The letter was criticized far and wide for suggesting that the federal government cite the Patriot Act to investigate parents for “domestic terrorism.”
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote in response (PDF)
that he would direct federal law enforcement officials to discuss strategies
for dealing with a “disturbing spike” in “threats of violence.”
The Free Beacon reported that
the White House knew about the letter before Garcia and Slaven sent it and
suggested that the White House might have collaborated with them.
The board wrote in its letter of
apology to members that while safety for all concerned is a priority, “there
was no justification for some of the language included in the letter,” and
apologized for the “strain and stress.”
The letter mentions parents in the third paragraph.
“As we’ve reiterated since the letter was sent, we deeply
value not only the work of local school boards that make important
contributions within our communities, but also parents, who should and must
continue to be heard when it comes to decisions about their children’s health,
education, and safety.”
The board said it would conduct a “formal review” of its
processes and procedures and announce “specific improvements” to ensure that
staff, the board, and members would be consulted.
The NSBA did not apologize to parents.
Parents Defending Education asked 47
state school board associations to comment on the NSBA’s letter. Questions
include whether they agree with the assertions, how they define “intimidation,”
harassment,” and “threat,” and whether they plan to report parents to the U.S.
Department of Justice. So far, 21 states distanced themselves from the NSBA’s
letter.
Some states said they were are not consulted about it.
Indiana said the federal response was overreach. Idaho wrote that had the NSBA
asked its opinion before sending the letter, “we would have readily pointed out
the mischaracterization of parents and patrons in our communities as domestic
terrorists who merited federal investigation. We want parents and patrons
engaged in our public schools – we have sought that for years.”
At a House Judiciary Committee hearing last week,
lawmakers asked Attorney General Garland about the memo. He said the memo
didn’t mention domestic terrorism or the Patriot Act — although the NBSA’s
letter did.
“Like you, I can’t imagine any circumstance in which the
Patriot Act would be used in the circumstances of parents complaining about
their children nor can I imagine a circumstance where they would be labeled as
domestic terrorists,” he told the
committee.
