OPINION: Parents are not the enemy

Gov. Mike Dunleavy recently set off a firestorm of news coverage and social media commentary over a bill which prohibits teaching sex education before fourth grade, reaffirms the rights of parents to be informed of and approve their own child’s request to change the pronouns by which he or she is referred, or the name they gave their child, and requires children to use restrooms and locker rooms matching the child’s biological sex.

Many of us who have successfully raised children to happy and productive adulthood are surprised that such a collection of parental rights is controversial.

Parents in Alaska have the primary responsibility for the welfare of their children. With responsibility comes rights. The rights enumerated above, which amount to reaffirming that parents need to be informed of and approve of important decisions affecting their children should not be controversial. Most concerning are the views expressed, which suggested that children regularly need to be protected from their parents, who are portrayed as narrow-minded, bigoted and even vengeful.

Teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators should not encourage children to be afraid of their parents, or think of them as enemies. Those in authority over our children during the school day should work with parents to keep them informed about their children. The parent-teacher relationship needs to be one of cooperation first and foremost in order to give our children the best education possible. After all, that is what public schools are for -- to educate our children and prepare them for jobs and careers. The job of educators is not to meddle in the raising of our children beyond that scope. Since nothing in the legislation abrogates a teacher’s or counselor’s obligation to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child, hyperbolic comments questioning our governor’s commitment to protecting the welfare of Alaska children are unwarranted.

Ann Brown is the chairwoman of the Alaska Republican Party.

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