A teacher in Loudoun County made a bold move during a recent school board meeting by resigning publicly and criticizing the district’s focus on Critical Race Theory (CRT).
Laura Morris, who taught at Lucketts Elementary School, shared her reasons for resigning, pointing to the district’s emphasis on ‘equity trainings’ and what she described as political agendas.
In her emotional speech, Morris expressed her discomfort with the district’s direction. She explained that she could no longer work for an organization that promotes ideas conflicting with her Christian beliefs. Despite the district’s wealth and resources, she felt unable to continue teaching there.
Morris also criticized the district’s handling of public comments, noting the strict rules that limit what citizens can say during board meetings. She was frustrated by emails from the superintendent that discouraged opposing views and the pressure to report colleagues who disagreed with school board policies.
During her speech, Morris recounted her experience with equity trainings where she was told that being a ‘white, Christian, able-bodied female’ gave her undue power in the school system. She felt she could no longer be part of a system that, in her view, imposes political ideas on children.
She ended her resignation by addressing the school board directly, stating that she was quitting because of their policies and trainings. Morris encouraged parents and staff to consider private schools as alternatives.
Loudoun County has been at the center of heated debates over CRT, which has divided opinions. Some view it as divisive and unpatriotic, while others see it as a necessary way to examine America’s racial history.
The school board has also been involved in other controversies, like the suspension of a physical education teacher, Byron ‘Tanner’ Cross, who refused to use students’ preferred pronouns. Although a court reinstated him, the district plans to appeal. Additionally, discussions about granting transgender students access to sex-specific facilities have sparked long debates and were delayed for further consideration.
In summary, Morris’s resignation highlights ongoing debates over CRT and other divisive issues in education, showing the challenges of balancing different views in public schools.
