About a year ago a group of citizens formed Newberg Dundee Strong and with it a political action committee, COPS (Community Oriented Public Servants). The group recruited and supported three candidates for Newberg School Board.

The campaign leading up to the May 2021 election produced two winners: Trevor Dehart and Renee Powell. Their election changed the complexion of the board. Parents of children in the school district began complaining that political signs were appearing in classrooms and were offended. Their complaints fell on deaf ears to leftist principals.

After hearing this news the school board was motivated to bring a vote to ban political signs -- notably pride flags and BLM flags -- and apparel worn by staff in the district. Word of this incoming vote caused over 500 citizens to write letters to the board and over 90 people signed up to speak at the online board meeting. The ban passed 4-3 during the August 10th school board meeting.

A firestorm in Oregon and even on a national level has erupted. Some supporters of the board's action say that if you don't agree with the left they will stop at nothing to destroy you and that the same radical left that trashed political signs during the election and claimed racism are trying to get board members fired from their jobs and removed from their positions.

The sole purpose of banning political signs was to remove politics from school, elevate education, and make it a place that is inclusive to everyone. BLM and pride flags represent a segment of the population and are offensive to many people, thus making schools non-inclusive. The left's outrage at this ban proves these signs are politically motivated. They promote inclusivity to all, so why would making school safe for everyone be bad? Students' first amendment rights to express themselves via the clothing they wear still stands and is encouraged.

There was a large BLM and Pride rally in Newberg last Friday where supporters held and waved their signs to support this movement. The public square is the appropriate place for this and should stay out of our schools.


--Robyn Wheatley

Post Date: 2021-08-22 12:39:16

Last Update: 2021-08-22 15:03:25