Opinion | Michigan’s Gender Studies Secret

Carol Beth Litkouhi

requested the Rochester group college district to present her extra details about a faculty’s course on the Historical past of Ethnic and Gender Research. The varsity slowrolled her request, offering minimal data. With the assistance of the Mackinac Middle, she submitted a FOIA request to see what college students have been studying in a category that her youngster may later resolve to take.

The Mackinac Middle’s curiosity is in transparency that “affords dad and mom the chance to know what their kids are studying, and to totally interact with native authorities officers about these classes.” The FOIA sought entry to scholar assignments and studying for the category in addition to lesson plans and different supplies ready by the trainer.

That appears like a easy request, however the college district argued that academics don’t depend as public workers as a result of they’re members of the academics union, the Michigan Training Affiliation, and thus don’t depend as members of a “public physique” beneath FOIA. Huh?

Choose Cunningham purchased that argument, and he writes that the Michigan Freedom of Data Act is supposed to use solely to public workers who work within the govt department of state authorities, and thus academics and their work product are exempt.

“Even assuming, arguendo, that public college academics are ‘public our bodies’ for the aim of FOIA requests,” the decide writes, “a overview of the courtroom file, pleadings, briefs and proof provided present RCSD has not ready, owned, used, possessed or retained the paperwork requested” (daring in unique). How is it doable, not to mention logical, for a faculty district to not put together, personal or use paperwork that type a part of its curriculum?

The varsity district’s aim right here is to forestall dad and mom from questioning what’s taught. However public colleges needs to be held to the identical transparency requirements as different public workers. Their work is funded by taxpayers and they’re accountable to taxpayers and oldsters. Academics’ salaries are publicly out there, so why would their work product be totally different? The Mackinac Middle is interesting the ruling.

Transparency from public officers is a core precept of democratic self-government. Educators know that colleges thrive in communities the place dad and mom care about training and volunteer their time to assist colleges. The Rochester obstruction is an insult to the dad and mom and taxpayers who pay their salaries.