Bulletin board with Pride symbols on hearts causes community divide at Manhattan elementary school
A bulletin board displaying a message about openness with multiple hearts at Wilson Creek School in Manhattan, which serves preschool through second grade students, has caused concern among some parents who say the symbols used are inappropriate.
The bulletin board has 12 hearts on it, two that read “open hearts” and “open minds” and 10 hearts with different colors. The display includes one heart with a rainbow design and a design with a white stripe and pink and blue stripes on both sides.
A rainbow flag is a symbol of the LGBTQ community, while the transgender pride flag has a white stripe with light pink and blue stripes on either side.
Jason Sommerfeld, who has two children who attend Wilson Creek School, said colorful symbols, particularly the transgender flag, shouldn’t be in a classroom and should be discussed at home.
“I just don’t want the colors that are represented to become a discussion amongst the children in the school. I have a firm belief with that being something that should be done at home,” Sommerfeld said.
Barbara Zaczek, who has two grandchildren who attend Wilson Creek School, said the bulletin board promotes inclusivity.
“All a child is going to see is something happy and delightful,” Zaczek said.
Manhattan Elementary District 114 Superintendent Russell Ragon said in an email the bulletin board was put up in August and, as of Tuesday, was still on display.
“At Wilson Creek, teachers are encouraged to use their hallway boards to celebrate the Wilson Creek Family they represent and to promote messages of positivity and kindness,” Ragon said in the email. “As our community grows, we continue to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion while prohibiting the addressing, discussing, or instructing on gender identity, sexual orientation, or political opinion within our curriculum.”
Sommerfeld, of Manhattan, said he found out about the bulletin board about a week ago when a friend sent him a text message.
“It was from friends of friends. There was a parent that was in the school that happened to see the bulletin board up ... took a picture of it and then sent that picture through a couple people and then it made its way to me,” Sommerfeld said.
Sommerfeld said his initial reaction was shock because about three years ago, as nationally parents were going to school board meetings to share their concerns about race discussions and sex education in schools, parents went to District 114 Board meetings to share similar concerns.
“I didn’t expect to see that up in the school,” Sommerfeld said. “To me, having the colors up there that represent certain issues that then brings those discussions up with the children or potentially brings those discussions up. They specifically told us that that would not be the case moving forward.”
Zaczek said she saw a picture of the bulletin board on Facebook. As she read the comments, she said she became appalled because a bulletin board promoting kindness has become the subject of hate.
“There was nothing on that bulletin board that would influence a child other than being happy,” Zaczek said. “It’s sad that a hate group has decided that they are going to see a conspiracy in every corner, and, according to them, their way is right and a professional establishment is wrong.”
Ragon declined to comment on the community’s response to the bulletin board as well as the district’s decision to keep the board on display and district policy for bulletin boards. School board members did not respond to request for comment.
Sommerfeld said he has talked to district officials about the bulletin board, and he hopes those discussions continue. Parents will be at the Jan. 10 board meeting to share their concerns, he said.
