Legal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Williamson County, TN - April 18, 2024
In a landmark decision, the Tennessee Court of Appeals has overturned a previous ruling concerning the Williamson County School Board’s curriculum, specifically the use of the Wit & Wisdom curriculum, which had been contested by Parents' Choice Tennessee and local parents. This reversal allows for further court proceedings to challenge the curriculum’s compliance with state laws regarding educational standards.
The appellate court has notably reinstated the claim regarding the alleged use of Common Core-aligned instructional materials, deemed non-compliant with Tennessee's educational statutes. This decision underscores the importance of adhering to state laws designed to maintain the integrity of educational content and the rights of parents to influence their children’s education.
Parents' Choice Tennessee, representing over 1,400 stakeholders, including parents and grandparents from Williamson County and beyond, continues to advocate for educational content that aligns with community values and statutory requirements. The organization is dedicated to ensuring that educational materials are not only lawful but also reflect the values of Williamson County families.
This case does not just affect those directly involved but also sets a precedent that could influence educational practices throughout Tennessee. As the case returns to the lower courts, Parents' Choice Tennessee and the involved families look forward to a thorough review of the curriculum under the guidelines set forth by state law.
For continued updates and more information, please visit www.parentschoicetennessee.org or @parentschoicetn on socials.
Contact:
Larry L. Crain, Esq.
(615) 376-2600
larry@crainlaw.legal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Parents Group Sues School Board Over Critical Race Theory
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (July 8, 2022) - Parents’ Choice Tennessee, a parents’ advocacy group, filed suit today in Franklin, Tennessee, challenging the school board’s adoption of a curriculum that the group says violates Tennessee laws prohibiting the teaching of Critical Race Theory and Common Core.
Named as plaintiffs in the case are James and Patricia Lucente, parents of a first-grader enrolled in the school system. The complaint, which names as defendants the Williamson County Board of Education, its Superintendent Jason Golden, Assistant Superintendent Dave Allen, and the State Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn, alleges that a language arts curriculum known as Wit & Wisdom is replete with age-inappropriate materials which promote a skewed and racist view of history and portrays one race as inherently superior to another, or inherently privileged and oppressive.
“The curriculum was adopted through a process in violation of state law, and over the objections of several parents and educators who raised serious concerns about the graphic, racist, and age-inappropriate nature of much of its content,” said Ms. Lucente.
“Wit & Wisdom uses Social Emotional Learning to masquerade as a sort of “feel good” approach that steers young elementary-age children to horrific discussions of the savagery of slavery, war, misery, sexual aggression and death. Wit & Wisdom is conditioning our children to view the world through the eyes of a critical theorist which is destructive and divisive. It’s very clear that this failed curriculum focuses more on political literacy instead of literacy. Not only has Williamson County failed to protect our children from this harmful material, they have also failed to protect our teachers by instructing them to teach this questionable and destructive material with fidelity or else,” said Lucente.
“The claims presented in this lawsuit raise serious constitutional concerns regarding the parental liberty rights of parents to direct and control the education and upbringing of their children,” said Larry Crain, attorney for the parent group. “The school system has turned a deaf ear to these concerns, and this is what has prompted this action.”
The lawsuit alleges that the Wit & Wisdom materials present age-inappropriate material that causes children guilt, anguish, and other forms of psychological harm, and discusses the United States as an irredeemably racist country. It seeks declaratory judgment to declare the use of this curriculum a violation of state law, and an injunction blocking its further use in the classroom.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry L. Crain, Esq. (615) 376-2600