Rachel Hine took the bold step of moving her family from New Mexico to Missouri after learning about gender-inclusive “closets” and other controversial ideas at her local high school.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hayne explained how she discovered what she called a “transgender closet” at her daughter’s high school, Las Cruces Centennial High School.
“There was a transgender closet, and that was really the last straw. I think I saw it pop up on Facebook. I’m not the type of person who thinks, ‘Oh, it’s on Facebook,’ so I looked it up. I tried it. That’s true. ” I searched on Google and found this. Yeah. The transgender closet at Centennial High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Their application for this grant was approved,” Hayne said.
She added: “And I thought, enough is enough. We’re not going to put our daughter through that. I’m not going to put my daughter through that. I’m not going to listen to all the messages that counselors and teachers are pushing on our kids. I don’t want that. I know some teachers, but that doesn’t mean the kids always have a teacher they can trust. A teacher who isn’t biased, or a teacher who doesn’t push that agenda.”
of it gets better The organization previously announced that in 2022, the high school “[b]Build a gender-inclusive closet that provides affirming items and clothing for transgender and gender nonconforming students. ”
Hein explained that the gender-inclusive closet was born out of years of dissatisfaction with the public education system.
Since the pandemic began, she has become more involved in her four children’s education, alternating between homeschooling and online learning.
When the children returned to school, she began to pay more attention to their education.
One initiative she took issue with was for the district to add 10 additional school days to the 2022-2023 calendar to compensate for pandemic closures.
Hein and other parents expressed their displeasure with the decision. As a “party day” A place where there was no real school work.
Gwen Warniment, the New Mexico Department of Public Instruction’s assistant secretary for teaching, learning, and assessment, also defended the extra days at a town hall meeting, saying that children “have more time with important adults.” I need to spend some time,” he said. The problem is the teachers in the classroom. ”
Hein added that the school board did not respond to their complaints and was of no help after voting in favor of an extra day.
“It was like, [school boards] I could hear them, but they weren’t really listening. They said something as trite as, “I hear your concerns, and I might be concerned about them, too.” But in reality, they were just going on their own path, their own trajectory, and it didn’t really matter. It didn’t really matter what community members said or even what students and teachers wanted,” Hayne said.
In contrast, Hayne praised Missouri schools and communities for being more open to parents and younger children.
“It was a completely different situation for us here. I’m not saying we’re not going in this direction or there aren’t certain districts that are going in the same direction. But in this region, New Mexico “I think there’s a lot more willingness to listen to parents and teachers and students than the state,” she said.
Hein added: “Certainly, it’s been a positive change. It’s a lot different here in terms of the neighborhood we’re in. My kids can go outside and play with the neighbors and they’re safe. It’s just that. It creates a greater sense of togetherness.”
She said she still knows some of the parents and teachers who remain at the Las Cruces schools.
“I would love to have them get involved. Attend school board meetings as a volunteer. And that’s sad, because if you don’t speak up, you won’t see change, and you’re not just someone who sits disgruntled in the background. Because it’s the only way,” Hayne said.
“It’s going to affect future generations and unless we stand up and say, no, enough is enough, there’s going to be a huge upheaval. This is not what we want within our schools. “And it’s not about hatred. It’s not about wanting to keep others out. It’s about using the school for the purpose it’s intended for,” she concluded.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Las Cruces Centennial High School for comment, but has not yet received a response.
