From: pierrebarns@gmail.com <pierrebarns@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 7, 2022 8:28 AM
To: jared_mumford@sd33.bc.ca; willow_reichelt@sd33.bc.ca; carin_bondar@sd33.bc.ca; darrell_furgason@sd33.bc.ca; heather_maahs@sd33.bc.ca; barry_neufeld@sd33.bc.ca; david_swankey@sd33.bc.ca; rohan_arul@sd33.bc.ca
Cc: *****
Subject: Chilliwack School District - Books Concerns

 

Dear Trustees,

I trust that you are passionate about helping students succeed at the Chilliwack School District and I recognize you have a challenging and demanding job, so I will try to make it short, but this is an important matter.

I have reason to believe that children or youth have been or could be likely abused or neglected based on what I have seen and information I have found on your library site; I am concerned about the safety and well-being of those under your authority about a serious matter that is happening within your school. As a Canadian citizen and under B.C. law, I have a duty to report the following concerns.

Children ages from 5 years old up to 17 years old at the schools mentioned below have been or are at risk of being exposed to books containing sexual references, sexual activity, sexual material, and books showing a person who is engaged in or is depicted as engaged in explicit sexual activity. The main characteristics of those books relate to sexual activity and expose children to individuals engaging in sexually explicit acts, including exposure to adult pornography, and encouraging children to masturbate or watch others masturbate.

It is important to know that we do not have to prove that a child has been abused in order to report abuse. If we observe or hear about concerning behavior or an inappropriate situation between an adult and a child within an organization, such as a school, daycare, or sports program, and as mentioned above due to mandatory laws in most provinces in Canada we must report our concern to the organization.

According to the Canadian Center for Child Protection, a non-contact sexual abuse is as follows:

I understand that resources are to be inclusive and suitable based on diverse social considerations. Nevertheless, resources are to be ages appropriate, and within the boundary of the rules of law. In good faith, I would advise the School Board to remove those books from the library, contact the librarian, review those books with teachers and parents, and make sure that all book selection policy has been followed. Please advise on how the board will proceed.

Hope the following information will help you better understand the concern mentioned above. If you need more information regarding those books, please do not hesitate to ask.

 

On another note, I found it disturbing that Trustees Willow found fantastic a book like The Hate U Give and that she thinks concerned parents like myself are “ridiculous human being”.

This book is loaded with profanity and swearing language including words (fuck 97 times, cocaine 2 times, bitch 14 times, and n*** 9 times)

How will the board respond to her comment? and does her view representative of the board’s vision?

 

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Kind Regards,

Pierre Barns

236-458-7269

 

Canadian Trustees raising their concern about the contents of the book in school:

https://www.facebook.com/LauraLynnTylerThompson/videos/814081779570576

Here is a video of a Mother in the USA complaining to the school board about the book The Glass Castle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgRsqrMC4Lk

 

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”SCHOOL ACT [RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 412

Provision of educational program

Section 75

(7)Subject to the regulations, a board

 

(a)is responsible for evaluating all of the educational programs and services provided by the board, including services provided under an agreement under section 86 (1) (a), and”

 

TEACHERS ACT

[SBC 2011] CHAPTER 19

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Here are some screenshots of the book It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie h. Harris and Michael Emberly are available at the following schools:

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Here are some screenshots of the book Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg available at the following Schools:

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 Here are some screenshots of the book All Boys aren't Blue a memoir-manifesto by George M Johnson available at the following School:

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 Here are some screenshots of the book a Quick and Easy Guide to Queer and Trans Identities by Mady G & R and JR Zucherberg available at the following School:

·         BC           Chilliwack              Secondary             Chilliwack Secondary School             a quick & easy guide to queer & trans identities               https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/45472/search/all?q=A%20quick%20&%20easy%20guide%20to%20queer%20=&%20trans%20identities

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 Here are some screenshots of the book Rick available at the following School:

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 Here are some screenshots of the book The Other Boy available at the following School:

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 Here are some screenshots of the book The Hate U Give Me available at the following School:

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 Here are some screenshots of the book The Glass Castle available at the following School:

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From: Darrell Furgason <darrell_furgason@sd33.bc.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, June 7, 2022 2:32 PM
To: pierrebarns@gmail.com; Jared Mumford <jared_mumford@sd33.bc.ca>; Willow Reichelt <willow_reichelt@sd33.bc.ca>; Carin Bondar <carin_bondar@sd33.bc.ca>; Heather Maahs <heather_maahs@sd33.bc.ca>; Barry Neufeld <barry_neufeld@sd33.bc.ca>; David Swankey <david_swankey@sd33.bc.ca>; Rohan Arul <Rohan_Arul@sd33.bc.ca>
Cc: *****
Subject: Re: Chilliwack School District - Books Concerns

 

Thank you Pierre,

 

I appreciate the solid research you have done regarding these inappropriate books depicting explicit sex acts. I will do all I can to protect children from these type of "resources" being brought into our schools by rogue/activist teachers, librarians or staff. The Board is charged with reviewing learning resources, and this task must not be done by others, whether teachers or not.

 

I am sorry for the insulting, unprofessional and totally unnecessary response from Trustee Willow Reichelt. With her demeaning comment about you as a human being, she has shown her complete lack of decorum and inability to fulfill her role as a Trustee, which is to listen to the public with genuine interest and concern.

 

Regards,

 

Darrell Furgason PhD

School Trustee SD33 

 

From: Jared Mumford <jared_mumford@sd33.bc.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, June 7, 2022 3:07 PM
To: Darrell Furgason <darrell_furgason@sd33.bc.ca>; pierrebarns@gmail.com <pierrebarns@gmail.com>; Willow Reichelt <willow_reichelt@sd33.bc.ca>; Carin Bondar <carin_bondar@sd33.bc.ca>; Heather Maahs <heather_maahs@sd33.bc.ca>; Barry Neufeld <barry_neufeld@sd33.bc.ca>; David Swankey <david_swankey@sd33.bc.ca>; Rohan Arul <Rohan_Arul@sd33.bc.ca>
Cc: *****
Subject: RE: Chilliwack School District - Books Concerns

 

Hello Pierre,

 

Thank you for your email. Our district relies on education professionals to choose the 1000’s of resources in our schools, and, if a resource is in question by either a staff member, student or parent, there is a process with which it can be challenged.  The overarching guide to resource inventory is outlined by the Ministry of Education and you can find that criteria online.

 

If you are pursuing a formal complaint regarding a trustee, you can email me or the Secretary Treasurer directly.

 

Trustee Furgason, I will remind you of your role as a Trustee in bringing dignity of office and specifically your adherence to our code of conduct which clearly outlines civic behavior and decorum.

 

Respectfully,

Jared

 

************************

Jared Mumford

Board Chair

Ph: 604 845 4162

Twitter:@jaredmumford

Pronouns: he, him, his

 

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I am privileged to work, learn and play on the unceded traditional territory of the Pilalt, Ts’elxwéyeqw and Sema:th tribes.

************************

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may contain privileged or confidential information. It is solely for use by the individual for whom it is intended, even if addressed incorrectly. If you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender; do not disclose, copy, distribute, or take any action in reliance on the contents of this information; and delete it from your system. Any other use of this e-mail is prohibited. Thank you for your compliance.

 

From: Darrell Furgason
Sent: Tuesday, June 7, 2022 3:30 PM
To: Jared Mumford; pierrebarns@gmail.com; Willow Reichelt; Carin Bondar; Heather Maahs; Barry Neufeld; David Swankey; Rohan Arul
Cc: *****
Subject: Re: Chilliwack School District - Books Concerns

 

Trustee Mumford,

 

I would like to remind YOU, as Chair that you have deliberately ignored a RUDE, UNPROFESSIONAL, DEMEANING remark by the Vice Chair towards a member of the public.... a remark that has gone out to a wide audience.  Since you have selectively chosen to ignore that total lack of decorum, I want to encourage the public that Trustee Reichelt's behavior isn't right, normal, or appropriate as a Trustee. It is disheartening to have to point that out to a member of the public who has been called a "ridiculous human being" by the Vice Chair of a Board of Education.

 

So please, open your eyes, and act with consistency in your role as Chair. Your moral "outrage" at my accurate comment about Trustee Reichelt's behavior only reveals your own bias, and blindness.

 

Regards,

 

Darrell Furgason PhD

School Trustee SD33

 

From: Jared Mumford <jared_mumford@sd33.bc.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, June 7, 2022 3:41 PM
To: Darrell Furgason <darrell_furgason@sd33.bc.ca>; pierrebarns@gmail.com <pierrebarns@gmail.com>; Willow Reichelt <willow_reichelt@sd33.bc.ca>; Carin Bondar <carin_bondar@sd33.bc.ca>; Heather Maahs <heather_maahs@sd33.bc.ca>; Barry Neufeld <barry_neufeld@sd33.bc.ca>; David Swankey <david_swankey@sd33.bc.ca>; Rohan Arul <Rohan_Arul@sd33.bc.ca>
Cc: *****
Subject: RE: Chilliwack School District - Books Concerns

 

Thanks Trustee Furgason,

 

As Chair I have iterated to Pierre the process for submitting a formal complaint against a Trustee.

 

Please do your part by adhering to our code of conduct.

 

Respectfully,

Jared

 

************************

Jared Mumford

Board Chair

Ph: 604 845 4162

Twitter:@jaredmumford

Pronouns: he, him, his

A logo for a school Description automatically generated

I am privileged to work, learn and play on the unceded traditional territory of the Pilalt, Ts’elxwéyeqw and Sema:th tribes.

************************

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may contain privileged or confidential information. It is solely for use by the individual for whom it is intended, even if addressed incorrectly. If you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender; do not disclose, copy, distribute, or take any action in reliance on the contents of this information; and delete it from your system. Any other use of this e-mail is prohibited. Thank you for your compliance.

 

 

From: Darrell Furgason <darrell_furgason@sd33.bc.ca>
Sent: June 7, 2022 4:12 PM
To: Jared Mumford <jared_mumford@sd33.bc.ca>; pierrebarns@gmail.com; Willow Reichelt <willow_reichelt@sd33.bc.ca>; Carin Bondar <carin_bondar@sd33.bc.ca>; Heather Maahs <heather_maahs@sd33.bc.ca>; Barry Neufeld <barry_neufeld@sd33.bc.ca>; David Swankey <david_swankey@sd33.bc.ca>; Rohan Arul <Rohan_Arul@sd33.bc.ca>
Cc: *****
Subject: Re: Chilliwack School District - Books Concerns

 

Jared,

 

Once again you have missed the point. It is Trustee Rechelt that has failed to address the public with appropriate respect and decorum. I have merely pointed that out. I am here for public education, not to promote the philosophical and political ideology of a Trustee who feels free to insult a member of the public. I do not see your correction nor admonition to Trustee Reichelt, so I am free to conclude that your leadership as Chair is blind......and willfully so.

 

Regards.

 

Darrell Furgason PhD

School Trustee SD33

From: pierrebarns@gmail.com <pierrebarns@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2022 8:14 AM
To: jared_mumford@sd33.bc.ca; willow_reichelt@sd33.bc.ca; carin_bondar@sd33.bc.ca; darrell_furgason@sd33.bc.ca; heather_maahs@sd33.bc.ca; barry_neufeld@sd33.bc.ca; david_swankey@sd33.bc.ca; rohan_arul@sd33.bc.ca
Cc: *****
Subject: FW: Chilliwack School District - Books Concerns

 

Thank you Mr. Furgason, for your comments.

 

I posted the following on Facebook regarding the Book "The Hate U Give":

 

"Another inclusive popular book in our BC School Library.

 

Available in Elementary schools in Surrey, Langley, Burnaby, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and many other locations.

 

The book uses the following words (with the number of occurrences)

Fuck (97 times)

Cocaine (2 times)

Bitch (14 times)

Drug (60 times)

Shit (239 times)

Damn (121 times)

N**** (9 times)

 

Do I really need to say more about it???"

 

Ms. Reichelt responded with "The book was fantastic, and you are a ridiculous human being."

 

First of all, “ … you are a ridiculous human being” is a childish ad hominem attack that doesn’t address any comment I made. Secondly, for her to attack a concerned parent who raises issues about the book and then insult me is reprehensible and totally unprofessional and for that, she needs to be censured. Thirdly, her endorsement of this book as Vice-chair also reflects badly on her personally and on the board as a whole.

 

Using the word “fantastic” to describe a book that contains sexually explicit material and profane language and is readily available in our schools indicates clearly that Ms. Reichelt is not guided by any universal standards of right and wrong. This foul language lifts the boundaries most parents have set for their children and presents a malevolent dimension that must be curtailed and eliminated. She is blinded by her emotions about the subject and does not understand that books like these are used to desensitize children and make them easy prey for predators.

 

Rather than guiding and protecting our children, she offers up our defenseless children to the degradation of an immoral author and others of their ilk. It makes it easier for potential abusers to target our children. This is a clear example of endorsing a book that may be used by evil people to groom children. Her lack of awareness of this possibility indicates clearly that she has few moral principles and is comfortable with discarding virtuous principles.

 

I call the board to take seriously their role to guide and PROTECT our children rather than offering opportunities for abusers to use these books to capture the hearts and minds of our children.

 

In regards to the report, thank you for your courage to tell the truth. You are bringing dignity to the board by putting children's safety before politics.

 

Jared should know that there is a duty to report medical, mental, physical, and sexual abuse done to children, and these matters must be put above politics. Child safeguarding concerns us all. Jared is not above the supremacy of God and the rules of law. By acknowledging my email but refusing to address the issue, bullying you, and directing me to a circle of useless bureaucratic actions, he is refusing to address the concern raised regarding child abuse.

 

My conclusion is that for the safety of children and the community, he should step down. Community concern about child abuse should always be taken seriously. Jared has the power to protect potential victims but nevertheless chooses not to act on their behalf. Any rational person would wish to prevent sexual abuse. But not ideologically driven individuals who are more loyal to their ideology than to their duty and responsibilities…

 

Kind Regards.

 

Pierre Barns

236-458-7269

 

 

From: Pierre Barns <pierrebarns@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2022 9:21 AM
To: Jared Mumford <jared_mumford@sd33.bc.ca>
Subject: Re: FW: Chilliwack School District - Books Concerns

 

Good morning Jared,

 

What is the process for submitting a formal complaint against a Trustee?

 

Regards,

 

Pierre Barns

236-458-7269

 

 

 

From: pierrebarns@gmail.com <pierrebarns@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2022 8:00 AM
To: jared_mumford@sd33.bc.ca
Cc: willow_reichelt@sd33.bc.ca; carin_bondar@sd33.bc.ca; darrell_furgason@sd33.bc.ca; heather_maahs@sd33.bc.ca; barry_neufeld@sd33.bc.ca; david_swankey@sd33.bc.ca; rohan_arul@sd33.bc.ca
Subject: RE: FW: Chilliwack School District - Books Concerns

 

Good morning Jared,

 

Precisely I want to make a sexual misconduct complaint regarding Willow. Perhaps I should make a sexual misconduct complaint against you since Willow claims to represent the view of the Board.

 

A least three Trustees in the Chilliwack School Board agree that the books mentioned below contain sexually explicit material. Nevertheless, Willow chooses to promote those books on social media and encourage everyone to “read banned books.”

She also undermined the integrity of the teaching profession and teachers in your district by stating that “no one advocating book banning in 2022 has any business being involved in public education,” or maybe it is a direct threat to teachers and Trustees who think that those books should be banned.

 

I am requesting that this email be forwarded to the Chilliwack police liaison officer and the head of the Chilliwack RCMP, as I do not trust that you are taking this issue seriously.

For that reason, I have attached all board members. I expect some of them will forward this email and previous communications related to this issue to the authorities mentioned above.

 

Regards,

 

Pierre Barns

236-458-7269

 

Reference here and examples of sexual misconduct cases are attached to this email:

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