From: pierrebarns@gmail.com <pierrebarns@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2022 7:08 AM
To: stan.petersen@abbyschools.ca; rhonda.pauls@abbyschools.ca; phil.anderson@abbyschools.ca;
freddy.latham@abbyschools.ca; korky.neufeld@abbyschools.ca;
preet.rai@abbyschools.ca; shirley.wilson@abbyschools.ca;
Nathan.Ngieng@abbyschools.ca
Cc: *****
Subject: Abbotsford School District BC - Books Concerns
Dear Trustees,
The government gave authority for
education governance to locally elected school boards. School trustees are
elected to local school boards to act for the legislature and for their local
community.
School trustees exist for the
children, and their role is to guide, protect, defend, and advocate for them.
Therefore, educational policies are developed on what is best for the
growth, protection, and development of the whole child.
Trustees partner with the
parents as they provide the children with the best possible teachers and
educational opportunities. In doing so, they cannot usurp the role of the
parents and family.
It seems that the process of
guiding, protecting, defending, and advocating for our children is at serious
risk.
Most authorities believe our
schools are safe. Others are beginning to question that point of view.
Why? Look what’s been happening in
our schools. Safe zones, safe spaces, safe sex, safe puberty blockers, safe
cross-sex hormone, safe “gender clinics”, and now safe sexually explicit
material in the school library. Our children are no longer safe! They are in danger.
Child Sexual Abuse by K-12 School
Personnel in Canada https://www.protectchildren.ca/en/resources-research/child-sexual-abuse-by-school-personnel-in-canada-report/
As a parent and Canadian citizen, I
am concerned about the safety and well-being of those children under your
authority. 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 the information I
have found on your library site. I believe that books and information found on
your library site cause severe risks to the safety and well-being of our
children under your authority and care. Children ages 5 years old and up to 17
years old at the schools cited below have been or are at risk of being exposed
to these books containing sexual references, sexual activity, and sexual
material. Some books also show children and adults engaged in or 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.
These books have a sinister agenda.
They are not guided by any universal standards of right and wrong. Their foul
language lifts the boundaries most parents have set for their children and
presents a malevolent dimension that must be curtailed and eliminated. They are
used to desensitize children and make them easy prey for predators. Rather than
guiding and protecting our children, keeping these books in the libraries
offers up our defenseless children to the degradation of immoral authors and
others of their ilk. In addition, it makes it easier for potential abusers to
target our children.
On the one hand, in the name of
political correctness, we claim to protect our children from racism and our
inconvenient history, while on the other hand, in the name of diversity, we
expose them to pornography and toxic sexual behavior. I understand that
resources must be inclusive and suitable based on diverse social
considerations. Nevertheless, resources are to be age-appropriate and within
the boundary of the rules of law.
According to the Canadian Center
for Child Protection, non-contact sexual abuse is as follows:
In good faith, I would advise
the School Board to immediately remove those books from the library, contact
the librarian, review those books with teachers and parents, and review
material selection policies. Please advise on how and when the board will proceed.
I include the following information
to help you better understand the abovementioned concern. Please do not
hesitate to ask if you need more information regarding those books in your
library system.
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
Be aware of a series of
questionable books found in the Abbotsford School System:
It’s Perfectly Normal:
This book has been around for 24 years and
has, in one sense, become the guidebook for sex education. It has the
distinction of being the most frequently banned book in school libraries across
North America.
Like previously mentioned books, it is
illustrated using colorful cartoon-style pictures. These are unnecessarily
graphic, showing pictures of various heterosexual and homosexual sexual
intercourse and actions.
Sex is a Funny Word:
Quick and Easy Guide to
Queer and Trans Identities:
Rick:
The Hate U Give Me:
The Glass Castle:
All Boys aren't Blue a
memoir-manifesto:
The Gender Queer:
George:
George is a text-only story of a
fourth-grade10-year-old boy who explores transitioning. Though others see him as
male, George has long felt that he is a girl, and he wishes for people to see
that truth.
The author weaves in the school play of
Charlotte’s Web as a background to this transitioning story and hits all the
emotional tones.
This play will let everyone know that George is
a “girl.”
The book promotes ways to hide or disguise
Internet searches.
George expresses an unhealthy and abnormal
disgust toward his male organ.
From there, it moves on to hormone therapy and
surgery as acceptable and helpful steps to complete the transition.
The reader is left with the impression that
this complex and complicated gender dysphoria and its “treatment” is simple and
straightforward.
Every character who agrees is lovely and
thoughtful, while those who disagree are meanies.
Written by a non-binary author, it obviously is
a very agenda-driven book.
The Gender Book:
Self-described
as “the GENDER book is a fun, colourful, community-based resource, which illustrates
the beautiful diversity of gender - a gender 101 for anyone and everyone.”
Fully illustrated in a cartoon format, it immediately attracts
elementary school students.
It promotes the idea that gender is based on personal preference
rather than arbitrary verifiable biological science and the scientific method.
Agenda-driven, this book reads like a book written by a committee.
(It was)
The following cartoon illustrates our point:
The Other Boy:
From: pierrebarns@gmail.com <pierrebarns@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2022 11:36 AM
To: korky.neufeld@abbyschools.ca; mike.rauch@abbyschools.ca;
rupi.kanda-rajwan@abbyschools.ca; stan.petersen@abbyschools.ca;
preet.rai@abbyschools.ca; jared.white@abbyschools.ca;
shirley.wilson@abbyschools.ca
Cc: *****
Subject: FW: Abbotsford School District BC - Books Concerns
Dear Respected
Trustees of Abbotsford:
I am writing to you in the capacity of a parent of four school-aged children
from Abbotsford. Ever since I came to learn about some of the books in my kids'
school libraries and what is being taught to minors, I have connected with and
befriended numerous parents and caregivers who share my concerns about some of
the material being presented to children in the name of diversity and
inclusivity. Some of these people are parents of Abbotsford students who
reached out to me after my online interview with a national news media outlet.
In a display of interfaith and intercultural diversity, people who have
solicited my support are Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jews, Atheists,
etc. They all share one thing in common with me, namely, a serious worry about
pornographic materials being promoted in our public school system.
I understand that it is challenging to talk about this because of the intense
institutional pressure placed upon you to accept all approved curricular
materials. However, the governance of these materials and their effects on the
lives of children are not the sole concern of any single agency or institution,
but of the community as a whole and particularly parents who have a fundamental
right to raise their children as they see fit. Schools should not be at odds
with parents and the broader community.
I am concerned that
the previous Abbotsford School Board has made no effort to inform parents about
the controversial topics taught to our children at school, such as gender
expressions, and sexual identities, and used history as a battleground between
people of different races. Despite the good intentions of the discussion, given
the numerous updates, emails, and meetings, open communication with parents was
not a priority for the board. See the email below.
Educators should encourage students to
strive for excellence, be resilient in the face of adversity, and be
independent thinkers. They should teach students the diversity of thought and
respect dissenting views. Educators should also be mindful of students’
personal boundaries and stop subjecting them to woke conversations in a
classroom full of their peers. They should empower students rather than
instruct them to scan for oppression and micro-aggressions constantly. The
trend in teaching towards Critical Pedagogy, with its emphasis on bringing
politics into the classroom, deprives students of a balanced education, free of
bias, and the ability to analyze all available evidence to develop informed
judgments.
Educators are touching on several
contentious ideas that can be subject to misinterpretation depending on how
they are framed. Knowing whether students walk away with a healthy
understanding of the world around them is made even more difficult when parents
are not informed. School board transparency is important for parents who play
the central role in the way our children view themselves.
The Abbotsford School Board may have been misled
by sexual deviants to believe that it was acceptable to allow the distribution
of obscene materials and pursue a dangerous ideological agenda without
considering the well-being of our children. The Professional Standards for BC
Educators stated the following: “Educators treat students equitably with
acceptance, dignity and respect. Educators understand
the importance of confidentiality, and protect student privacy, unless
disclosure is required by law. Educators do not abuse or exploit students or minors
for personal, sexual, ideological, material or other advantage”
The proponents
of inappropriate content, who hide behind the theory of Diversity, Inclusion
and Equity (DIE), commit a form of child abuse, a phenomenon that threatens the
safety and well-being of our children across Canada.
According to the
Canadian Centre for Child Protection report on Child Sexual Abuse by K-12
School Personnel in Canada, 67% of offenders worked in public schools, 26% in
Catholic/Christian schools, and 7% in private schools.
Child Sexual
Abuse by K-12 School Personnel in Canada 1997-2017:
Child Sexual
Abuse and Victimization by K-12 School Personnel in Canada 2017-2021:
https://www.protectchildren.ca/en/resources-research/school-report/
Child sexual abuse is an epidemic that impacts far too many
families and communities. Together parents, teachers, and community members can
make a difference, which is why it is imperative that we make it safe to
discuss this topic openly and frankly.
Teachers and Trustees have a moral and legal obligation to
protect children in their care. You might be the only adult in that child's
life who oversees them enough even to notice, let alone report, the abuse or
neglect. This is a given responsibility that is not to be taken lightly.
Many of you may be parents yourself; therefore, we reach
out to you as parents to other parents who may share some of our concerns about
sexually explicit material shown to children under your care.
Parents who contacted me would appreciate an opportunity to
discuss the abovementioned issues privately or publicly with trustees who may
share the same concerns. Please reply to this email or contact me
directly by phone so we can organize a meeting. We will follow up with you next week if we still await a
reply.
Kind Regards,
Pierre Barns
236-458-7269
Here is an educational video I
believe all of you should watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Ui9zP7ai0
Important Documents:
List of books in the Abbotsford School
District:
https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZMrvWVZvgUPRJ3WYpps45Jyh9Xr7j9a1iKk
https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZgrvWVZGKyG2Xv0TrSeezO0fu2Y3RpDPceX
Cases of teacher misconduct related to
inappropriate material shown to children:
https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=kZwrvWVZRxuamYLAPlJwCqN9kh4RDRSya0GV
Sexual misconduct cases vs inappropriate
material example:
https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZGrvWVZPbwcF2SowGbWPBAngM53xjBKx2nX
SOGI policy vs reality:
https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZirvWVZKzw54CWKHJfoRnEeLKTHEXIgOrEX
SOGI medical abuse:
https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZcrvWVZLhumsoUkhs85g6fW3mzAMucaQD1y
Archives – Abuse Lawsuits:
https://sogi123taskforce.com/archives-abuse-lawsuits/
Impact of Viewing Sexually Explicit
Material:
https://www.kidsintheknow.ca/pdfs/KIK_ImpactOfViewing_en.pdf
Pornographic content can harm children:
Exposure to Sexually Explicit Material
Consequences:
https://protectkidsonline.ca/app/en/info_exposure
BC References:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/public-safety/protecting-children/reporting-child-abuse
https://lss.abbyschools.ca/sites/default/files/Duty%20to%20report_0.pdf
Other provinces references:
https://oct.ca/resources/advisories/duty-to-report?sc_lang=en&
https://www.alberta.ca/what-is-child-abuse-neglect-and-sexual-exploitation.aspx
https://justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/fv-vf/caw-mei/p12.html
Library Link:
Abbotsford Christian
Elementary School (Library), Abbotsford, BC https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/6922
Abbotsford Middle
School https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/18094
Abbotsford School of
Integrated Arts (ASIA) - North Poplar Campus https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/55190
Abbotsford School of
Integrated Arts (ASIA) - Sumas Mountain Campus https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/36775
Abbotsford Senior Secondary
School https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/8281
Abbotsford Traditional
Middle https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/16136
Abbotsford Traditional
Secondary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/16136
Abbotsford Virtual
School https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/55099
Aberdeen
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/45796
ACS Middle/Secondary
(Library), Abbotsford, BC https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/7772
Alexander
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/40314
Auguston Traditional Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/54010
Barrowtown Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/31348
Blue Jay
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/26464
Bradner
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/53295
Centennial Park
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/28952
Chief Dan George
Middle https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/36743
Clayburn
Middle https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/14241
Clearbrook
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/23135
Colleen & Gordie Howe
Middle https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/16414
Dave Kandal
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/26279
Dormick Park Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/50359
Dr. Roberta Bondar
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/39418
Dr. Thomas A. Swift
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/33403
Eugene Reimer
Middle https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/34198
Godson
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/40999
Harry Sayers
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/56164
Irene Kelleher Totí:ltawtxw (House of
Learning) https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/126506
Jackson
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/22165
John MacLure
Community School https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/33828
King Traditional
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/30495
Margaret Stenersen
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/42116
Matsqui
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/38416
McMillan
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/33025
Mountain
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/60044
Mt. Lehman
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/26500
North Poplar
campus https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/55190
Pacific Christian School,
Abbotsford, BC https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/73361
Prince Charles
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/35676
Rick Hansen
Secondary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/28655
Robert Bateman
Secondary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/42550
Ross
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/34181
Sandy Hill
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/31388
South Poplar Traditional
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/57437
Surrey+A:H https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/16414
Ten-Broeck
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/29522
Terry Fox
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/45074
Upper Sumas
Elementary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/42014
W.J. Mouat
Secondary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/16272
William A. Fraser
Middle https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/26324
Yale Secondary https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/24985
EMAIL SEND TO THE ABBOTSFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT – JUNE 2022 ATTACHED TO THIS EMAIL
From: pierrebarns@gmail.com <pierrebarns@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023 9:13 AM
To: jared.white@abbyschools.ca
Cc: korky.neufeld@abbyschools.ca; mike.rauch@abbyschools.ca;
rupi.kanda-rajwan@abbyschools.ca; stan.petersen@abbyschools.ca;
preet.rai@abbyschools.ca; shirley.wilson@abbyschools.ca;
kevin.godden@abbyschools.ca
Subject: Concern About Sexually Explicit Material in Books
Trustee White,
Following our discussion yesterday, I am writing
to the Board to express my concern about the presence of sexually explicit
material in three books that are currently available in our school district. As
a concerned parent/community member, I believe it is important to address this
issue and take steps to ensure that students are not exposed to inappropriate
content.
The three books in question are "Gender
Queer" by Maia Kobabe, "Identical" by
Ellen Hopkins, and "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison. Each of these
books contains graphic sexual content that is not appropriate for children and
teenagers. While I understand the importance of providing students with diverse
perspectives and thought-provoking literature, I believe that we need to draw a
line when it comes to explicit sexual content that could be harmful to
children.
I urge the school board to review these books
and consider removing them from our school district's curriculum and libraries.
I also request that the school board implements a more thorough review process
to ensure that other books with explicit content are not added to our school
district's collection.
Here are the locations of the 3 books mentioned
above:
Gender Queer:
Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts (ASIA) -
Sumas Mountain Campus
https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/36775/search/all?q=GENDER%20QUEER
Abbotsford Senior Secondary
School
https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/8281/search/all?q=GENDER%20QUEER
The Bluest Eye:
Rick Hansen Secondary
https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/28655/search/all?q=the%20bluest%20eye
Robert Bateman
Secondary
https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/42550/search/all?q=the%20bluest%20eye
Yale Secondary
https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/24985/search/all?q=the%20bluest%20eye
Identical:
W.J. Mouat Secondary
https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/16272/search/all?q=IDENTICAL
Yale Secondary
https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/24985/search/all?q=IDENTICAL
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Pierre Barns
Excerpts of
the Books:
Gender Queer:
The Bluest Eye:
Identical:
From: Mike Rauch <Mike.Rauch@abbyschools.ca>
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2023 10:54 AM
To: pierrebarns@gmail.com
Cc: Jared White <Jared.White@abbyschools.ca>; Korky Neufeld
<Korky.Neufeld@abbyschools.ca>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Concern About Sexually Explicit Material in
Books
Hi Pierre.
Thank you for your email and
information. I can assure you that this topic will be further discussed
by the board. After a call with Jared, I was able to physically confirm
that the book Gender Queer was in the Abby Sr school library…I signed it out.
Please allow us to follow the
appropriate processes and internal discussions to determine the best path
forward.
Kind Regards,
Mike.
Mike Rauch, P.Eng / Abbotsford School Trustee - Vice Chair
mike.rauch@abbyschools.ca / Cell: 604.217.3657
Abbotsford School District. T. 604.859.4891 2790 Tims Street, Abbotsford, BC,
V2T 4M7 www.abbyschools.ca
From: Pierre Barns <pierrebarns@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2023 9:12 PM
To: Mike Rauch <Mike.Rauch@abbyschools.ca>
Cc: Jared White <Jared.White@abbyschools.ca>; Korky Neufeld <Korky.Neufeld@abbyschools.ca>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Concern About Sexually Explicit Material in
Books
Last time I tried
to follow the "appropriate processes" as instructed by the
superintendent's office they told me that books were not learning resources so
the form they told me to fill out was dismissed by them.
Anyway, what is the
progress on this, and what are the appropriate processes for all of you to
follow, to review and remove those books from schools?
Note that if those
books are staying on the school shelves and they hurt children that will be on
you, not on me, as a parent I did more than my job, now do yours.
Let me know if I
can help in any way.