Danvers PR

 

Overview

Danvers, MA sent a letter to all elementary school parents that the school intends to read two books a year about gender identity in grades PreK-5. The email included a reading list. Parents were told verbally that this is a state requirement. Subsequently, a video surfaced claiming that this list was sent to parents in other Massachusetts school districts as well.

Video reading all the books on the list

The public records request revealed that several organizations have sent LGBT themed reading lists to the school. In addition, staff at the school solicited books on gender identity.

Response

Emails to/from Danvers about LGBT books.

Request

Original 4/7/2022 Danvers Public Schools PR Request:

Hi,

I am curious about the origin of the transgender booklist and the letter sent home to parents. This is a public records request:

1. All emails sent from external addresses to Danvers school containing an attachment or text that is substantially similar to the one sent to families. (Eg similar book list or sample letter to send to families about LGBT books ).
2. All emails from either DESE or the Attorney General’s office on the subject of reading transgender and or LGBT themed books in any grades below 3.

Timeframe: Sept 1, 2021 to Feb 28, 2022


Notable documents

 

Memo on differential masking policy

Email conversations show that Danvers staff chose the books. This book list was not given to them by the state.

 

Memo on mask discipline

Librarians in Danvers and Sudbury participate in a discussion on the Massachusetts School Library Association mailing list about books for early elementary students about gender identity and gender stereotypes. Some of the books like Princess in Black are innocent stories, while others like When Aidan Became a Brother discuss gender identity.

We found that Danvers was subscribed to multiple mailing lists that promoted LGBT and CRT books and events.