Eureka High School associate principal sends email condemning “misinformed, close-minded parents”; appears to label parents as “hateful, vicious individuals”

On April 22, 2021, at 9:27 a.m., the literacy and speech coordinator for grades 6-12 in Missouri’s Rockwood School District sent a lengthy email to English Language Arts teachers and principals to address concerns that had been raised by parents. The email told teachers to hide lesson materials and assignments from parents in an effort to keep teaching material that parents did not want taught to their children in school.

A concerned citizen shared with Parents Defending Education an email that Eureka High School’s associate principal sent, responding to the email by the literacy and speech coordinator.

In the email, sent about half an hour later at 9:56 a.m., the associate principal said that she was “disheartened at the amount of power we are giving this group of misinformed, close-minded parents.”

She said, “The fact that our teachers cannot use the word ‘privilege’ brings tears to my eyes.” The associate principal then asserted, “We are doing a grave disservice to our students, all in the name of avoiding conflicts with hateful, vicious individuals.”

The associate principle addressed the email to the literacy and speech coordinator and the assistant superintendent for learning and support services.