With a new school year underway, parents should be armed with information.
The most important thing parents can do is stay connected to their children. Ask what they learned at school, who they spent time with and whether anything at school made them uncomfortable. Those conversations matter. That’s how I discovered that my daughter was being forced to share a bathroom with a biological boy. She came home feeling uncomfortable and confused, and in that moment, I realized I couldn’t rely on the school to keep me informed.
Children’s first advocates are their parents. This school year, let’s stay engaged, ask questions and demand transparency in our schools. Our children deserve it, and parents deserve a meaningful voice in their education. I learned the hard way that parents aren’t always told what is going on in their children’s classrooms — and we shouldn’t accept being left in the dark.
If you agree, sign the petition supporting transparency and parental rights in New Mexico schools.
Kristy Ojinaga
Santa Fe