Angel Silva sounded off on the Black Lives Matter Week of Action that is planned for the Ames Community School District.
Silva said he is an immigrant from Chile and has two children in elementary school. He said he is glad for the opportunity his children have to learn from the school and the district. He’s also grateful for the diversity in the community and has experienced racism firsthand.
Many of his best friends are black people and some are LGBTQ people – including his family.
“Regardless of that, I would like to know who decided to teach the Black Lives Matter principles to our children without asking parents for approval,” he said. “I think that is a question that many parents have. I try to teach my children to be polite, be respectful, be humble and do service to people as much as you can. And, respect everyone regardless of status, economic status – regardless of skin color or which country are they from. It doesn’t matter.”
Silva said he is concerned his children will learn about homosexuality and transgenderism.
“Biology teach you very clear what is a gender of a person and I understand that people make choices and everyone is allowed to make their own choices, but the only concern is why my children have to have this instruction in the school when they see their teacher as basically their heroes.
“Normally at this age, whatever they are teaching at the school, they’re going to believe because they are their heroes.”
Silva said the school should teach to respect people, minorities and everyone.
“But at this point, I would like myself and my wife to teach our children about this specific topic,” he said.
