Midlands APPLE

Flamer, by Mike Curato

🧵My pal, @joclasp.bsky.social, hosted a drag queen book club for our organization, @midlandsapple.bsky.social, today at Yew Belong Community Center, where she highlighted 'Flamer' by @mikecurato.bsky.social. This important text was recently banned by our state superintendent of education...
#MomSky

Lazy Book Club time!
Join us Saturday at the Hideout in Weco, 10 am
We’ll be discussing “Blazing Towards Freedom”; no reading required!!

State Dept. of Ed board members: ed.sc.gov/state-board/...

The Instructional Materials Review Committee recommended the removal of all 10 books today. Speakers included one of the authors & 2 in favor of banning. The book bans will now be voted on by the SC Dept. of Ed’s board at their next meeting. Please contact your state school board rep!

Join us (virtually) today!!
One Beaufort County parent has challenged the state to remove 10 more books from ALL school libraries.
The ACLU of South Carolina is hosting a virtual watch party so we can support the advocates defending these titles and the FREEDOM TO READ!
Register here: bit.ly/3R3x4aa

Let's talk DEI.
Misconceptions about DEI include assuming DEI decisions are only about people of color.
Really, DEI decisions are based on context each time!

The SC DEI bill, H. 3927, IS NOT about equality or fairness.
It eliminates fairness & hides discriminatory practices from the public.

Instructional Materials Review Committee
Dr. Christian Hanley: dr_hanley@yahoo.com
Dr. David Matthis: dmmathis@ed.sc.gov
Dr. Cheryl Collier: cheryl.collier@ngu.edu
Ms. Joyce Crimminger: crimmingerj@gmail.com
Ms. Tammy Shore: tshore@saludaschools.org

Instructional Materials Review Committee
Dr. Christian Hanley: dr_hanley@yahoo.com
Dr. David Matthis: dmmathis@ed.sc.gov
Dr. Cheryl Collier: cheryl.collier@ngu.edu
Ms. Joyce Crimminger: crimmingerj@gmail.com
Ms. Tammy Shore: tshore@saludaschools.org

🚨The next round of book challenges!
Instructional Materials Review Committee, March 13, 1:00
Email addresses in next post
Ask the committee to keep these books!
#NoBookBans

H. 3927 will continue in the hearing phase. No date yet.
Full hall, overflow & line outside!
Testimony didn’t end until after 7:00!

We anticipate the Freedom Caucus and Moms for Liberty out in full force next time. We’ll issue a call to action when we have more details!
#Yestodei

It was a full, great day at the State House!
Thank you to all our new followers!
We’ve got work to do! 🍎
#PublicEducation

The DEI Bill, H. 3927 is STILL hearing testimony!
Thank you for showing up today and speaking out and for your written testimony!
#publiceducation

Here's a link to the bill: www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126.../b....

Pro Truth SC is hosting a webinar on March 2 to breakdown the bill and provide guidance for testimony writing. Pro Truth Webinar Registration: us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../Q....

Please consider emailing your written testimony against this bill to laurennelsonsheorn@schouse.gov no later than March 2.

If you can, head to the South Carolina State House for the committee hearing around 2:30 PM on March 4th. Many of you might already be downtown for the protests that day!

And did we mention that Black History Month and Women's History Month and Pride Month have been targeted? Gone, y'all. And this is just the tip of the iceberg!

🍎Scholarships like "STEM For Girls" that support girls studying in those fields will be eliminated. Why? Because the awards are gender-specific.

🍎Vendors that commit to DEI, like Sysco, would no longer be allowed to provide services to schools. Why? Because DEI would be "illegal".

🍎Girl Scouts who meet at schools will be harmed. Why? Because their organization is for girls.

🍎Professors of majors like African American Studies, Women's History, Feminist Literature, etc will not be able to teach their subjects. Why? Because those are gender- and race-oriented.

This is vitally important for many reasons, and while we know everyone is tired of having to constantly show up and advocate for democracy, we are BEGGING for people to be here now. There are many groups who will be harmed because of this bill, not limited to:

Trump administration creates registry for immigrants who are in the US illegally The Trump administration is creating a registry for all people who are in the U.S. illegally, and those who don’t self-report could face fines or prosecution.

apnews.com/article/ille... Trump administration creates registry for immigrants who are in the US illegally

Do not put your name on any registry until you consult @aclu.org
This is a trick to have ICE come to your door.

"The thing that people forget is that our collective voices are important. They are powerful when we work together. Instead of isolating yourself whenever challenging times happen, reaching out to the community of educators or reaching out to community organizations that can support you is vitally important."

From our interview with Mary Wood, high school English teacher and member of Midlands APPLE:

Full Q&A here: www.aclusc.org/en/news/qa-d...

Save the date!
Our March Learning Lab will be focused on teachers’ rights!

We’ll be joined by Brandi Sturdevant from the SCEA and local educational law attorney, Lydia Hendrix!
#Advocacy
#PublicEducation

🚨Call to Action!!!🚨
Lex 1 has called a special meeting tomorrow to review and possibly ban the Hunger Games.

They will allow speakers.
Last minute, but if you can attend please do. Bring your copy of the book! If they don’t let you speak just wave it around! 📘

I encourage y'all to read the lawsuit challenging the Partisanship Curriculum budget proviso in South Carolina. This filing is a brilliant lesson on the historic and duplicitous effort to marginalize Black voices and history in public schools. #readbannedbooks
www.naacpldf.org/wp-content/u...

Terms to know. #civics101

How a bill becomes a law, y'all!
#southcarolina

South Carolina House of Representative and Senate information.

We’re running a Civics 101 info campaign this week leading up to our Learning Lab!

Civic engagement during times like these is so essential.
#Civics101
#themoreyouknow
#Midlandsapple

Virtual Town Hall: What Dismantling the Department of Education Means for Texas Schools K-16 · AFT As a potential executive order to begin the dismantling of the Department of Education looms, Elon Musk and his DOGE forces have attempted to ransack Americans' private personal and financial data. ...

www.mobilize.us/aft/event/75...

Our third Lazy Book Club focuses on 'Blazing Toward Freedom' by Carolyn Jenkins. It tells the story of SC's "Mother of the Movement," Septima Clark.

You do not have to read the book to join us!
See you at the Hideout, March 15 at 10:00 am!