Dupage Policy Journal

District 21 State Senate candidate Kathleen Murray is calling out Naperville District 203 after a DuPage Policy Journal report revealed one of its teachers showed boys how to apply nail polish and read aloud to the class from a book that teaches about transgenderism.

“Illinois public schools are falling behind in national rankings yet instead of focusing on education to create contributing members of society, institutions like Naperville District 203 and Elmwood Elementary are encouraging topics of a sexual nature in the classroom at an inappropriate age,” Murray said in an email to DuPage Policy Journal. “Sex needs to stay out of the classroom and teachers should not be permitted to groom or push their agendas on students.”

“While it is important for schools to foster a safe, supportive and inclusive environment, it is highly inappropriate and worrisome that schools and teachers are pushing their personal agendas, whether sexual, political or cultural, on children," Murray said. "It simply does not belong in the classroom. It is the parents’ responsibility – not teachers or the schools – to determine if these topics get discussed at home. Teachers should not be permitted to openly discuss topics of a sexual nature nor push topics of sex and gender on children.  Not only can these topics make children uncomfortable but the decision and the timing of when it’s appropriate to discuss questions of this nature lies solely at the discretion of the parents, not the school system. Heavy sex topics being introduced at such a young age can cause confusion and be distressing to the delicate minds of growing children and ultimately become a distraction which diverts focus from education to topics that are too mature for such a young audience.”

“Furthermore, there should be complete transparency and requirements of teachers to advise and receive approval in advance prior to engaging in any nonacademic related topics, particularly of a sexual nature," Murray said. “There has been a dramatic shift in power recently where teachers are becoming emboldened to step into the role of parent as opposed to remaining as educators. It’s no surprise that our national average continues to decline in academic proficiency and academic achievement. Schools don’t own our children.  Power needs to be relinquished from the teachers and schools and shift back to parents where it belongs. If elected I will support legislation to empower parents in their children’s education.”

District 21 includes the communities of Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lisle and Naperville. It is currently represented by State Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville).  

Murray’s comments come after third-grade teacher Nick Cosme was outed for questionable classroom behavior.

According to sources, Cosme, 25, requested his new students to declare their "pronouns," implying that the boys in his class might request that he refer to them as "she" rather than "he." Cosme read "My Shadow Is Pink” to the class, a book about a boy who “likes princesses, fairies and things 'not for boys.'”

In one chapter of the book, the father is shown holding his son's collar while wearing a dress and consoling him over his reluctance to wear a dress to school.

“So put on that dress and get back to school. If someone won’t like you then they are the fool,” the passage reads.

Earlier this year Florida passed a law prohibiting conversations regarding gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms.

On July 1, the Florida law became effective.

In the interim, SB818 in Illinois had led to demands that children understand gender identity as early as the second grade.

Murray’s platform touches on the curriculum and environment in schools.

She noted her stance against masking in schools back in February in the wake of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mask mandate being overturned by a downstate court.

Politicians in Illinois and school districts that pursued mask mandates despite the restraining order finding the practice unlawful are chastised by Murray.