Parent Testimonials

You can’t be neutral about a child’s identity. Our child is at Lab because we know they will be appreciated and supported for who they are. There’s nothing contestable about affirming their identity and making sure their classmates do as well.

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Neutrality isn't neutral because it perpetuates a status quo that is white supremacist, heteronormative, patriarchal, and Christian. Lab should be helping the next generation shape a world that is more inclusive than the one we currently live in. Lab should provide a safe space for learning, regardless of a teacher or student's identity. Neutrality isn't safe. It reinforces a message that identities that don't fit the status quo are less worthy, which is bad for everyone.
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Our Lab community does not need to wait for the formal adoption of the proposed Neutrality Viewpoints to understand their impact. In practice, these viewpoints already appear to be shaping administrative decision-making in ways that restrict educator expression—particularly with respect to curriculum, identity, and self-expression.

Based on direct experience and observation, some educators of color have been subjected to increased scrutiny and adverse administrative responses under these emerging neutrality frameworks. While efforts by DEI advocates to prevent the official implementation of such policies are appreciated, the reality is that actions consistent with these viewpoints have already occurred. Educators of color have been challenged for sharing their voices, histories, cultures, and lived experiences as part of their professional responsibilities and engagement within the Lab community.

In response to such expression, principals and mid-level administrators have initiated evaluative processes that undermine professional credibility and raise questions about educators’ commitment to students. These processes lack sufficient transparency and consistency, creating concerns about fairness, due process, and equitable application.

For those who are both Lab educators and Lab parents, these concerns are particularly acute. The existing power imbalance and unclear administrative procedures create circumstances in which raising questions or seeking accountability may result in perceived or actual retaliation. In some cases, the consequences of such actions appear to extend beyond employment-related matters and affect the provision of services to educators’ children who are enrolled as Lab students. This dynamic places families in an untenable position, where advocating for transparency and equity may carry unintended risks for their children.

Given that neutrality standards are already being enforced in practice, it is important to ask how the Lab community can ensure meaningful protections for students, families, and educators—particularly those from historically marginalized communities. How can educators who are also parents reasonably safeguard their professional roles while ensuring that their children continue to receive appropriate educational services within a system where neutrality violations may be alleged without clear, consistently applied safeguards?

These concerns are not hypothetical. They reflect real experiences within our community and warrant careful attention, transparency, and the development of clear protections to ensure fairness, accountability, and trust.

Thank you for engaging with these important questions on behalf of the Lab community.