The following are closing comments by Commissioner Bertino at his Town Meeting on March 15, 2023:

Before concluding tonight, there’s something I’d like to share with you. You may have read recently in the local papers that the Commissioners oppose state legislation that would, without parental consent, allow for a questionable curriculum regarding social and sexual education for all grades starting with Kindergarten. This legislation is yet another effort to remove from our County local control. Further, and more egregiously, it articulates a perverse position by many in the Maryland legislature that they know better than parents how to rear their children. This condescension is alarming and it is wrong. Parents know what’s best for their children. And elected Boards of Education know what’s best for their communities.

We cannot allow ourselves to be victimized by state legislators who espouse dependency on the state over self-reliance of the family and who celebrate, promulgate and legislate wrong-headed ideas about how best to educate our children.

Education priorities should not obsess over whether little Johnny and little Janie are white or black or Asian or Hispanic or all of the above. It should not focus on making them feel guilty about being white or black or Asian or Hispanic or all of the above. Nor should it concentrate or encourage how little Johnny and little Janie identifies him or herself.

Such thinking is fashionable in the high-couture circles of state legislators. I prefer my fashion off the rack, not off the wall.

Education priorities should ensure that little Johnny and little Janie are productive, successful, disciplined, confident individuals, educated to take on the challenges of their generation, of our generation and of future generations.

Earlier today, Commissioner Bunting commented that, “the schools need to get back to education.” He’s right.

Worcester County taxpayers pay more than any other jurisdiction in the state to educate each child in the public school system. For generations, County government has prioritized education. It will continue to do so.

As a community we have an obligation to ensure our students have an optimum learning experience. We are not obligated to suffer gladly interference from Annapolis legislators. I ask that when you read about state efforts to hijack the prerogatives of our local school board, when you believe parental rights are being suffocated, that you raise your voices in discontent, that you write our local state delegation, who by the way, are just as frustrated by this as we are, and that, if you are a parent, you remain engaged in your child’s education.

As a community, as a society, we have no greater responsibility than to teach our children well.