Penguins and Parrots

Leesburg School Board Representative Tom Marshall recently wrote what I thought was a very nice response to a constituent regarding the book And Tango Makes Three. He has given me persmission to share:

It was clear to any adult that the author(s) had an agenda. It is also true that Penguins will sit on eggs and hatch them. Given that fact it might be unusual but not impossible to believe that instinctively two male penguins would sit on eggs ( or rocks) when all the birds around them were doing the same. Furthermore, it is possible that birds and other animals will form same-sex bonds and act like a pair. I have raised parrots, as a hobby, and I have seen this. On the other hand, parents can direct or redirect their children to read or not read books they deem inappropriate, but is it reasonable for a parent to make that decision for other children and other parents? Is it not possible for elementary children to see this story differently from parents and understand simply that an egg was hatched, that might not have been otherwise, and people came to Central Park to see the new baby penguin's birth as a good thing to be celebrated for the fact that it happened against the odds and that it was being cared for and nurtured.? Could a parent from a non-traditional family (same-sex parents or parents or individuals who have adopted a child) feel this story could relate to their situation and make their child feel more comfortable as a member of family that may not be the norm compared to families of their peers?
I would not vote to override Dr. Hatrick's decision, but I am not in full agreement with it. I certainly don't feel threatened by the book being in wide circulation. The Board, however, may want to look at their policies on how to handle any future challenges of this nature.
Tom Marshall, SB
Leesburg district