Many Talbot County residents have recently received US Postal Service mailings questioning the quality of teaching in our county’s public schools. Among its many criticisms, the glossy mailings falsely decry the low English and Math proficiency and attribute these low scores to time wasted “forcing harmful gender ideology” on students.
Here are some facts: 39% of students in Talbot County are classified as “economically disadvantaged” (data gathered by US News and World Report), and 40% are members of a minority. Fully 14% of students study English as a second language. Talbot County Public Schools (TCPS) is one of only eight districts out of the 24 in Maryland that earned star ratings of three or higher for all schools. https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov.
In 2023 Talbot County Schools boasted an attendance rate of 91.5% and a high school graduation rate of 95%. Schools also showed year over year improvement in Academic Achievement.
These are numbers to be proud of.
So, where are these accusations and false claims coming from? They are originating from a group identifying itself as “Pay Attention America Inc.” with a postal address listed as 1000 N. West St, Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware. This shadowy group was incorporated in July 2024. In its mailings, it cites the “Daily Citizen.” An examination of the Daily Citizen’s “about” tab on its websitehttps://dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com/ reveals a hyper partisan tilt. Quote: “Focus on the Family’s The Daily Citizen provides a faith-based perspective to counter the mainstream media’santi-Christian bias.” And this from FOF’s director of communications: “God has declared certain things ‘good’ and certain things ‘bad,’ ” he explains. “He’s given us clear principles to use in considering current events. And He’s spoken clearly on the subjects of life, marriage, law and government. We cannot remain morally neutral in our reporting.”
Are we all to believe that God has spoken directly to the Daily Citizen and told it what is good and what is bad and facts are irrelevant? The mailings scream, “RADICAL politicians are pushing EXTREME RADICAL AGENDAS” and “RADICAL INDOCTRINATION” of children taking place in the schools.
Unfortunately, our public schools make an easy target for out of state organizations with a defined political agenda. It is sad that their misrepresentations and slurs seek to divide our community instead of seeking solutions in a positive, fact-based approach. We believe it is important, more now than ever, to make decisions based on facts, not gobbledygook.
Ultimately, we question why a Delaware religious organization finds it necessary to alarm us when all Talbot citizens have to do is simply talk to our teachers and our school administrators about our concerns.
That is how local control works.
Jim Richardson
Bay Hundred Citizens for a Just Society
Established in 2017, the Bay Hundred Citizens for a Just Society is an open, action-oriented community group that addresses issues that affect our community. The group informs members about current legislation on county, state, and federal levels. We are a strong constituent presence dedicated to actively pursuing just solutions and educating our members and the community about economic, political, social, and environmental challenges.
Sheila Vaughan says
Thank you, Jim Richardson, for stating the real reason behind these mailings from the so-called “Pay Attention America” pac. When I received my first mailing from them, I looked them up, and, as you noted, they operate out of Delaware with no person named as chair. Thank you for pointing out the slurs in their attempts to radicalize the citizens of Talbot County. Now, all of us need to apply the same diligence on the so-called “Moms for Liberty.” You can find out more about them on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s website.
Jim Franke says
The “Moms” deny they have anything to do with these mailings. But what other organization in our County has been attacking the Board of Education? Google “nicknames for Moms for liberty”. That tells you everything you need to know about them. BTW, there are sane candidates for the Board of Education. Candace Henry, Anna Howie, and Cynthia Jurrius. The others running are Moms.
Wilson Dean says
Thanks to Mr. Richardson for revealing the facts behind these paranoid mailings. I too have been concerned as I received them in the mail and appreciate your digging further into the source. I had looked into the organization a bit myself and found there are innumerable organizations using exactly the same Delaware address. Have these people nothing better to do?
Cindy Lilley says
Thank you Jim Richardson! Excellent research on the source of the multiple extremely critical mailings we’ve all been receiving regarding our schools. Non-productive negativity!
William Keppen says
If either Pay Attention America Inc, or The Dailey Citezen are currently emjoying tax exempt status, it should be revolked, immediately. Bay Hundred Citizens for a Just Society should look into that.
Deidra A. Lyngard says
Thanks for doing that research; you were able to get more information than I. I got to the point where it was clear that this was a terribly biased, agenda-driven organization and so I have been throwing what must be these very expensive oversized postcards in the trash. It is truly shameful that this “foreign” organization is trying to mess with our perceptions of our local educational system. I’m sure there are things to complain about, but we’ll take care of it ourselves, thank you.
Barbara Denton says
As Christians we believe in the word of God as contained in the Holy Bible.
For a reference please read Matthew 18:5-6 — “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.
For further reference see Mark 9:42 or Luke 17:1-2.
Name calling and denigrating groups who are trying to bring the truth to parents who have mistakenly trusted the public school system to educate their children is par for the course from the progressive left. The state is doing everything it can to parent your children and take your parental rights away from you. Silence is cooperation. School choice is the answer.
James Wilkins says
@Barbara Denton. You cite biblical references and claim that the schools are trying to take away “parental rights.” The public schools have been educating children since the 1800’s and this model has proven successful. You and your right wing friends at Pay Attention America (or whoever is really ruining this propaganda campaign) have decided that the taxpayers should fund your choices of private education. This is a bad choice for the people of Talbot County who are smarter than you may think. We will endeavor to counter the slurs promoted by this campaign which is clearly funded by the Christian Nationalist movement.
Barbara Denton says
The schools are trying to take away parental rights. Parents are not being allowed to opt their children out of these so-called health classes concerning gender identity. The Maryland Senate and House are passing these laws. Many parents do not even know this is going on until their child comes home from school and tell them. Quite frankly I do not know anyone who is with Pay Attention America. I do know the scores on Maryland testing are abominable. We need emphasis placed on teaching children basics so they progress in school and become good citizens. If the public schools had to compete for students by providing a good basic education free from WOKE, CRT, and DEI all the citizens of Talbot County would be better off. The citizens of Talbot County are very smart and they know when they are being taken for a ride. When you pay more and more every year for education which does not improve and slides backwards you know what ride you are being taken on, and it is not a good one. Your name calling proves nothing but your lack of substantial reasoning. I do not know who funds those giant post cards and I could care less.
David Montgomery says
Barbara Denton is dead right in her response, and courageous to jump into the alligator pit of left-wing name-calling of anyone who disagrees with them. The irony of a spokesman for a radical left-wing group complaining about radicalism on the right is sweet. I did notice that his original letter cites some irrelevant numbers about school populations and graduation rates (many of whom cannot read or write proficiently) but never counters the relevant and truly worrisome data in the mailings. “Gobbledegook” was a good title because it captures the content of Mr Richardson’s letter perfectly.