Fox & Friends Upset Over Schools Teaching Trans Acceptance, Climate Change

Some of the folks at Fox News Channel are freaking out over public schools teaching that transgender people deserve acceptance and climate change is real.

On today's edition of Fox & Friends, cohost Pete Hegseth expressed concern that schools have "left-wing bias" and an "agenda," and guest Julie Gunlock of the Independent Women's Forum wholeheartedly agreed.

"They're telling children this is how you should think about certain issues," Gunlock said, in a clip excerpted by Media Matters. "This is how you should believe. ... It's very disturbing, and parental rights are absolutely left out of the picture."

"We see it more and more every year," Hegseth said. "California's being criticized for allowing transgender issues to be taught in the classroom. ... A New York school board wants to include climate change in what they're instructing their students." Gunlock responded "Right" to both of those statements.

Regarding trans issues and California, they were most likely referring to a recent incident in Rocklin, which is near Sacramento. In June, a kindergarten teacher at Rocklin Academy Gateway School, a public charter school, read the book I Am Jazz, about real-life transgender girl Jazz Jennings, to pupils at story time at the suggestion of a trans student in the class, The Sacramento Bee reports. That day the teacher also read Red: A Crayon's Story, about a crayon with an identity crisis.

The use of the books sparked protests from parents, as did the news of the student's transition. Right-wing organizations and media have reported the student had a transition ceremony and revealed her identity as a transgender girl by coming out of the restroom in girls' clothing.

"School officials say there was no such reveal," the Bee reports. "The child had been transitioning slowly during the school year." She had been wearing girls' clothing to school already, and on the day in question, she did change into a dress, as all the students had brought extra clothes that day "in anticipation of water play at recess, although that didn't end up taking place," the paper reports. There was also no "transition ceremony," says a "Fact Sheet on Gender Identity" posted on the Rocklin Academy website, which explains the concept of gender identity how it is addressed by California nondiscrimination law.

"A couple of girls complimented her on her dress," school administrator Jillayne Antoon told the Bee. "We were so proud of how the kids can handle this in a way that clearly the adults are having a hard time with."

Those adults definitely include Hegseth and Gunlock. They advised parents to become more engaged in their children's education and meet with teachers and administrators -- actually, good advice for parents of all ideological bents. But Gunlock said, "I think particularly conservatives tend to be very polite and quiet, and they don't like to sort of cause a stir" -- which doesn't seem to be the case in Rocklin.

Gunlock also said it's a problem that schools "are really supplanting parents," often providing meals, after-school care, and even health care -- ignoring that these services are likely welcomed by busy working parents, especially low-income ones. Hegseth added, "Too many parents, you're right, are disengaged. They don't understand ... even our public schools today, so many of which have an agenda."

Watch the clip below.