PARENTS OUTRAGED: Radical Activist Group Assembly at Caldwell Middle School

Parents Blindsided by Controversial School Assembly

Outrage Erupts Over LGBTQ+ Assembly in New Jersey School

A recent middle school assembly in Caldwell, New Jersey, has ignited outrage among parents and left the community deeply divided, as progressive activism continues to infiltrate our public schools. This so-called “Unity” assembly, organized by Caldwell University and Garden State Equality (GSE), pushed a progressive agenda under the guise of discussing the vital roles of law enforcement and how they play a part in ensuring the safety of all communities through mutual respect, all while slipping in topics about gender identity and sexuality. Parents are furious, calling the event completely inappropriate for young students and accusing the school of blatant disregard for transparency and parental rights. This was not education—it was indoctrination. The fact that parents weren’t adequately informed to be given the chance to opt-out raises serious questions about who schools are really serving: Families or Activists?

Our kids are still behind from COVID mandates and schools do not have time to take away basic skills instruction for activism, and certainly not without parental consent.

Parents are outraged, and who can blame them? We send our kids to school to learn reading, writing, math, science, and history; not to sit through assemblies where adults discuss their sexuality and gender identity, leaving students feeling trapped and uncomfortable. Some kids were so upset they called their parents in tears, yet the school refused to let them leave. Parents are also frustrated that the school hid the true purpose of the assembly and failed to disclose that Garden State Equality created the presentation. This is a blatant overstep, disregarding parents and undermining trust. It turned out that the “Unity” assembly only sewed division in the community

Here are some key moments from the Parents at the Board of Education meeting

Division Masquerading as Unity

Garden State Equality, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group with over 150,000 members, has been a prominent force in pushing progressive education initiatives such as Policy 5756 and the highly controversial 2020 Sex Education Standards. While their stated goals include combating bullying and promoting inclusivity, it is clear that the group’s presence in schools has crossed the line into anti-parent activism. Garden State Equality has shown up in mass at school board meetings to shout down Board of Education Members who would dare to change policy to be more friendly towards parental rights.

Many parents were already familiar with the activist group Garden State Equality and were outraged to learn that the school invited them in, especially after discovering that their assemblies are recommended by the state of New Jersey. Upon reviewing the group’s website, parents described it as “anti-government” and “anti-family.” The homepage prominently features links to “gender-affirming care,” articles criticizing the Trump presidency, and opinion pieces opposing parental notification policies, which they frame as “outing” K-12 students. This only deepened parents' frustration and reinforced their belief that such ideologies have no place in their children’s schools.

One parent suggested that if the school wanted to address sensitive topics, they should have invited a neutral mental health professional, not a politically charged organization. Another parent expressed frustration, stating that if the assembly was truly about fostering unity with the police, the focus should have been on racial groups historically targeted by law enforcement. Ignoring this aspect felt like a deliberate choice, further alienating parts of the community and making the event feel more like a political statement than an effort to genuinely bring people together.

“Their message wasn’t about unity—it was about division,” another parent said. Parents argue that the event prioritized one group over others and alienated those with differing beliefs.

“Most kids in middle school haven’t even figured out their sexuality yet,” one parent pointed out. “Why are we focusing on this instead of teaching kids to respect everyone, regardless of their differences?”

Many parents also took issue with what they perceived as political bias. “Teachers are supposed to be neutral and support all students, not promote one side of a controversial issue,” said another parent.

Pushing an Agenda Without Parental Consent

Many parents were blindsided by the assembly, claiming they were either not notified or didn’t receive the November 6th email the school district says it sent. Children reported feeling trapped and uncomfortable, texting their parents for help during the event. Despite repeated requests from students to leave the assembly, teachers allegedly refused, citing school policies.

“My daughter called me crying, saying she felt trapped,” one father shared. “When I called the school to find out what was happening, they were dismissive.”

“This entire curriculum was hidden in a bulletin, and most parents had no idea it was happening,” one mother said. “Parents shouldn’t have to dig through emails to figure out what their kids are being exposed to.”

The event also encouraged students to explore GSE’s website at home, distribute promotional stickers and water bottles, and wave LGBTQ+ flags. Parents argue that this was a blatant attempt to push a political and social agenda onto impressionable children.

Ignoring Parental Rights

To make matters worse, the Superintendent seemed to gaslight parents by downplaying the heartfelt and emotional stories shared at last week’s Board of Education meeting. This dismissive attitude only poured fuel on the fire, leaving parents feeling unheard and disrespected. Instead of addressing their valid concerns, the administration’s response further deepened the divide within the community.

Even a teacher spoke at the Board of Education meeting to dismiss parents’ concerns, claiming the children were overreacting and that the stories they shared with their parents weren’t true. The teacher insisted that the kids weren’t uncomfortable, which many parents saw as the most alarming part.

This feels like pure indoctrination—discussing sexuality at this level only confuses kids and crosses boundaries. Worse, it reflects a troubling trend in New Jersey schools, where an increasing number of sexual misconduct cases are emerging, fueled by teachers becoming far too comfortable overstepping their roles.

This assembly is just the latest example of what many see as a troubling trend in public education: schools minimizing parental involvement and pushing controversial agendas without consent.

Calls for Change

The fallout from this assembly has prompted demands for greater transparency and accountability from the school district. Parents want clear communication, the ability to opt their children out of controversial events, and a renewed focus on core education.

“Our kids go to school to learn, not to be politicized,” one parent said.

As the debate rages on, the community faces tough questions about the role of schools in shaping social values and whether parental rights will continue to be sidelined in favor of activism. For now, the message from many parents is clear: schools need to stick to education and leave politics at the door.