North Cook News

Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR) Managing Director, Attorney Letitia Kim highlights New Trier High School pushing gender ideology on its students.

Kim joined Chicago's Morning Answer regarding a controversial questionnaire at New Trier High School. 

"[New Trier High School] responded saying that the surveys were optional with respect to the pronouns; our report indicated differently, the students were not allowed to submit the form unless they answered the question about their pronouns, but in good faith, we take them at their word, and at the very least hope that moving forward that they won't require any student to state their preferred pronouns." 

FAIRis taking aim at New Trier High School in Winnetka after a survey from the school asking if students wanted to join a "Combined Racial Affinity Group" or a "White Anti-Racist Affinity Group," and a survey asking for preferred pronouns. 

"We only have the information we have been given from those who contacted us by email or filed a report on our transparency website, and when we receive that report, we reach out to the school, which we did in this case, and they responded that the information we received was inaccurate in that regard, that they did not actually require the student to answer that question before submitting the form, so we operate from a position of good faith, but at the very least, I think they are aware at this point in time that they cannot in the future ask that question because in doing so, it requires them to ascribe to a set of beliefs that they may not hold about gender and sex."

According to FAIR Attorney Leigh Ann O'Neill, "It represents an incident of the school engaging in some type of activity that’s physically separating students based on their skin color." With regard to the survey asking about pronouns, O'Neill said "It's problematic for those students to be required to answer that question because that would be ascribing to a belief that they do not hold." The school responded to FAIR saying that it "strives to create a culture of dignity and belonging" and that sharing preferred pronouns is optional.

In 2019, New Trier Superintendent Paul Sally reprimanded a school guidance counselor for statements the Wall Street Journal attributed to the counselor opposing an "adversity score" on the SAT. Sally said in a letter to parents that the statements made by James Conroy, the director of college counseling, were "expressing an opinion that elite colleges already are seeking diversity and that this measure [the adversity score] could disadvantage white and affluent students." Sally added that the statement does not align with their values, contradicts the commitment to educational equity, and is counter to their public statements supporting equitable educational opportunities at both the K-12 and post-secondary levels. Conroy told the Wall Street Journal that the score would harm middle-class families who move into better neighborhoods for schools and those who send their kids to private schools. According to Conroy, "The adversity score looks like a way to undermine one of the last objective measures of academic merit. No wonder people are cynical about college admissions."

In 2019, North Cook News also reported that New Trier social studies teacher Kerry Hall gave students a handout that listed “Volunteer at Planned Parenthood or similar organization” in a list of ways to stop climate change. The handout showing the suggestion was put on the New Trier Free Discussion Facebook page but was taken down the next day at the request of Michael Christensen, Hall's department chair. Neither Hall nor the school did not respond to requests to explain the suggestions. Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in Illinois and in the country. Other suggestions in the handout for averting climate change included "Team With CAPA, Chicago Area Peace Action,” “Run for office," and "work for a young candidate." According to the Pacific Research Institute, 87 percent of all high school teachers are Democrats. A 2017 analysis done by North Cook News shows that New Trier employees, since October 1999, have given $48,037 to Democrats and $1,250 to Republicans.