Legal Firm DrummondWoodsum Pushes That Schools, Not Parents Have Rights To Your Children?

It All Comes Down To What You Have For A "Birth-Thing," Or Does It?

DrummondWoodsum appears willing to back up the State of Maine educational cabal’s desire to keep secrets from parents from behind the brick walls of the K-12 public schools.  They seem poised to support students who have been brainwashed into believing they can become another sex by having their gender affirmed and that they don't always need to tell their parents about what is happening in school.  It’s horrible and out of touch with the reality of the 14th Amendment, which says parents have a fundamental right to control and direct their children’s education. 

This is what is occurring in our K-12 public schools in Maine supported by lawyers to put pressure on school board members so they don’t ask questions and don’t disrupt the trans-cult looking to take your child away from you.

This is my fourth installment in an expose series on lawyers DrummondWoodsum and I’d advise you to please read these in order.  Here are the first, the second and third articles.  If your district doesn’t have DrummondWoodsum putting pressure on your school board, there is another group of woke lawyers probably doing the exact same thing, believe me.  If your school happens to have a “good” lawyer, you are one of the few.  

DrummondWoodsum makes millions of dollars off of hardworking Maine taxpayers.  Last October, they held a LGBTQ+ training and never really acknowledged if schools are required to notify parents if their child has requested changes to how their identity is perceived.  This includes changes to their name, gender, or which bathrooms they prefer.  Schools have even created transition closets that allow children to switch into the opposite sex’s clothes, so their parents are unaware.  Overall, this training was as clear as mud and appears to be paving new ground for the ideological far left.  But bottom line, they don’t want Maine school board members asking questions, or rocking the boat.  

A topic they never really gave a definitive direction on during the training is if schools need to notify parents of their child being pushed into having mental health issues, thinking they can become something they are not.

DrummondWoodsum states in their LGBTQ+ training that, “Student’s gender identity in an educational record is personally identifiable information (PII) and thus subject to FERPA’s confidentiality requirements.”  That’s true, but what they don’t say is that it appears DrummondWoodsum wants to ensure the brainwashed student who believes they are able to become the opposite sex by having their gender affirmed, doesn’t need to tell their parents.  Maine’s K-12 public schools are more than willing to keep secrets from parents and I will provide several examples below.  It’s horrible and out of touch with reality, morality and our history of parental oversight of their children.  Want to hear the DrummondWoodsum lawyer’s own words?  Please watch this video and listen to them yourself!    

DrummondWoodsum’s lawyer Peter Flemly states, “I’m aware of a couple cases…that address parental rights…around inclusivity…including with respect to transgender inclusion…not from Maine…but they are pointing out that schools in an effort to comply with human rights acts…it is acceptable…for schools to create that environment that is in keeping with what the human rights acts in those states envisions and that parents don’t have a right force schools to violate those acts.”  That really doesn’t answer the question Mr. Flemly about parental rights and makes it very subjective, which allows DrummondWoodsum to weakly define the new precedent.  

Given this training was last October, that very well could be that Mr. Felmly wasn’t yet aware of the cases coming down from across the nation.  There are many cases right now in several states pushing back on using student pronouns that are not their actual chromosomal status.  

Parents are winning on this subject all over the United States!  

I believe we will see this Maine case, Lavigne v. Great Salt Bay Community School ruled in favor of parental rights in the end, based on the 14th Amendment.  This case will be heard by a judge here in Maine court on November 1st, 2023 codifying parental rights over student brainwashing.

Another such example is in the hotbed of woke school policies, Loudoun County, VA.  “The Supreme Court of Virginia has upheld a lower court ruling that ordered the reinstatement of a northern Virginia gym teacher who said he won't refer to transgender students by their pronouns.”  

In Ohio, the Shawnee State University in Ohio paid out $400,000 in April to Nick Meriwether, a professor who sued the institution for violating his rights and levying an unfair punishment when he refused to refer to a transgender student by her chosen pronouns.  

Another parental win in Kansas, “(Pamela) Ricard sued the school after she was reprimanded, citing that her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights had been violated. In May of 2022, Ricard received a ruling by a federal court that her termination for failing to use students' preferred pronouns was unconstitutional.”  

Even in California we are now seeing wins on the pronoun front, as crazy and radical as their trans-cult laws have become.  A school there passed a policy, like the working draft in which MSAD75 in Topsham, ME are currently considering, where if a child wants to use a different name and pronouns at school and keep it a secret from their parents, the school complies.  This preliminary injunction allows two teachers to not have to withhold secrets from parents, due to the 14th amendment and the overall safety of the student.  

The school’s push toward parental secrets also was in conflict with several other policies on the books that they “couldn’t be dishonest with…parents.”  Maine parents, policy GBEBB is worth digging into in your district, as it addresses many of these same concerns.  That the California school couldn’t be “falsifying information,” due to its inappropriate employee conduct.  Both are consistent with federal constitutional rights.  I’d urge parents, taxpayers and teachers to dig through the 36 pages of the California ruling, it is packed with ideas to battle your local Maine school board with.  

Melissa Hewey, the other DrummondWoodsum lawyer providing this woke training states, “The legal principle there is discrimination is the student’s personally, if the student chooses to be called by one pronoun and not another, if the student chooses to be called one name and not another and if a student chooses privacy, that all belongs to the students, so that’s one side.”  That’s the wrong side.  It is very simple school employees, if their legal name has not been changed, their birth name is the one you use.  The only way a minor can change their legal name is by petitioning the court for a change based on “good cause” and the kid has to be 14.  A minor thinking they are “omnisexual” is not a good cause.  

Ms Hewey rambles on, “There is also a fairly strong legal argument that, although we require kids to go to school, we also always give their parents a right over what happens to the kids.  And if that is the case, then the parent gets to decide, not the kids.  There has not been in Maine…or anywhere in the country yet, a definitive answer to that.  So what that means is that this really is a local decision, what’s important to you.”  

Uh, what about the parents again, Ms. Hewey?  The dismissive attitude of Ms. Hewey should be very concerning for all reading this.  Parents know the answer should always be with them being involved up front and leading the communication with the schools, unless there is actual harm being caused at home and schools are mandatory reporters, with procedures already in place for this.  

They were lacking on slides regarding defining what is the right answer.  

In another non-answer, Ms. Hewey goes further about how to deal with the trans-cultism by saying, “What is important in your community and how you think it will best work and to always…work around the issues with student safety, number one.”  What we are seeing is that kids who think they can become another gender have more mental health issues, not less than their peers.  Pronouns lead to sexual affirmation, which leads to participation in the trans-cult, which leads to going by a different name, which leads to chemical castration drugs, which leads to medical mutilation, which leads to suicide.  Maine schools are celebrating this journey!  

DrummondWoodsum lawyer Melissa Hewey on the subject of parental rights goes on to state, “Really tricky issue which is, what if student and parents disagree?  What should the school do?  So, you’ve got a kid who tells you that they are transgender, that they are identifying with a gender that is not consistent with their birth, birthed sex but they don’t want their parent to know.”  

“Maybe they are saying that if their parent finds out, it could be dangerous, or maybe they are just saying their parent doesn’t agree with them and they don’t want them to know.  That’s step one,” says Ms. Hewey.  This actually deals more with mandatory reporting and the school has no basis to report a family if the parents don’t agree with what the student has been fed for lies during the indoctrination camp they attend in the public school on LGBTQ-cultism.    

Ms. Hewey continues from the October LGBTQ+/-$? meeting with no clear direction.  “Step two is if the parents know and they’re telling you, you may not use my student’s preferred pronoun, you must use their pronoun at birth, you must use their birth thing.  How do you sort of…navigate that?”  

Ms. Hewey fails to answer the question, but I find it humorous that I believe she used the term, “birth thing,” as a reflection of their observed sex at birth.  Your “birth thing,” Ms. Hewey, is between your legs.  How you know what you are is between your ears and seen with your eyes.    

I looked down and there it was…my “birth thing.”  

DrummondWoodsum Peter Felmly comes in to try and mop up after Ms. Hewey’s nonsensical meandering diatribe of which neither lawyer really wants to take the authority to answer the obvious question of the necessary full parental involvement in schools.   He states, “I think…to really encourage the student to share that information with the family, but to do so in a manner they’re comfortable with.  Parents really should be involved in these issues, with perhaps one caveat.”   

“There are instances where you may as a school administrator feel that the student…is expressing concern about their safety if their mother or father found out about that…I would be focused on a meeting with (school) support personnel and the student (without parents) in an effort to really try to encourage that student to share that (sexual narcissism, mental health issue, sexuality with their parents) in a manner…that sets that relationship up for success,” states Mr. Felmly.  Again, there are mandatory reporting practices for actual abuse of a child, but this abuse is happening from the schools into the child.  Remember, trans-cultism is big money for all involved, including DrummondWoodsum who has to pay 42 “educational” lawyers on its staff.  

DrummondWoodsum loves to use the term “settled law” in their trainings but none of this is, as parents are starting to win in the courts.  From the Daily Wire, “A mother from California was awarded a $100,000 judgment against the Spreckels Union School District after a middle school in the district secretly socially transitioned the woman’s 11-year-old daughter.  Jessica Konen’s daughter Alicia was referred to with male pronouns by teachers at Buena Vista Middle School and was permitted to use the boys’ bathroom, all without Konen’s knowledge or consent.”  

Sounds just like Lavigne v. Great Salt Bay community school here in Maine, almost identical in fact, except in Damariscotta, ME school social worker Sam Roy gave a 13 year old girl two breast binders as well.  DrummondWoodsum is representing the school against the mother here in Maine.  Pure evil, fueled by your tax dollars!

The article goes on, “Konen’s lawsuit said her daughter joined her school’s “Equality Club” in sixth grade and learned about “LGBT concepts,” transgenderism, and bisexuality, National Review reported. The school then helped to facilitate Alicia’s social gender transition, “giving her articles on how to conceal her supposed new gender identity from her mother and giving her a ‘Gender Support Plan’ that required school staff to refer to her by a male name,” the suit said.”

What is DrummondWoodsum's view on their “Confidential Transgender Student Support Plan” you ask?  One should wonder why it’s confidential?  A secret?  Every reader should wonder why these lawyers want to withhold information from parents.  I’ll keep saying it.  At $350/hour on average, they couldn’t care less about the schools, the students, the parents, or the administration.  It’s all a trans-grift by DrummondWoodsum and any other legal firms representing your schools.  This is the shit the Maine School Management Association and DrummondWoodsum is feeding your school board members and pushing them around to accept it and I want to show it to you:

“Students Preferred Name to be used at school, Student’s preferred Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Preferred Pronouns.”  Now it does say “parents/guardians (always) to be included, but just wait for page three.

Furthermore, “After Konen eventually found out about such activity, the school allegedly tried to further conceal the transition by referring to Alicia by her given name and female pronouns while in front of her mother. When Konen was not present, the suit says, Alicia was referred to with male pronouns and a male name.”  No one should be shocked by this.  

For full transparency, Center For American Liberty who won this case is the same legal group supporting my two First Amendment lawsuits.  Hermon, ME suing me for exposing their trans-cultism and RSU22, Hampden, ME where we are suing them for the second time, after winning $40,000 the first time because they are withholding our rights to speak about teachers at the podium during public comment.  More on that in an upcoming article.  

Imagine your child being given “gender affirming care” medicine, which is really chemical castration drugs, without your parental consent by the school?  This is the “whole school” approach by the far-left. 

Wait, so on page one it states that parents will “always” be included, but now on page 3, it says “under what circumstances will the student’s parents/guardians be notified of issues? 

Parents need to be the first to know of every issue, every time!  In fact, parents need to write to these schools that “You will not have a meeting with my child without my permission!”  Do this with an email right now, please!  If not, behind the scenes, they are working to secretly, sexually transition your child.  I know plenty of parents who have had this happen to them and now their entire life and the life of their family has been turned upside down. 

Do not wait for your child to come home and tell you that the school has sexually transitioned them.  At that point, it is almost entirely too late!  

Go back and read the Maine Principals’ Association position on pronouns and their use of nearly 50 instances of the word in their wishy-washy policy on trans-sports.  

The entire process of a “Transgender Student Support Plan” is entirely a bunch of bullshit.  Parents should only wish that these so-called “educators” spent this amount of time and energy on your little one who can’t read, or do math.  But there is no extra money in that for them!

Fact, only one out of three K-12 students in Maine can read at proficiency, only one in four are proficient in math.  Imagine if the schools recognized their reason for existence, learning and put this type of effort into why little Billy can’t add, or read instead of their sexuality?    

Think your local school isn’t coming for your child?  Here is a mother in Westbrook, who reached out to tell her story.  “I was attending my daughter’s parent teacher’s conferences this evening, and as I was leaving a classroom noticed this poster on the wall, then MANY more up and down the halls and entrances to rooms.” 

Westbrook, ME High School poster, seen by a parent as schools look to constantly hyper-sexualize our youth, with our tax dollars.  

This Westbrook Mom continues, “To say I am upset is an understatement. This is so  disappointing to see Westbrook participating in promoting such meetings and sexuality. ‘Being queer is out of this world’ quite frankly I’m disgusted that such material is being allowed to be promoted at the school my taxes support.” 

But, it gets even worse, “Said clubs promoting homosexuality should be outside school settings. My child isn’t there to learn such, but the classes required in the education system. I’m not sure who put these up, or who is encouraging students to do so, but as a very concerned parent I ask you to please consider removing them.  I highly doubt if I put up posters promoting bible study club all over the school halls it would be allowed. Thank you for taking to heart my concerns. 

Hurt parent.”  There are so many “hurt” parents out there, not knowing where to turn.  

The response from the school has become pretty standard, essentially not giving two shits about what the parent’s concerns are, but to protect the trans-cult at all costs.  Westbrook Principal Patrick Hamlen responds to the “Hurt parent” like just another useful idiot.    

“I really appreciate you reaching out. I can also appreciate your frustration. Given the importance of working with our families and students to make sure all feel welcome at WHS, I would love to connect with you over the phone or invite you to come in and meet about this.

As a point of clarity, the SPECTRUM Club meets outside of school hours. Like every other club, it does not cut into instructional time.

Please let me know if you would like to meet or talk. I am free at 8am on Monday.

Thank you!

Principal Patrick Hamlen”

You think this is not happening in Maine, or in your local school?  You are wrong…these “trans” policies provide the school the thought that they can withhold information from the parents when they brainwash and sexually transition your child!  Another Westbook, ME Principal speaks to kids being sexually transitioned in school without the parent knowing about it, this time at the middle school where 10 and 11 year olds are trying to learn:

“Wood, Laurie <woodl@westbrookschools.org> wrote:

As you and I just discussed on the phone, your child has asked that we use XXXS as her name in all our informal communications.  District policy ACAAA States the following:

"In the event that a student and their parent or legal guardian do not agree with regard to the student’s gender identity or gender expression, the school shall abide by the wishes of the student with regard to their gender identity and gender expression while at school."

"School Records: Schools are required to maintain a permanent record for each student which includes legal name and sex. This information is also required for standardized tests and official school district reports. A student’s official record shall bear their legal name, which may be changed only upon proof that it has been changed pursuant to a court order. At the request of a student, and consistent with the student’s gender identity, the Westbrook School Department shall use the student’s preferred name and pronouns consistent with their gender identity on all other documents including but not limited to school identification, classroom rosters, certificates, diplomas and yearbook."

"Names/Pronouns: Students shall be addressed by school staff and other students by the name and pronoun corresponding to their gender identity as asserted at school."

In this case, your child has asked that we use the gender neutral name XXXX and pronouns they/them.  All legal references such as Infinite Campus (online student program) continue to show the name XXXX.  Certainly, if there were to be communication in any kind of a medical emergency, we would use the legal name of XXXX.

Please reach out to Besty Shibles if you think there is anything that she can do to help.

Laurie Wood

Principal, Westbrook Middle School

471 Stroudwater St

Westbrook ME 04092

(207)854-0830 x3004

(she, her, hers)

https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why/”

Pronouns in bio = sexual narcissism and an affirmation of the trans-cult.  

In a similar example, from the town next door to Westbrook, Quinton Donahue, Principal of Gorham, ME Middle School, had an email exchange back and forth with a concerned parent and the principal flat out told him he would keep secrets from the parent.  The school would only share this information with a parent if the student “chose to do so.”  

Gorham, ME Middle School Principal Quinton Donehue states to the parent who provided Maine Source Of Truth this email exchange that he will keep secrets from parents.  

From DrummondWoodsum’s own “sample policy” on trans-cultism, they state that so far they have not found a reason to use the student’s actual, legal name in the child’s education records.  So, like good little legal dweebs, they provide that assurance as another reason that they believe schools can call students whatever name they feel like today, which may be different tomorrow.  The sample policy states that whatever the minor student calls themselves at school, is what the school will call them.  Simply idiotic and maniacal!  

MSMA/DrummondWoodsum Sample Policy ACAAA on “trans” students and keeping secrets from parents obtained by Maine Source Of Truth from a May 16th, 2023 FOAA request.  

You think this is bad and it is, but it only gets worse.  As I’ve stated several times, Maine is the California of the east coast.  What happens there, eventually happens here, because of our far-left idiots in Augusta, our capital.  The freight train is coming parents…either cut off their fuel supply, or your entire family will be run over.  

Headline from The Federalist, “California Lawmakers Vote To Remove Kids From Any Parents Who Don’t Support Severing Their Genitals.”  Yes, that is a real headline.  Democrats are more than willing to rip your child out of your arms if you don’t affirm them, physically mutilating healthy body parts.  I know parents who have had Child Protective Services called on their family for simply inquiring about what is happening inside the school.  

SB 407 requires California Foster families to sign a document demonstrating their understanding “that sexual orientation, gender identity and expression can evolve over time" and provide “all services to LGBTQ+ children."  Basically, it requires foster parents to pledge allegiance to the rainbow flag cult in order to be a part of the state's foster system and essentially looks to ban parents with Christian conservative views.  Maine is the California of the east coast.  Think that’s not coming to Maine?  Well, it’s already here to some degree and will be here even further next legislative session. 

Same thing in Oregon, where “An Oregon woman filed a federal lawsuit against the state’s Department of Human Services after she was denied the opportunity to adopt a child because she refused to express support for gender ideology and homosexuality.”  The article goes on to say, “Because her stance did not comply with DHS regulations, her application was denied.”  This is Joe Biden’s America…if you do not comply, you have no rights as a parent and they will either take the child away from you, or deny you access to one.  

Maine Democrats will be known as pushing the Classroom To Clinic pipeline, with their pockets lined by organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Out Maine, GLAAD, Maine Trans-Net, Big Pharma and medical doctors willing to kidnap, mutilate and butcher children for profit.  It starts in the schools with pronouns and ends with your daughter cutting off her healthy breasts, bleeding on the operating table at age 15, scarred for life.  

Think that statement is too harsh?  Well, here you go, here are the facts: 

LD394 which is also known as Chapter 117, which was passed by Maine democrats provides school counselors and social workers the ability to sexually transition your child, without you the parent knowing.  They can now legally keep secrets from you!  It takes away your parental rights.  

LD535 passed by Maine democrats allows 16 year old children to self-affirm their need for chemical castration drugs and pharmaceutical mutilation.  It takes away your parental rights. 

LD1735, still waiting for Maine democrats to push out next session, as currently written, allows any minor child at any age to define their own mental health issues and prescribe themselves body mutilation.  It will take away your parental rights.  

As with all my articles, they end with a message for parents.  If you think that your child isn’t experiencing these types of situations at your local K-12 public, government run school…you are wrong.  The sexualized gaslighting and indoctrination efforts are constant in every school from York to Fort Kent, ME.  Every school has groomers working to take away your child.  

If as a parent you ask your child, “How was school today?” and they answer “Fine.”  It’s not fine.  It’s more horrible inside these schools than you can ever imagine.  Realize that what you heard on this video and what you have read now in four exposure articles on DrummondWoodsum is reality.  This is the Truth behind the brick walls of your local school.

Pull your kids now, these K-12 schools are irreparably broken.  If you don’t think you can’t do that, you better damn well be deeply involved and fight for your child’s education everyday like their lives depend on it.  Because it does.  

Shawn McBreairty is the Director of Special Projects at Maine First Project, a non-profit organization offering grassroots advocacy training in multiple areas.  He has recently taken a position on the board with the newly formed counter to the American Library Association, the World Library Association, a common sense alternative to the “Marxism” being pushed by the ALA.  For three years, Shawn has been exposing CRT and the hyper-sexualization of minors (“aka” grooming in the classroom) as well as many dangers within the programs, teachings and curriculum of Maine and this nation’s public, K-12 schools. Check out Shawn's Podcast, “Maine Source Of Truth,” which can be found anywhere you listen.  Follow the podcast page on Facebook and @ShawnMcBreairty on social media.