CPS contacted as parents express concern over TPUSA school event
www.independent.co.uk
A parent named Nancy said that she was concerned that teenagers could be ‘susceptible to influence’ at the TPUSA event

A parent named Nancy said that she was concerned that teenagers could be ‘susceptible to influence’ at the TPUSA event

A Turning Point USA event for Maryland high schoolers was reported to child protective services after parents expressed “serious concern” about their children’s safety at the meeting.

A parent, identified only as “Nancy,” told attendees at a Calvert County school board meeting on February 12 that kids had been put at risk because adults were not allowed to attend the event.

However, the 17-year-old president of Calvert County Club America, which is associated with TPUSA, said that some adult attendance would still be permitted. This attendance was limited to parents and volunteers only due to the “hate” the group had received online.

"Excluding parents and guardians from a student-focused event creates a lack of transparency and undermines established best practices for youth safety,” she continued. "Students are widely recognized as a vulnerable population, they are in critical developmental stages, and especially susceptible to influence.”

  • notwhoyouthink@lemmy.zipEnglish
    34·
    11 hours ago

    So…your organization receives so much scrutiny (‘hate’) that instead of demonstrating transparency and alleviating the concerns of the parents of the participants you double down and prohibit parent attendance?

    At this point it’s clear your intentions are one or both of the below:

    1. Have these kids participate in activities that their parents would question and/or not allow them to participate in,
    2. Give these kids zero opportunity to be influenced by anything other than your influence while attending the event.

    Sounds exactly like what a cult does during recruiting and introductory events, except in this case it’s for children and supposed to be ’ok’ because it’s a religious organization. Sounds super safe and not at all like putting your child directly in the hands of groomers at best and well…another quite predictable and nefarious outcome at worst.

    • IntrovertTurtle@lemmy.zip
      4·
      8 hours ago

      Sounds super safe and not at all like putting your child directly in the hands of groomers at best

      The 17 year old ‘president’ of the chapter even said ‘there won’t be any child groomers because I’m a child so I can’t be a groomer.’

      Excuse me ‘sir,’ you appear to be a petty well groomed child.

      Edit: citations

      “We have been accused of many things,” the unnamed president said, explaining the decision. “We have been accused of grooming children - an allegation that a random, unnamed man was president of our group and had certain felony charges.

      “I’m the president of the group,” he continued. “I’m 17, I’m a minor.

      “I can’t groom children because I am a child. I don’t have any felony charges or convictions.”