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Harford County public comments split on DEI, Lifewise and books amid heated testimony
Summary
Speakers at the May 19 board meeting delivered sharply divergent public comments: some criticized DEI and specific books as inappropriate and raised church/state concerns about Lifewise, while others defended inclusive practices and equity supports; Lifewise proponents said the program is voluntary and not paid for by HCPS.
Public comment at the Harford County Board of Education meeting on May 19, 2025, featured a series of strongly worded and opposing views on curriculum content, diversity-equity-inclusion (DEI) practices, the Lifewise program and specific books in district collections.
William Martino told the board that the public education system “advocates for a Marxist ideology” and said traditional academics such as geography and cursive have been removed from classrooms. He criticized environmental and climate content and accused the teachers’ union of promoting “activist material.”
Opposing viewpoints came from members of the…
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