Tyrrell County

Political disinformation is not new, neither are politicians who use it knowingly or unknowingly. 

On February 26, 2021, a social media post was made by Senator Bob Steinburg to his personal Facebook page where he stated that a grandparent of a middle-school student called him, the grandparent’s grandson “was asked to play the part of a transgender” in a virtual class play. Additionally, Senator Bob Steinburg wrote that “If this nonsense has already seeped into rural classrooms then what’s next.” and asked for more engagement in school boards and that “schools- get back to what we are paying you to do- teaching our students academics!” Senator Bob Steinburgs official government Facebook page does not have this issue posted nor any follow-up to the issues raised.

Based on the Tyrrell county school’s investigation into this matter, we have since learned that what was stated by Senator Bob Steinburg, was not corroborated by the school’s findings.

This is a follow-up to the original article, concerning the Facebook post from Senator Bob Steinburg concerning Tyrrell county schools and an asserted complaint by a grandparent, concerning a virtual school play to Senator Bob Steinburg. 

Tyrrell county schools have clearly stated in a letter posted to their site, that the play did not involve sexuality or transgender roles. That they will continue to investigate this issue and take appropriate steps to ensure that they are teaching North Carolina’s standard course of study and complying with their school board policy on teaching controversial issues.

On February 26, at 3:11 PM, in a personal post on Senator Bob Steinburg’s personal Facebook page, he called to action the following;

“Folks- you better start getting involved in your local schools;  and schools- get back to what we are paying you to do- teaching our students academics! We will handle the social issues in our homes.”   He started his post off by stating a concerned grandparent called him upset, that his sixth grade grandson was asked by a teacher to play the part of a transgender in a school virtual teaching exercise.”

Personal Facebook – Senator Bob Steinberg

This assertion has since been investigated and found that no reference to sexuality or sexual orientation in the play by the Superintendent of Tyrrell County Public Schools. 

An update has been posted to this article here; TYRRELL COUNTY SCHOOLS RESPOND TO FACEBOOK POST CONCERNS.