DeWitt Public Schools has canceled a voluntarily lesson about pronouns after staff received threats.

The lesson plan, expected to be taught at an elementary school, reportedly focused on exploring pronouns through discussion and reading.

Parents could allegedly allow their children to opt out of the lesson or request a more in-depth look into the curriculum.

“They don’t know who they are yet, They’re still growing,” one parent said. “They don’t know anything other than love.”

Since the announcement of the lesson plan, the school’s superintendent said many staff members received threatening messages through phone, emails and social media.

“At DeWitt Public Schools, we are committed to providing a safe and welcoming learning environment that helps all our students achieve and succeed. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, bullying, or threats of any kind, whether on school property or on social media,” Superintendent Shanna Spickard said.

“I wanted to take the opportunity to update you regarding an optional mini-lesson outside our general curriculum we offered to students in one of our elementary school classrooms. The purpose of the mini-lesson was to promote greater understanding, compassion, and kindness regarding gender identity and the use of pronouns after concerns were brought to our attention. Parents and guardians were informed in advance and given the opportunity to opt out, as the lesson was 100% voluntary, and not part of our school curriculum,” she continued.

“The goal of the voluntary mini-lesson was to help promote Dewitt Public Schools’ vision of a safe, nurturing, and supportive learning environment where all learners can succeed. Unfortunately, it has become a major disruption and distraction to that vision in which our staff, administrators, and students feel unsafe,” Spikard continued.