Parents have a right to know about their child’s alternative gender pronoun/name choices, gender dysphoria, or whether they identify as transgender and schools have an obligation to inform parents.
On February 8, working with a number of outside groups that provided expert medical, legal, and educational input, we presented a new policy proposal to the BOE. The new policy requires the school to notify parents if their child decides to pursue an alternative gender choice and sets up a framework for the school and the parents to work together to determine the best path for that child.
An FCPS Policy Proposal has been created that requires school officials to notify parents of their child’s gender choices and transgender decisions.
If this is about inclusiveness, then one has to stop and consider the logic of a school system that would make the decision to introduce this topic and defend it as a positive step toward inclusiveness while installing a policy that excludes informing parents about what their children are doing.
The dynamic and rapid shift FCPS is experiencing in social and emotional development is not unique, as we’ve repeatedly pointed out in our comparisons to other Maryland school districts and districts around the country. Montgomery County has been very aggressive and has now enacted a policy that allows biological males to compete on female sports teams.
The Maryland State Board of Education, the Maryland Teachers Union, the local Frederick County teachers Union, and most of the current FCPS Board of Education members oppose school choice. Given the declining academic proficiency levels and the increasing emphasis on SEL and DEI programs that are opposed by most parents and occupy more and more classroom time, this seems counter to an effective, classical education system.
The FCPS administration and Board of Education have repeatedly taken the position that parents can always opt out of the Health lessons that introduce gender expression in elementary school. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop the counselors from using gender expression books and materials with students they counsel . . .
The committee covered the health standards for K-5 and the processes to ensure adherence to policy 443 (Creating Welcoming and Affirming Schools for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students). These standards contain the introduction of non-conforming genders and gender expression to children in K-5. Click Here to see those standards.
Sports participation by gender, racial segregation by school activity, a parents-right-to-know, and transgender bathroom use.
This week an Ohio school district forced a teacher to resign because she refused to use the preferred gender names and pronouns chosen by her students instead of their given names.The teacher’s refusal was based on her perception that it violated her religious beliefs (it’s unclear what religious beliefs these were).