Arr, ye scurvy dog! Seattle scallywags say parents need not be informed of pronoun swap, no matter the wee ones' age.
2023-07-27
Avast ye! A scurvy dog from Seattle Public Schools be sayin' that a young buccaneer's switch o' pronouns be kept secret from their kin, whether they be wee or seasoned, unless the lad or lass agrees! Emails obtained by Fox New Digital be unveilin' this tale, matey!
A fourth-grade elementary school teacher in Washington state was instructed by a top official in the school district not to share a student's pronoun change with their parents, regardless of the student's age. Emails obtained by Fox News Digital revealed that the teacher had requested training on LGBTQ best practices after encountering disagreements among staff members on how to support nonbinary students. The teacher reported two instances where administrators had interfered with addressing LGBTQ issues on campus, including the removal of a Pride flag from a classroom and the notification of parents about a student's request to be addressed with "they/them" pronouns.The official, Lisa Love, Manager of the Health Education Department at Seattle Public Schools, responded to the teacher's request for training and emphasized that parents should not be notified without the student's permission, regardless of age. Love also stated that conversations about student identities should focus on identities themselves and not sexual activity. She expressed her belief that the training should be mandatory for all staff members, as it is important for everyone to have the same information to support LGBTQ students, staff, and families.
The teacher later agreed that the training should be mandatory and spoke with the principal about it. The school district's policy on transgender and nonconforming students states that school personnel should not disclose a student's transgender status unless legally required or authorized by the student. When contacting the parents of a transgender or nonconforming student, school personnel should avoid gender pronouns unless the student has been consulted first.
Fox News Digital also obtained a school district presentation for parents that focused on creating safe and supportive environments for LGBTQ2+ students. The presentation reiterated the district's commitment to creating such an environment and stated that homophobia and transphobia are interconnected with racism and white supremacy culture. The presentation encouraged educators to use inclusive language and get comfortable with using they/them pronouns.
Neither Lisa Love, John Shaw (the teacher who requested the training), nor the principal responded to requests for comment. The controversy highlights the ongoing debates and challenges surrounding LGBTQ inclusion and support in schools.