Hmm..did you actually read the article? Long, I know.
No. I read articles like that for the purpose of understanding how Democrats think. Thinking like a Democrat certainly does not require reading a long article. Democrats typically "learn" from headlines only, which are often contradicted by the facts in the article, which they do not read. Then later, they regurgitate what they "learned" from the headline and say, "I read somewhere that . . . "
Stepping away from the trans issue for a moment--the real controversy here is some fairly reputable educators...proposing that in certain ethical cases..they have not only the duty, but the right...to honor the student's requests..and deliberately disobey the clearly stated intent of the parents. To the point of not even notifying the Parents of the request!
Yes, that is the point, apart from the trans issue. The point is the same if we are talking about a kid going to Youth for Christ in the morning and wanting his Christian teacher to tell his Muslim parents that he went for math turoring because his parents do not want him to be a Christian, or a kid wanting his music teacher not to tell his parents that he is shredding an electric guitar when they think he is staying after school practicing the violin, or any other way that a kid might ask an adult at school to keep a secret from his parents.
Now, I admit I don't give a hoot about whether or not a kid is trans, or just playing. I want my kid happy. Trans kids and adults often have very sad lives--but that is due almost entirely to the hostile societal attitudes represented by some here. Normalizing Trans choice leads to less hostility. I get that it's an emotional issue. Some here call it grooming..it's not..but it is deliberate socialization.
It is secrecy and defiance such as the article suggests that gives ammo to people who do believe that such efforts to "normalize trans choice" is grooming. Groomers need secrecy. Teacher, counselors and administrators acting in the best interest of the child have no reason to hide what they are doing from the parents.
Not to mention the number of teachers who have not only stated that they support the children who spontaneously make a claim of transgenderism, but who state that they encourage children to express transgenderism, before they mention it, and suggest to children that transgenderism is the cause of their very normal sexual confusion and lack of sexual self-confidence.
What is that, if not grooming?
As a parent and grandparent, I've always striven to respect wishes and needs of the kids in my life..it's awesome responsibility--but I never doubted for a moment that it was MY responsibility.
As you should, in whatever way you, as the parent, determines is best for them.
Now the school..by extension the State..says it owes a higher allegiance to the Children's interests..as perceived by them--than it owes to the parent.
Already we acknowledge that in cases of child abuse it is the school's duty to step in and intervene. Not really a big leap, to losing one's kids to the state..if they feel that a parents denial of their child's wishes.....IS abuse~
Yes, that is the direction that the Demogroomers are clearly taking us. Children belong to the community and that particular community needs a supply of gender-confused biological male children who will go along with being feminized for the community's gratification. Who are mere parents to stand in the way of such an emergency sexual need?
That is a huge departure to 'the buck stops here' attitude to parenting---final responsibility is the school.
Of course, you can Home-school--but if..just if...you had a genuine Trans kid on your hands, and you remain hostile to his/her choices..I can guarantee it will end badly.
You cannot guarantee it, but you can offer your opinion. You may be right. Perhaps being hostile to a kid's claim of being transgender could lead to exacerbation of the confusion, self-hatred, and depression that most often motivates such a claim.
Perhaps the ideal parental choice would be to be as accepting and supportive as possible. Short of medical "treatment," humoring such a child until they grow out of it may be the best choice. Some of them may never grow out of it, and can make the decision for medical treatment as adults.
But you could say the same about a parent who objects to their child's desire to convert to Christianity from Islam, play Rock and Roll instead of Classical, play checkers with friends to the dismay of her Chess Grandmaster parents, wear a MAGA hat, take autoshop instead of Pre-AP Calculus, smoke weed instead of study, and any number of disagreements that parents have with their kids over how to act and what to do.
Sometimes a parent insisting on their way is very beneficial to a kid, by keeping them from making a mistake they will regret for life. Sometimess it only alienates the kid and only slows him down in his quest to be his own person. That's the tightrope a well-meaning parent walks.
Either way, the state has no legitimate role in those conflicts.
www.theatlantic.com
