Seymour Flops
Diamond Member
Lee County, in Florida instituted rules that do exactly that, in my opinion. But they are being objected to by some. This is old news, but it was lost in the debate over Florida's Parental Rights Law, known as "don't say gay," by detractors.
nbc-2.com
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Lee County School District has come up with a plan for transgender students who want to be identified by their teachers and principal.
Students will be required to fill out some forms that are creating some controversy.
Some parents are concerned this is a way for the district to profile students.
If transgender students want teachers to address them by the gender they identify as they’ll be required to fill out what’s called a “Gender Support Plan” the document creating much of the controversy.
Parent Crystal Czyscon called the document discriminatory and freightning.
Czyscon was among the parents objecting to the form that asks some very personal questions like does the student have support at home and who knows about the students gender and it even asks for a plan if the student is outed.
On Tuesday, school board members adopted an Equity Guide which outlines how gay or transgender students can receive safe guards by the district.
I understand the objections, but I disagree with them. This "very personal questions" about support at home are no more personal than questions that are commonly asked when a new special education student enrolls in a school. Questions like what language the child prefers at home, what chores the child is assigned, what the child does for fun, and how the child is punished when the child breaks the rules at home.
Those questions are important for special ed students because we special ed teachers deal with the whole child in order to facilitate learning.
I'm not saying that transgenderism should be a special education label, but some of the same concerns are there. There must be partnership between the school and the parent for any student to get the most out of their education. But that is especially true for students who have needs beyond those of more typical students.
Sharon McGill sat on the equity committee and said the forms were put in place to protect children and teachers.
“There are laws now in the state that teachers can’t call a student a name if it’s not their correct name,” McGill said.
She insisted no one was singling out transgender students and she said nobody is required to fill out the forms.
However, if they want teachers and administrators to acknowledge their gender identity they will be required to fill out the form.
“If they choose not to have accommodations they can certainly use their pronouns with friends at school but now if they want to we have to involve parents,” explained Jessica Duncan who is employed by the Lee School District.
The new guide and form is in place because of the ‘Parents Bill of Rights’ which opponents call the ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill’.
If I read that right, then teachers are not going to be listening in to student conversations and saying, "Bobby, don't call Harriet "Harry," or talk about her using "him." But if the child requests to be called Harry and have adult staff use "him," the parents need to be consulted. That is perfectly reasonable, especially if the alternative if for teachers to call the child "Harry" during school hours, but to refer to the child as "Harriet" in parent conferences as a subterfuge.
A federal lawsuit was filed against the state Monday in an attempt to block the new law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
The ACLU of Florida said in a statement:
“With HB 1557 in effect, the ‘Dont’ Say Gay’ law has already begun to stigmatize LGBTQ+ people, isolate LGBTQ+ kids, and make teachers fearful of providing a welcoming and inclusive classroom. Without adequate guidelines from the school board on how this personal information will be used in schools, it is uncertain whether these forms could potentially serve as another way to isolate and harm transgender youth.”
I agree that there should be clear guidance from the school board on how this information is to be used. It must kept in confidence just as Special Education records are.
This program, property administered, will help, not harm youth. It will provide them with an inclusive experience, not isolate them.
Lee County School District announces plan to identify transgender students
The Lee County School District has come up with a plan for transgender students who want to be identified by their teachers and principal.
nbc-2.com
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Lee County School District has come up with a plan for transgender students who want to be identified by their teachers and principal.
Students will be required to fill out some forms that are creating some controversy.
Some parents are concerned this is a way for the district to profile students.
If transgender students want teachers to address them by the gender they identify as they’ll be required to fill out what’s called a “Gender Support Plan” the document creating much of the controversy.
Parent Crystal Czyscon called the document discriminatory and freightning.
Czyscon was among the parents objecting to the form that asks some very personal questions like does the student have support at home and who knows about the students gender and it even asks for a plan if the student is outed.
On Tuesday, school board members adopted an Equity Guide which outlines how gay or transgender students can receive safe guards by the district.
I understand the objections, but I disagree with them. This "very personal questions" about support at home are no more personal than questions that are commonly asked when a new special education student enrolls in a school. Questions like what language the child prefers at home, what chores the child is assigned, what the child does for fun, and how the child is punished when the child breaks the rules at home.
Those questions are important for special ed students because we special ed teachers deal with the whole child in order to facilitate learning.
I'm not saying that transgenderism should be a special education label, but some of the same concerns are there. There must be partnership between the school and the parent for any student to get the most out of their education. But that is especially true for students who have needs beyond those of more typical students.
Sharon McGill sat on the equity committee and said the forms were put in place to protect children and teachers.
“There are laws now in the state that teachers can’t call a student a name if it’s not their correct name,” McGill said.
She insisted no one was singling out transgender students and she said nobody is required to fill out the forms.
However, if they want teachers and administrators to acknowledge their gender identity they will be required to fill out the form.
“If they choose not to have accommodations they can certainly use their pronouns with friends at school but now if they want to we have to involve parents,” explained Jessica Duncan who is employed by the Lee School District.
The new guide and form is in place because of the ‘Parents Bill of Rights’ which opponents call the ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill’.
If I read that right, then teachers are not going to be listening in to student conversations and saying, "Bobby, don't call Harriet "Harry," or talk about her using "him." But if the child requests to be called Harry and have adult staff use "him," the parents need to be consulted. That is perfectly reasonable, especially if the alternative if for teachers to call the child "Harry" during school hours, but to refer to the child as "Harriet" in parent conferences as a subterfuge.
A federal lawsuit was filed against the state Monday in an attempt to block the new law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
The ACLU of Florida said in a statement:
“With HB 1557 in effect, the ‘Dont’ Say Gay’ law has already begun to stigmatize LGBTQ+ people, isolate LGBTQ+ kids, and make teachers fearful of providing a welcoming and inclusive classroom. Without adequate guidelines from the school board on how this personal information will be used in schools, it is uncertain whether these forms could potentially serve as another way to isolate and harm transgender youth.”
I agree that there should be clear guidance from the school board on how this information is to be used. It must kept in confidence just as Special Education records are.
This program, property administered, will help, not harm youth. It will provide them with an inclusive experience, not isolate them.
