Sex and Gender-based Systems
After watching the video and reading the articles I learned new pronouns that I never knew were used for someone's gender. I have always heard of he, she, her, him, they, and them but I never heard of Ze or tree, so I read another article to find out more about the pronoun "tree" Love Simon actor Keiynan Lonsdale uses the pronoun Tree because we all come from trees, so it doesn’t matter if you’re a he or a she or a they or a them.
https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/keiynan-lonsdale-preferred-pronouns-tree-8477100/
I work in the school dept in elementary and was previously in a high school. I had a kindergarten student that was born a male and identified as female, he wore dresses some days and boy clothes on other days. In the elementary school, we had either a boy bathroom or girl bathroom no gender-friendly bathroom so he did use the nurse's bathroom when he felt uncomfortable. In high school, we have transgender students use the nurse's bathroom as well. Is it because of bullying or due to parent's complaints or are the students more comfortable coming to a private bathroom. A gender-neutral bathroom should be available and not have to use a bathroom that is made and used by ill students.
According to guidance from RIDE, the student may access the restroom, locker room, and changing facility that corresponds to the student’s gender identity. The Rhode Island Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education recognizes that all educational agencies must provide all people and groups with full access to educational opportunities and barriers to student participation based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression must be identified and removed. The Board also recognizes that all students, without exception, have the right to attend a school in which they feel safe and able to express their identity without fear. So are they really attending school without fear, are they using the nurse's bathroom because they're concerned about their safety? We do have a great support staff in our elementary school and high school for our students and families. It's still a work in progress as far as things that need to be changed.
I teach puberty class to our 5th-grade students every year, I have parents question what will be taught is it about transgender. I had a parent ask to review the video and paperwork for the class before allowing me to teach his child, this upset me. I'm not sure what he was so afraid of or why he made such a big deal, I hope in the future there will be fewer parents like him and more understanding supportive parents. I spoke with a parent about transgender in elementary school and how she feels about it. She had a student who was born a male but identified as a female in her daughter's kindergarten classroom. She said she felt the school did a great job making all the students comfortable. The teacher asked what she would prefer to be called and introduced her to the classroom. This parent also said she was glad her child had her in the classroom at an early age because she knows it's not a big deal to her daughter it's just a normal thing to her. She also continued to say she doesn't think it matters what bathroom is used if there are stalls with doors on them. All parents should have a supportive attitude like this mother of 4,
Kelly, I completely agree I wish we had more understanding and supportive parents! At my school it is an unwritten policy to not discuss gender identity or pronouns unless it is necessary to do so because parents have not been happy with it in the past. I am hopeful that we are working towards a world where it is more widely accepted to educate elementary schoolers. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteKelly, I agree that although we have the support of RIDE, we have a lot of work to do within the school and with families regarding implementing the guidance. It is definitely frustrating when parents "fight back" against our attempts to be more inclusive to the LGBTQ community. I often have to remind myself that people fear things they don't understand, and I try to address their concerns with that in mind. It's not easy! As a school nurse, we are often put in difficult situations related to gender identity concerns. As with many things, I feel like when no one knows exactly what to do to- it goes to the school nurse to figure out! Great Post!
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