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BarefootGreg's avatar

This is really insightful, Ken. Thanks for compiling this and putting it out there.

I'm pretty old school, so I generally discourage permanent body modifications for children. (These don't generally affect me so I can stay out of it.) I also hold a general skepticism of the pharmaceutical industry and plastic surgeons. These stances might well lead my child's teacher to think, "hmm, this isn't a safe household for a gender variant child, so I'd better encourage this guy's children to begin leading double lives." The school cuts me out (after all, if I were to attend a talent show or sporting event or a parent-teacher interview, the gig would be up). I cannot fathom how this helps my child flourish. Or learn. It is simply untenable. Most teachers have no idea whether one home is more or less supportive of gender variance than another, and the training teachers receive on this might amount to a 15 minute conversation (unless they attend conferences on the matter, which are happening in the US).

The question ought to be, "what's best for the children?" And although some pretend to be asking that, I don't buy it. I believe children's wellbeing is now subservient to the ideology. The evidence in favour of shutting parents out of the child's gender expression at school is scant at best. I presume the stress of it all would negate any benefit the teacher thought might arise.

Now, in abusive households, I agree there's a problem. Teachers already have a duty to report if they suspect abuse. That's the policy that should be invoked, rather than this roughshod version of government-knows-best.

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Ned Smith's avatar

I’m not Canadian and I don’t have kids, but I am a person. I remember being a high school student, and I’ve also taught in high schools. If you’ve ever been near a school, you’re aware that romances between the students are more than common. Pupils will declare their undying love for each other and show their affection by holding hands, sharing food and so on. Teachers might half-heartedly tell these Romeo and Juliets to knock it off, citing some behavioral rules, but generally people roll their eyes and pretend not to notice the public displays of affection. If some teacher took it upon themselves to get in touch with the parents and snitch on such a harmless couple, that would be wrong, a little pathetic, and possibly an endangerment to the wellbeing of the kids. Kids are entitled to a little privacy. Now, if you polled the parents and asked them whether they should be informed if their precious little Jessica has a boyfriend (or girlfriend) at school, the vast majority would likely say ‘yes’. But I think schools and the government should stay out of such matters and let kids tell their parents about their personal lives in their own time.

Everything you outlined in those guidelines sounds very reasonable, and if you’re counting on this becoming a mobilzing issue, I’m not so sure.

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