School sends parents letter about transgender student

[Xenguy]

School sends parents letter about transgender student
Grady Trimble, WLBZ- 9/4/2014

"OLD TOWN, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Some parents with students at Old Town Elementary received a letter that said there is a second grade student in the school that is transgender.

The school district mailed the letter to parents at the start of the new school year. It went to parents who have children in the same learning community as the transgender student, which is made up of about 120 kids from different grades."

More: http://www.wcsh6.com/story/news/local/2014/09/04/school-sends-letter-to-parents-about-transgender-student/15098829/
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[peky]

I see this news as a positive developments who hopefully will become a landmark and a precedent... we will see how the story develops... I would not be surprise if the same old haters rise their ugly head with their awful comments

[Rachelicious]

Outstanding. Ty for the good news!

[LordKAT]

I guess I would not like a letter sent to parents about this. Maybe that is just me and my great need for privacy.

[Jill F]

Umm, just what I'd want...  Being outed to EVERYONE- bigots and all.

[skin]

Not only outed to the rest of the school but to the local news as well.

[Eva Marie]

Not only outed to the rest of the school but to the local news as well.

This was my first thought when I read the story. They took a small local situation and turned it into a nationwide 3 ring circus that's going to involve haters & bigots and people with agendas that just found their next poster child. I feel sorry for the child and the child's family.

[suzifrommd]

I hope the parents REALLY agreed to the letter.

My school tried to TRICK ME into allowing a letter sent out telling the community about my transition. The principal handed me the letter and asked whether there is anything I wanted to change. If I had said no, that the wording was OK, they would have been able to say "well she approved the letter, so she's agreeing to have it sent out."

Instead I told them it was a violation of my rights, and immediately contacted my union.

[peky]

I guess I would not like a letter sent to parents about this. Maybe that is just me and my great need for privacy.

but in the other hand if the school did nothing, and now Johnny comes dress as Jane... the teachers would not have any heads up, and not know how to proceed... and the students would be even more free to lunch the bullying... and the parents will scream foul when they learn that Jane is using the girls bathroom...

Perhaps I a missing something, and if so please do enlighten me ...

[Rachelicious]

but in the other hand if the school did nothing, and now Johnny comes dress as Jane... the teachers would not have any heads up, and not know how to proceed... and the students would be even more free to lunch the bullying... and the parents will scream foul when they learn that Jane is using the girls bathroom...

Exaaaaaaaaaaaccctly...

It doesn't count as outing if people have a reasonably obvious way of knowing that you've transitioned without needing to be told. My institutions were never on my side in the past. The fact that the school openly voices its support for & affirmation of the student's identity is a big deal.

Contrast this to some 'other' cases we've heard about recently, like schools not letting a 6-year-old into the girls' room...

[LordKAT]

No one said not to inform teachers. Teachers can do a lot just by setting an example of acceptance, especially in grade school. Even if transitioning in the same school, there should be no need for such a letter.

[Rachelicious]

No one said not to inform teachers. Teachers can do a lot just by setting an example of acceptance, especially in grade school. Even if transitioning in the same school, there should be no need for such a letter.

Yes but teachers can be rumor mills. I think everyone's known teachers whose morals they questioned. Especially in elementary school where it's about teaching acceptance and everyone already knows this child, I only see ground to lose rather than gain by not helping others understand.

If they were going to a different school, that's a bit different, especially if the student/family would like the advantages of stealth.

[LordKAT]

Anyone can spread a rumor, my opinion stays the same.

[Carlita]

It seems pretty clear that he school was trying hard to do the right thing. If some parents are haters and fill their children's heads with sick ideas about the kid then they are the problem, not the head teacher who is trying to do the right thing. And it's much better for everyone to know the truth than to have a distorted, phobic version emerge through rumours and Chinese whispers. A little kid in an elementary school doesn't have the 'stealth' option. But at least everyone now knows the truth and I hope the school will come down hard on any bullies and even harder on their parents.

[Rachelicious]

If some parents are haters and fill their children's heads with sick ideas about the kid then they are the problem, not the head teacher who is trying to do the right thing.... But at least everyone now knows the truth and I hope the school will come down hard on any bullies and even harder on their parents.

This. It's so huge that the school has basically come out and said, "We are defending this transitioning student."

[Ariel]

I just hope the child does get accepted if they are transgender and doesn't recieve any hate or discrimination from bigots.

[Ashylovey]

I hope the parents REALLY agreed to the letter.

My school tried to TRICK ME into allowing a letter sent out telling the community about my transition. The principal handed me the letter and asked whether there is anything I wanted to change. If I had said no, that the wording was OK, they would have been able to say "well she approved the letter, so she's agreeing to have it sent out."

Instead I told them it was a violation of my rights, and immediately contacted my union.

I know for a fact that her parents agreed to this. she is my little sister and she is so happy to be who SHE is. I love her and so does her whole family. her mother actually is the one that had me look up the article on her and told me how well written it was. and she was right. my sister is happy to be able to be who SHE is and i applaude her courage!