School Cancels Opposite Gender Day For K-8 Students. Is There Any Way To Have Kids Cross-Dress Responsibly?
http://www.queerty.com/school-cancels-opposite-gender-day-for-k-8-students-is-there-any-way-to-have-kids-cross-dress-responsibly-20110122/Students at King City Public School in Toronto were all set to cross-dress on Friday as part of Opposite Gender Day — and then school officials abruptly canceled the planned event, which encouraged K-8 students to attend classes in gender-bending apparel. The day, which was actually proposed by the Student Council and approved by the principal as part of a series of "Spirit Days," "has been cancelled in the wake of concerns of parents," school board member Ross Virgo said in a statement. "The idea of (kids) experiencing being people of the opposite gender has offended some people in the community, and the school does not want to do that. ... [Students] discussed the fun that the day might generate, plus how the experience might help boys and girls understand a bit more what what it felt like to be a member of the opposite sex...That was the plan." Ah yes, the inevitable debate as to whether Opposite Gender Day helps kids develop understanding of gender roles or reenforces things like transphobia.
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Gender politics a drag on school's spirit plans
http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/01/20/gender-politics-a-drag-on-school%E2%80%99s-spirit-plans/Charles Lewis January 20, 2011 – 9:30 pm
The student council at King City Public School thought a great way to celebrate "school spirit" day would be for the boys to dress like girls and the girls to dress like boys. But their attempt to have fun has turned into accusations that gender identity politics is being forced on young minds, and left the school's principal distraught over how something generated by 11- and 12- and 13-year-olds became such a minefield.
"This has been a real eye-opening experience for both the students and staff of the school," said Ross Virgo, manager of public affairs for the York Region District School Board, north of Toronto. "These children are not old enough to even know what 'gender identity politics' are."
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York Region school cancels cross-dressing day
By TERRY DAVIDSON, Toronto Sun
Last Updated: January 20, 2011 7:24pm
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2011/01/20/16962596.htmlAttention all kindergarten to Grade 8 students: Cross-dressing day is now cancelled.
This was the news given to students of King City Public School on Thursday after the school pulled the plug on holding an "Opposite Gender Day" on Friday, where kids as young as six would be allowed to come to school dressed as the opposite sex.
