Sexuality Issues At School

[daughter]

In a Chicago community parents and educators were at odds about a principal who recently underwent sexual reassignment surgery. The former male principal insisted on returning to his position at a local elementary school as "Ms. Jones".
Some felt that the children would be confused and that trying to explain the lifestyle change would be too traumatic for children at this age.

What are your thoughts? Should the adminstrator be reassigned to a school where she isn't known? How would you approach the topic of transexuality with your child? Would you acknowledge the person's changed sexual identity? Would you argue that genetically we cannot be altered and therefore we are who we are regardless of physical alterations?

Thanks.

Peace,

daughter

 

[Black_Bird]

In a Chicago community parents and educators were at odds about a principal who recently underwent sexual reassignment surgery. The former male principal insisted on returning to his position at a local elementary school as "Ms. Jones".
Some felt that the children would be confused and that trying to explain the lifestyle change would be too traumatic for children at this age.

What are your thoughts? Should the adminstrator be reassigned to a school where she isn't known? How would you approach the topic of transexuality with your child? Would you acknowledge the person's changed sexual identity? Would you argue that genetically we cannot be altered and therefore we are who we are regardless of physical alterations?

It depends. If it is a highschool, I would say, let the woman have her way. Although she has probably suffer a great deal of grief from the students and staff...

... Second thought - scratch that. I think regardless of where she works in the public school system, it would be in everybodies best interest if she transfered to a new school. Although I *want* to be liberal and say "let her stay, let her stay," it simply isn't realistic. She would have to suffer too much humiliation, and too many parents would object. Best just to transfer and keep the truth behind the gender reassignment surgery from students and teachers.

 

[SweetBrat73]

I'd have to agree with Black_Bird on this one. Although I would like it possible for her to stay where she is. Small children (elem. school age) I think would be too confused about the whole thing. Unless her appearence changed so much the students wouldn't know her. Children in a middle school and high school would be able to deal better, but like BB said, she would face alot of grief from some of the students and parents. It's sad that ppl out there are like that...but I don't think anyone can get away from the closed minded ppl.

Brat

 

[MissTaken]

While personally, I would not have a problem discussing these issues with my children, it is not likely to be so with many, perhaps the majority of students and parents at the school.

It would be far less hurtful for the principal to be reassigned.

 

[Black_Bird]

Hmm... it seems that I have missed the intended topic of the thread. Should have read daughter's post closer...

I don't feel bad... SweetBrat and MissTaken did the same as I.

Anyway - how would I go about telling my child (I don't have one) about gender alteration? I wouldn't lie, but I wouldn't want my child to be confused over gender identity. I guess I would start out by telling him that there are exceptions to everything, times in which what is normally expected is not followed. "*This* is just one of those times..."

If my child still doesn't understand, I would simply tell her that *perhaps* she would understand a little more as she grows up and offer to discuss it again at a future time.

 

[MissTaken]

Thank you Black bird for nudging me a bit.

Telling my little ones what had happened wouldn't be difficult. They are at a young age and take things very literally.

I would simply need to tell them that Mr. Jones didn't like being a man and so had an operation to become Mrs. Jones.

Of course, the conversation would likely become one wherein the children ask if they can do the same. To that end, I would answer as I do on many difficult topic, when you are grown up you can make those choices.

And then, I would hold my little guy and remind him how much I love having a little man such as he! (I know that is terribly closed minded, but I don't feel he needs to fret over a gender change at age six. )

 

[daughter]

age appropriate

Miss Taken I think your explanation and attitude is on point with your son. He's six.

The question was two-fold so you, guys done good.

Me, I have mixed feelings. I'd fear, too, that there would be too much disruption for the principal and students. At a high school, I'm not sure. In this scenario, reassignment was an option. What about situations where it isn't?

Transexuality and transgender is a whole new sexual revolution that I no little about though I am learning. Like most things different, there are always those who will automatically resist and resent. ((sigh))

Wouldn't be nice to be six? They treat thing so easily. A kid would likely say after learning the news, "So, now Mr. Jones is Ms. Jones and that makes her happy? Okay." End of story.

Thanks.

Peace,

daughter

 

[Andreina]

Re: Re: Sexuality Issues At School

It depends. If it is a highschool, I would say, let the woman have her way. Although she has probably suffer a great deal of grief from the students and staff...

... Second thought - scratch that. I think regardless of where she works in the public school system, it would be in everybodies best interest if she transfered to a new school. Although I *want* to be liberal and say "let her stay, let her stay," it simply isn't realistic. She would have to suffer too much humiliation, and too many parents would object. Best just to transfer and keep the truth behind the gender reassignment surgery from students and teachers.

I have to agree with Black Bird on this issue. I would like to think that nowadays people are open-minded and enlightened enough to accept such things. But they are not. We all know how cruel conservative parents can be and how cruel teenage kids are. Although it would probably be a good thing for them to learn to deal with it.

 

[seXieleXie]

if the prinicpal wanted to go back to the same school she knew the kind of response she would face. if she was willing to deal with that, i would say let her. i think that if children are introduced to transgender issues while they are young, and taught that transsexuals are not freaks or whatever, then it can be a very positive experiance. frankly, waiting until they are "old enough to understand" may mean they have been programmed to think in a different way and not accept such diversity. i don't think it will cause the children harm.

 

[MissTaken]

One of the issues with her returning to her school concerns the academic environment.

I have observed that many times parents, school boards and teachers become so lost in a conflict or scandal that their focus moves from the child's best interest to managing the conflict at hand.

It would a be a no win situation for her to return and I would hope that she would have the presence of mind to put the student's needs ahead of her own.

 

[EthiopianPrince]

What are your thoughts? Should the adminstrator be reassigned to a school where she isn't known? How would you approach the topic of transexuality with your child? Would you acknowledge the person's changed sexual identity? Would you argue that genetically we cannot be altered and therefore we are who we are regardless of physical alterations?

1) The administrator should be able to return to their old school if they choose, like anyone else who had a legal surgical operation.

2) I would tell my child that some people are born one gender on the outside, but another gender on the inside, so they change their outside to match their inside.

3) Yes I would acknowledge their changed sexual identity.

4) No, I don't think our genes are our identity. In America, we get to CHOOSE our identity.

Comments, please?

 

[Weird Harold]

I have observed that many times parents, school boards and teachers become so lost in a conflict or scandal that their focus moves from the child's best interest to managing the conflict at hand.

SexxieLexie and Ethiopian Prince stated most of my opinion on this very well.

I sincerely doubt that returning to the same school would produce much more than a "Tempest in a Teapot" without any long term damage to the students' best interests.

I also strongly disagree with the comment that She should go to another school and keep the gender change secret. That would solve nothing and leave a time-bomb hanging over her head.

Children (of any age) will accept her much more readily than their parents will, no matter how or when the issue is faced. She's probably better off dealing with any backlash among people she already knows.