School won't use words like "boy" and "girl" in favor of gender-neutral terms
Reproduction will be taught using "person who produces eggs" or "person who produces sperm"
A Vermont school district caused an uproar recently after notifying parents it would not be using terms like “boy” and “girl” in an upcoming unit on puberty and human reproduction.
In a letter issued to parents, Founders Memorial School in the Essex Westford School District informed parents that as part of an effort to align with its “equity policy,” fifth graders would be taught the subject using “person-first” language.
"It is time for our science/health unit about the human body focused on puberty and the human reproductive systems," the elementary school’s principal, Sara Jablonski, wrote to parents. "In an effort to align our curriculum with our equity policy, teachers will be using gender inclusive language throughout this unit. With any differences, we strive to use 'person-first' language as best practice."
“Person who produces sperm in place of boy, male, and assigned male at birth," the letter specified. “Person who produces eggs in place of girl, female and assigned female at birth."
The letter also explained that the curriculum would "focus on the physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty" and also introduce the fifth graders to "basic structure and function of human reproductive systems."
As The Blaze reported, when the letter was posted to social media it spread like wildfire, causing an uproar.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Stop it. Stop focusing on sex and gender and focus on EDUCATION. No wonder kids are confused. No wonder they lack grammar skills. No wonder they are lost. They go to school to learn. You can’t learn in that word salad environment. Homeschool your kids in VT," one Twitter user wrote.
Link: School District Policy Replacing “Girl” and “Boy” With “Inclusive” Gender-Free Language Causes Uproar
A Louisiana bill that is set to be debated in the state House would ban teachers and school faculty from discussing sexual identity and gender in public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.
HB 466, introduced by Louisiana state Rep. Dodie Horton (R), would also ban teachers from discussing their own sexual orientation and gender as well as from using pronouns for students that did not align with their sex, unless express parental permission is given, The Daily Signal reported.
The bill passed the House Education Committee on Wednesday and while Republican lawmakers anticipate a veto from Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards, Horton is confident the Republican supermajority in the legislature would rise to the occasion.
“I pray that people will be bold enough and courageous enough to override a veto,” she told the Signal this week.
The bill would go further than similar legislation signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last year which prohibited sexuality education through 3rd grade.
It has already been attacked by critics as a “Don’t Say Gay bill,” a term used by critics of Florida’s bill.
“This is a Don’t Say Gay bill that would prohibit educators from discussing sexual orientation in the classroom,” Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast wrote on Twitter after HB 466 passed the education committee this week.
Link: Louisiana Bill Would Ban Discussions on Sexuality. Gender Identity in the Classroom
A substitute teacher who was fired after objecting to a book depicting a same-sex couple being read to children must be reinstated and will be awarded over $180,000 in a settlement with the school district.
The Alliance Defending Freedom secured the legal victory for Georgia mother Lindsey Barr, who was ousted from her position as a substitute teacher after contacting the school regarding the picture book All Are Welcome being read to her daughter’s class in the same school district.
"Lindsey spoke out as a Christian, a mother, and a private citizen on an important issue —namely, the content and age-appropriateness of a picture book that the school planned to read to her kids and other elementary-aged children that conflicted with her family's values and faith," Senior Counsel to ADF, Philip A. Sechler, said in a statement when Barr’s settlement with Bryan County Schools was announced.
"We commend the school district for finally doing the right thing and understanding that the First Amendment protects the right of Lindsey — and all public employees — to express their concerns about what schools are teaching children without the government cancelling them,” the statement added.
In the lawsuit filed last year, the ADF accused the district and Schools Human Resources Director, Debi McNeal, and Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Trey Robertson, of targeting her for her faith.
"Defendants' firing of Lindsey Barr was neither neutral nor generally applicable but was hostile and targeted directly at the content of her religious beliefs," the suit stated.
It continued that “under Defendants' policies and practices, Lindsey Barr is not allowed to serve as a substitute teacher because of her views on marriage, family, and the appropriateness of a public elementary school reading her young children a picture book with drawings of same-sex couples embracing, pregnant, and parenting.”