Earlier today I was wondering to what extent the wave of gender-choice and choice of identity might be headed toward Richland 2. Or is it already here?
Parents in Madison, Wisconsin are on the warpath and are "...
asking a state court to halt a public school district’s policy that they say instructs teachers to assist and encourage children in adopting transgender identities without notifying—and possibly while deceiving—parents."
What is the status of gender-identity rules in Richland 2? If a 5-year-old biological male "identifies" as a girl, must the teacher call that child by the girl's preferred name? Does a 17-year-old male who identifies as female get to shower with the girls?
The agenda for the February 25th Regular Meeting of the school board was posted shortly before 5:00PM (the end of the business day and business week).
Item 11.1 on the Agenda is a proposed revision to Board Policy IMB - Teaching About Controversial/Sensitive Issues. Read the proposed revision, because it'll be your last chance to read the old policy with the suggested revisions. After the revisions are approved, only the new, revised policy will exist on the District's website.
New language to be added to Policy IMB is: "
A controversial or sensitive issue is a point or matter about which significant opposing
viewpoints and/or multiple perspectives exist. Controversial/sensitive issues may be found as a
natural part of the curriculum or they may occur in local, national or international situations.
These topics may arise across a range of political, social, economic or cultural aspects such as
religion, language, customs or values."
You can find it by clicking on the attachment with the Agenda, or you save read it by clicking
here.
It looks like all that a Richland 2 teacher ("instructional staff", in "2020-speak") needs to do is get the approval of his/her principal, who might then run to "district personnel" and "appropriate content specialists" for guidance. That phrase "appropriate content specialists" might worry you. Who are they, if they are not "district personnel".
In the entire Board Policy IMB the words
parents or
guardians do not appear!
Come to Tuesday's board meeting and sign up to ask the board your questions. You must fill out two sheets
before the meeting to claim your three minutes of speaking time.