BUZZ
Based on number of classes and students, teachers would have to know roughly 200 kids’ gender identities and pronouns.
The Washington DC-adjacent Frederick County Board of Education approved changes last week that are “meant to protect gender diverse students.”
According to WYPR, in a 4-2 vote the board approved amendments to its Policy 443, originally passed in 2017 to “provide [a] safe, welcoming and affirming learning environments for gender-diverse students – including those who are transgender, intersex, gender-questioning, and gender non-conforming.”
Under the policy, male students who “identify” as female can participate in girls’ sports activities (section D, part 4 states “While acknowledging the importance of safety and competitive fairness, students are permitted to participate in FCPS sports and physical education classes in a manner consistent with their gender identity and gender expression”), and lists numerous “definitions” for guidance, such as those for “gender diverse,” “intersex,” “genderqueer,” and “gender questioning.”
The recent amendments “call for the ‘expectation’ that teachers use the preferred pronouns of students,” and educators also will have to “keep up to date on a list of the preferred pronouns for all of the students in their school.”
Students, too, will be “encouraged” to use their peers’ preferred pronouns; however, unlike teachers, they are not eligible for a religious exemption to the policy.
“Persistent use” of pronouns other than what a student prefers ultimately can “be deemed as bullying if targeted.”
In her support of the amendments, Board Member Janie Monier said school “has to be somewhere that any student can go to and feel like they’re not going to be in harm’s way.”
But Board Member Jaime Brennan (pictured) called for the complete dissolution of Policy 443, saying students’ and teachers’ religious rights were being violated, and that it makes no sense that parents are to be notified about their child’s gender identity only if the child agrees.
Brennan’s colleague in voting “nay,” Colt Black, noted Policy 443 could cost the district $40 million in federal funding due the Trump administration’s executive order on males competing on female sports teams.
Board President Dean Rose said the district was “darned if we do, and darned if we don’t” as Frederick County Schools could face “future litigation” with or without the policy. He cited Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (in which the district resides) rulings which favor policies like 443.
As noted by the report, the district’s two high schools each have approximately 1,800 students. Given most teachers teach five classes a day with approximately 30-40 students in them, they would have to know roughly 200 students’ gender identities and pronouns.
MORE: Sixth Circuit: Students can’t be punished for referring to trans peers by biological pronouns
