New Gender Neutral Bathroom to Open in SPS High School
Update: the "Dear Colleague" letter from the Department of Justice and Department of Education on this topic that was sent to districts today.
I will note that there is a section on names/pronouns. Personally, I would hope there would be some allowance of understanding for staff members who may sometimes err on this point. Even the best efforts by human beings can fall short when adults fall back onto habits learned decades ago.
There was a Jan. 2016 article in the NY Times about using new pronouns for non-gendered students.
end of update
From district Communications:
I will note that there is a section on names/pronouns. Personally, I would hope there would be some allowance of understanding for staff members who may sometimes err on this point. Even the best efforts by human beings can fall short when adults fall back onto habits learned decades ago.
There was a Jan. 2016 article in the NY Times about using new pronouns for non-gendered students.
end of update
From district Communications:
Nearly half of Seattle Public Schools’ high schools already
have gender neutral bathrooms, and another will open its doors next week
at Nathan Hale.
At all 98 district schools, non-conforming students are
accommodated and provided access to a restroom
facility. SPS is proud to have anti-discrimination policies in place.
Superintendent Procedure
3210SP.C was adopted in December 2012 to ensure all students feel safe and included.
Where: Nathan Hale High School
10750 30th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98125
When: Tuesday, May 17, 2016
9:15 a.m.
Who:Gender Awareness Group and
Pride Club students (including student who had concept for the bathroom
as part of his senior action project)
Comments
Given that all kids are immature and irresponsible at times, there's a good chance that that little girl might want to show her "special parts" to the other girls in the bathroom, or...
This directive also includes housing arrangements so trans girls with male genitals will share a hotel room on overnight school trips (5th grade trips, 8th grade music trips, high school trips) with other girls, whether they like it or not.
This violates everything we know to do to keep kids safe and opens the door for all sorts of dangers. Also, it takes away every "safe space" for girls who want and deserve bodily privacy.
Momof2
Not worried about anyone showing my daughter anything in the school bathroom. And my kids aren't worried at all - I asked. Just not a big deal. Please don't pass your baseless fear on to children.
I'd really rather all the angst was invested in making school bathrooms CLEANER - my kids don't like to use them b/c they're so dirty, overflowing garbage, spitballs all over the ceiling, etc. And that's the girl's room.
So - it's not what's in the pants, ok?
-not worried
-Pollyanna
Teach kids to respect each other.
We might benefit from losing the puritanical always associating body parts with sex. Most of the time a breast is just a breast, a penis just a penis.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/05/09/prominent-feminist-bans-on-sex-discrimination-emphatically-do-not-require-unisex-restrooms/
The actual "Dear Colleague" letter:
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201605-title-ix-transgender.pdf
And a link with more detail about what is meant by "significant guidance"
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/fedreg/2007/012507_good_guidance.pdf
-a reader
I'm not going to jump on Momof2 because I think there are valid concerns. This is a more open brave new world and I think if schools have to accommodate transchildren, they also have to be sensitive (and helpful) to parents who have concerns. They also should include guidance on talking to your children, especially elementary children, about why a child might have been a girl in 1st grade but is now a boy -possibly with a different name - in 2nd grade. Kids don't always switch gears that easily.
But I agree about the showers. PE classes don't even require showers now. As for sports, I think any kid who is transgendered is likely to take great care because of the possible teasing/harassment from students who may act out. I can see if a girl who is now identifying as a boy was on the football team, it could be tricky.
We are already see pushback in some states like Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas. Schools are considered a local control entity and that does present a problem to the Obama administration.
A Reader, thanks for the links; I accidentally left the "Dear Colleague" link out.
I won't dismiss or seek to invalidate your concerns, but I will say this: Having raised a daughter (a proud Nathan Hale graduate, by the way), I can assure you that it is possible, and desirable, to teach our children to be careful without being fearful.
-- Ivan Weiss
-a reader
And I'd add that my comments reflect an ideal, and we aren't near that yet, though we are at least moving in what I believe is a positive direction. It'll take some time to change things, and yes, sensitivity is helpful.
Why do we have gender-specific bathrooms in our society?
Yes, this question is meant to provoke a bit, but I think it's relevant.
I do agree that their are boys who will try and use this to be funny, I don't know how the principal will decide if they are of a certain gender. The kids themselves report less than 50% of them identify as purely hetero or homo sexual. It's called pansexualism and it's talked about at local high schools.
Kim
Do we actually have gender-specific bathrooms? Or sex-specific? Or a mixture of the two?
pondered
My question is: Why?
Getting to the root of that question is key to understanding how to proceed with edge cases.
Yes, I said edge cases. Kim, I flat out don't believe that more than 50% of kids identify as something other than hetero or homo sexual. I have 2 high schoolers, and know multiple transgender kids. Tolerant of? Yes. Identify as? Not. Even. Close.
I do think it is worth noting the difference between sex (physical characteristics) and gender (internal sense of being female, or male, or both, or neither). Acknowledging and understanding this distinction is an important step.
Also, gender identity is not the same thing as sexual orientation (gay, straight, bisexual).
As to the specific question of how the principal will decide if they are of a certain gender, SPS District policy pretty clearly says that "A student should be provided access to a restroom facility that corresponds to the gender identity the student consistently asserts at school."
Additionally, acknowledging concerns about a 'safe space', the SPS District policy is also clear - "Further, all students - transgender or not - who have a need or desire for increased privacy, regardless of the underlying reason, should be provided access to an alternative restroom (e.g. staff restroom or health office restroom). This allows students who may feel uncomfortable sharing the facility with the transgender student(s) the option to make use of a separate restroom and have their concerns addressed without stigmatizing any individual student."
I do not often go to bat for District policies, but in this instance the policy is clear, thoughtful and admirable.
-Mark
HP
-curious
The locker rooms are another story. There is a lot of public nudity in a locker room while changing and especially in the showers.
When I was in high school we had a boys locker room and a girls locker room. In addition there were private spaces in coach's offices within the locker rooms which, I believe, included toilet and shower facilities. Our coaches did not shower with the teams. I don't think it would be too hard to make arrangements for students with a legitimate need for privacy to use the facilities in the coach's offices. It can be done without any construction work. There could be a number of legitimate reasons that a student would need privacy in a locker room. Being transgender is only one of them.