I remember how it was -- JR
Virginia Overhauls Transgender Student Policies on Pronouns, Bathrooms, and Sports
Virginia took a sharp turn on transgender student policies with new guidelines released on Sept. 16.
According to the new guidelines, public schools cannot affirm a student’s gender without parents’ written requests. In addition, bathroom and locker room use is to be based on students’ sex, defined as the biological sex at birth. Student sports participation should be sex-based as well unless federal laws require otherwise.
The new policies are is a complete reversal of the previous guidelines, which define transgender as a student’s “self-identifying term.” Those rules, which took effect in March 2021 under former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, ask schools to consider not disclosing a student’s gender identity to the parents “if a student is not ready or able to safely share” it with their family.
The new policies have common ground with the previous rules with regard to ensuring a safe learning environment without bullying, discrimination, or harassment for students. It lists the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution as primary evidence.
The new guidelines will enter a 30-day public comment period around Sept. 26 and take effect after the state superintendent approves the final version.
“The 2022 model policy posted delivers on the governor’s commitment to preserving parental rights and upholding the dignity and respect of all public school students,” Macaulay Porter, spokesperson for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times.
“It is not under a school’s or the government’s purview to impose a set of particular ideological beliefs on all students. Key decisions rest, first and foremost, with the parents.
“The previous policies implemented under the Northam Administration did not uphold constitutional principles and parental rights, and will be replaced.”
Virginia Del. Marcus Simon (D-Fairfax), who introduced the state House bill that became a 2020 law and the basis of the 2021 rules, said in a tweet on Sept. 16: “These new policies are cruel and not at all evidence-based. … If enacted, these policies will harm Virginia children. Stop bullying kids to score political points.”
Loudoun County-based parental rights group Fight for Schools applauded the new policy. “Governor Youngkin promised to put parents back in charge of the care, upbringing, and education of their children. Today, he delivered—big time,” said Ian Prior, executive director of Fight for Schools, in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times.
He also had something to say to the school boards, especially his own in Loudoun County: “To the school boards in Virginia, such as the one in Loudoun County, you spent last year telling parents that they had to pass radical anti-parent, transgender policies to match the VDOE’s [Virginia Department of Education] model policy—now you will have to revise those policies based on the law and your own words. So get to work.”
Clint Thomas, a father to Loudoun County schoolchildren, echoed Fight for Schools’ sentiment. He has two daughters, both studying in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). Caroline, the elder daughter, is a high school senior and was on the school’s soccer team.
He’s also a plaintiff in a lawsuit against LCPS administrators and school board members, filed by America First Legal (AFL), a nonprofit conservative legal group, on his and 10 other parents’ behalf. At the end of June, the defendants were sued for “promoting secret gender transitions” and “forcing children to change in locker rooms with members of the opposite sex,” according to AFL.
“Virginia is returning to a focus on parents’ rights in education with its 2022 revision to model policies,” Thomas told The Epoch Times. “It feels so good as a father of children in LCPS to know our state Department of Education is returning to sanity when it comes to the basic rights of girls and women in our schools and athletic competitions.”
It’s unclear whether school districts will face budgetary consequences if they don’t follow the requirements. Porter didn’t respond to a question by The Epoch Times about the potential ramifications of noncompliance.
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Boston school BANS gay pride flags and BLM livery from its classrooms to 'avoid disruption' and to foster an inclusive learning environment
School officials have barred a public high school in Massachusetts from displaying gay pride and Black Lives Matter flags in classrooms.
Stoughton High School staff were instructed during a faculty meeting on September 14 to not display the flags along with the police officer flag, known as the Thin Blue Line flag, a staff member told The Boston Globe.
'We need to avoid placing items in the classroom that can cause disruption or distraction,' Administrative Principle Juliette Miller said in an e-mail to staff. 'We are an inclusive environment and want to maintain that inclusivity.'
While the flags are prohibited, LGBTQ+ stickers will be distributed and placed on classroom doors. The stickers will not have the words 'Diversity, Equity Inclusion' to avoid 'politically charged' lingo.
Miller didn't immediately comment on the matter.
An unidentified staff member complained about the recent order from the school and worries it will create a less 'welcoming' and 'warm' environment for students.
'Pride flags help LGBTQIA+ students feel safe and welcomed in school. Taking down Pride flags could hurt students' well-being and make them feel like they have nowhere to run,' the staff member told The Boston Globe.
'Having a rainbow or BLM flag in our rooms isn't pushing your beliefs on someone or displaying any political views. It is just saying, "Hey, you're welcome here, and we support you."'
Some people on social media were infuriated about the school's decision. 'So much for inclusivity,' one person wrote. 'Glad my child is educated outside of our town.'
Another added, 'They should be trying to teach current events, not sweep them under the carpet.'
'History loves to repeat itself,' another said.
Meanwhile, others praised the school's decision and said they should stick to teaching 'math' and 'english.' 'Smart move by your principal - political flags have no business in ANY public school,' one person wrote.
Another added: 'Let's go back to assuming all are welcome. I don't see separate areas for race or gender in schools, and I'm pretty sure that did exist before. Just assume it's 2022 and you're accepted until somebody gives you a reason to think different.'
'It’s insane and I don’t use that term lightly, it’s actually insane to think a flag or sticker on a door is going to create this magical inclusive environment.'
'Over the last couple of years, teachers have been asked to remove potentially controversial items from their classrooms. This is part of a consistent effort by the district to limit potential disruptions to students’ learning so that our students and faculty can focus on educational lessons inside the classroom,' Raab told Fox News.
He added: 'Lessons and conversations around complex topics are an important part of the education our students receive, and I believe they can and show be addressed within the structured framework of age-appropriate lessons.'
Raab didn't immediately respond to DailyMail.com for a comment.
Stoughton High School joins the various schools that have banned flags and symbols supporting police, BLM, and MAGA.
Kettle Moraine School Board in Wisconsin voted in August to continue the prohibition of the political displays.
The issue was raised by right-leaning school board member Kelly Brown, who has a son in the district, complained about the influence the banners were having on her son.
To strike a compromise, Superintendent Stephen Plum said that the district would interpret the employee conduct guidelines to ban all such messaging.
School board president Gary Vose said that the interpretation was meant to support all students and prevent bullying.
'Having Pride flags in some classrooms and not in others -and maybe it's not the intent - could send the message that some staff members want to support students with various lifestyle choices and others do not,' he said at the meeting.
We don't want that in Kettle Marine. We want all staff members to support all students. We don't want to have conflict between students or conflict between staff members. We should not be allowing any bullying for any reason.'
More than 13,000 people have signed an online petition opposing the Kettle Moraine policy that was launched by two local high school students, Bethany Provan and Brit Farrar.
'Having a rainbow flag in your room isn't pushing your beliefs on someone,' Provan told WITI-TV. 'It's just saying, 'Hey, you're welcome here, and we support you.'
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Chicago High School to Enforce Race-Based Grading System
Racial thinking has always been prt of the Leftist mentality
A high school in Chicago is attempting to justify implementing a race-based grading system “to adjust classroom grading scales to account for skin color or ethnicity of its students.”
Advocates for the racist system claim it is necessary because “traditional grading practices perpetuate inequities."
The new system will hold students accountable (or not accountable) for missing classes, misbehaving, or failing to turn in assignments based on the color of their skin.
The West Cook News reports:
Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRF) administrators will require teachers next school year to adjust their classroom grading scales to account for the skin color or ethnicity of its students.
School board members discussed the plan called “Transformative Education Professional Development & Grading” at a meeting on May 26, presented by Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning Laurie Fiorenza.
[The plan] calls for what OPRF leaders describe as “competency-based grading, eliminating zeros from the grade book…encouraging and rewarding growth over time.” Teachers are being instructed how to measure student “growth” while keeping the school leaders’ political ideology in mind.
“Teachers and administrators at OPRFHS will continue the process necessary to make grading improvements that reflect our core beliefs,” reads the plan, which is set to kick off in the fall of 2023.
https://thinkamericana.com/report-chicago-high-school-to-enforce-race-based-grading-system/
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http://australian-politics.blogspot.com/ (AUSTRALIAN POLITICS)
http://snorphty.blogspot.com/ (TONGUE-TIED)
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