It’s Elementary School - It’s Safe
February 11, 2008
This is for all of you out there that think "stuff" doesn’t happen in elementary school. Thanks Christina.
8-year-old boy returning to class as girl
Teachers making accommodations, preparing to counsel other students
Posted: February 08, 2008
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
An 8-year-old boy is preparing to return to his home school district in Colorado as a girl, so school officials are designating two school restrooms as unisex facilities, and preparing to counsel other students on the issue of transgenderism.
The report comes from KUSA-Television in Denver, which did not identify the third-grade student or his family in the Castle Rock suburban district.
But the report said the student had attended his home district several years ago, as a boy, and then had taken classes in another district for a time.
One parent, identified by the television station as Dave M., said children in the elementary school are going to wonder what’s going on.
"I see this as being a very difficult situation to explain to my daughter, to explain why someone would not want to be the gender they were born with," he told the station.
His daughter will share a classroom with the boy dressing as a girl.
"I do think that there’s going to be an acknowledgment that ‘Why are you in a dress this year when you were in pants last year?’" he said.
A spokeswoman for the Douglas County School District in Castle Rock, said the district’s calling "is to educate all kids no matter where they come from, what their background is, beliefs, values, it doesn’t matter."
Whei Wong, the district spokeswoman, said the school is preparing two "unisex" restrooms for the student to use and teachers have been instructed to address the student by name, instead of using a "he" or "she" pronoun.
She also told the television station the school is handing out packets of information to other students and their parents containing "information" about transgender people, and officials will answer questions from other students about the boy-seeking-to-be-girl "in order to protect the child as much as possible."
"It’s something we haven’t had discussions about before. It’s something that we haven’t may really had to think about before, but now we will," she said.
Family therapist Larry Curry told the station that the student’s age is "very early" to be having such issues.
"I don’t know too many parents who are equipped to answer that kind of question or deal with it without some other support," he said.
But Kim Pearson, of the TransYouth Family Advocates which lobbies on behalf of such students, said students as young as five years old are "realizing their true gender identity."
Her group works to break down obstacles for such students, she said.
"Initially there was a lot of resistance (in the Douglas County district)," she said. "Now their position is they want this child to be safe of their school."
Her messages weren’t a comfort to Dave M., who believes his daughter is not ready to think about the transgenderism.
"I don’t think a third-grader does have the rationale to decide this life-altering choice," he told the station.
He also is upset that although the district has been making preparations for months, officials just recently let parents know what was going on.
"I just find it ironic that they can dictate the dress style of children to make sure they don’t wear inappropriate clothing, but they have no controls in place for someone wearing transgender clothing," he told the station.
Wong confirmed "mental health professionals" would be provided for other students, staff or parents if there are "any concerns at all."
February 11th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Whether or not you (or I) agree with this, how does this situation make the school “unsafe”?
February 11th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Whoa, what are his parent’s thinking? Why would they think that an 8 year old could make this type of decision? Why is the school accepting it? That’s absurd.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I am not even going to answer that question! ;) Maybe your definition of safe is different than mine.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
This is ridiculous!! What are the parents thinking to allow their child to make a decision like this? It doesn’t mention whether the child has been in counseling (with a Christian counselor). Why is society so unwilling to take a stand and say NO to anything? Everything is right, nothing is wrong if it makes you feel good…..
Why would anyone want their children to be exposed to this aspect of life at such a young age??
February 11th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Barb, I guess it is “safe” if you want your 8 and 9 yo to know about transexualism and transvestitism which in turn means you must be informed about homosexuality. I personally don’t want my kids knowing the details about any of those things. Don’t get me wrong, they know the basics, but details, no thanks!!
Emily, Betcha $100 the parents are participating in an alternative lifestyle.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Sounds like this was a decision of his parents, not the child. What 8 year old wakes up one day and says, “Hmmm, I want to be a girl.”
I am sure he will get picked on. How sad.
And wow….who wants their 8 year old to have to know about transgenders or transsexuals or whatever the correct term is!!! One more reason to homeschool!!!
February 11th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Disgusting and ridiculous, is all I can say.
How are you guys liking this thunder/lightening/ice storm today? I thought for sure Katie would post a weather report with pictures like always. :-)
February 11th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Robyn, I am working on it. Jodi seems to think eating is more important. Silly girl.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Very sad.
I remember when i was that age i wanted to be a boy for awhile. There was a lot of junk going on in my life then. I am so glad that no one encouraged me in that line of thought as i am very happy to be a woman now and embrace my femininity. I had a lot of healing to do to get to this place and i would only be more confused and angry if i had truly tried to be a boy (which i am not nor was ever meant to be). I can only imagine the messages that child is getting from somewhere.
We need to remember to show compassion, though, to children like this. Acting repulsed or indignant is only going to make matters worse. I wouldn’t want to have to explain any of that to my children and i am glad that i do not have to at this point.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
It just shows that we are living in an age where absolutes have been thrown out … it’s a world of relativism. I feel sorry for the future generations coming up … this is pure confusion, especially for the majority of kiddos. I notice no one bends or trys to change the natural laws, like gravity, or can you imagine someone flying over mount Everest and saying it doesn’t matter what the altimeter says …
February 12th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Shouldn’t this be considered child abuse?
February 12th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Completely gross and disgusting. What a violation of the ‘rights’ of the hundreds of kids already at that school. It is unbelievable that the will of one child and his parents can be pushed onto so many folks, without their consent. And to make such accommodations? Why can’t this boy just go into the girls bathroom, if he thinks he is a girl? This is absurd! The parents need a good spanking and so does the school district. Where is the 9th circuit court now? The ACLU? They won’t be found here, because somehow sinfulness is much more important than righteousness. Fifty years ago this would have been handled “outside” and “like a man”.
As for safety, how about the protection of innocence, chivalry, and modesty? Is it safe for 8 years olds to know all about transgender, homosexuality, and gross types of sexual behavior? I think not, safety goes far beyond that of a physical sense.
Alternative lifestyle? Katie, you are too kind. I think Mike Pearl would have another word for this kind of behavior.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Quite honestly, I think I’m more liberal than a lot of the Christians in my community and church, but this disgusts me. I have to wonder how this came about. Did this little boy ask his parents if he could paint his nails/play with a doll/ wear a skirt one day and they decided he must want to be a girl? My older brother and male cousins all let us paint their nails and dress them up - it was funny, it was a game, it was slightly embarrassing for them, but they weren’t about to swap genders or go out in public like that!
God assigns our genders. He creates us perfect in His sight. Why would we mess with or destroy what He has made? Who are we that we dare tell Him that He was wrong?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
This is outrageous! Here’s more on this, at taxpayer’s expense of course!
4 minute video -
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?021208/021208_cav_gardere&Yahoo_Cavuto&Who Should Pay?&School helps boy live as girl &Your World&-1&Business&180&&&exp
I think the shrink has a problem too, his brain has shrunk!
February 13th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Have to cut and paste all 3 lines of link above.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
This absurd, disgusting, sinful behavior is spelled G-R-O-S-S!!!
Just one more testamony as to why all Chrsitian parent should homeschool!