In section D, Identification of students, it states:
"1. Every effort should be made to ensure that a transgender student wishing to change his or her means of address is treated with respect, compassion, and dignity in the classroom and school environment."
This statement is immediately rejected by the following:
"2. [School Division] personnel shall refer to each student using only (i) the name that appears in the student’s official record, or (ii) if the student prefers, using any nickname commonly associated with the name that appears in the student’s official record.
3. [School Division] personnel shall refer to each student using only the pronouns appropriate to the sex appearing in the student’s official record - that is, male pronouns for a student whose legal sex is male, and female pronouns for a student whose legal sex is female."
I am a public school teacher in Virginia. This is a non-issue that Republicans have created. Non-cisgendered students (LGBTQ+) are at risk for depression and suicide and policies such as these only increase those statistics. It is unnecessary and reckless and killing kids. The dynamics of gender and sex are changing - that's okay! There is nothing inherently wrong with that even if it makes some people uncomfortable. Please leave these children alone and let schools continue to do what they do best: care for and ensure the safety of the children under their roof. School personnel know and care about kids. School personnel already communicate with families about their children. Please, instead of using trendy political topics to continue to divide us, create policies to help school personnel build supportive bridges with parents and families of these already at-risk youth. The rights of our students to be who they are and be supported in that outweighs the opinions of those that are uncomfortable. Families affected are already supported by school personnel. This policy is stoking a dying fire and making it worse.
Oppose these new guidelines and continue with the caring guidelines of the previous administration. We need more care in our state, not more division and hate.