//The Virginia Department of Education continues to be committed to working with school
divisions to ensure a positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment for all students. //
This statement is among the guiding principles, however, with a cursory look at the proposal, this will not only misguide students, but also teachers. It is negative for students because they will concerned about what not to do, in constant fear of being reprimanded for making mistakes because the demands are contrary to reality. It won't be safe because the teacher's jobs are endangered for making a mistake while trying to refer to children who likely don't even understand what they're asserting. And it will not be nurturing because you're allowing children to continue to play in a virtual world when the outcomes have real world consequences.
These proposed policies and ideas are not positive for students, they're not safe for teachers, and they're not nurturing for the students. We should have policies that affirm their biological identity, punish bullying period, the reason of bullying is irrelevant, and empower teachers to be caring, but realistic.