aps said:
If parents don't make a big deal out if, their kids won't either. I remember when my cousin's daughter was exposed to a friend who had 2 mommies. Her mom (my cousin) did not make a big deal out if it when her daughter asked about it. Guess what? It had NO impact on her whatsoever.
And I think you are to be applauded for your open-mindedness. I cant say that I agree that there was no impact at all on the child, but that is the place of her mother to determine the level of exposure to such things.
So parents have to discuss a unique issue with their children--big deal. It's situations like this that are great learning experiences. I just have a hard time thinking that if the teacher substituted for a day here and a day there that the children would recognize the teacher, although that's not the point. I just don't think this would have much of an impact, if any, on the children or their psyche.
Are you a qualified psychiatric professional? Do you have any credentials that would allow you to make such a statement with any degree of authority? Have you spent any time looking into the possible psychological implications that such an event might have on a child? Do you even have any children in the position to be exposed to such an extreme situation? It is the right of the parents and/or qualified professionals to determine what level of exposure their children recieve. I'm sorry, I appreciate this teacher's circumstances and commend him/her for wanting to still be a teacher. However, I have to side with the rights of the parents to choose how their children should be raised and at what level of maturity they approach these issues. I will not submit to the idea that some liberal school board, with more interest in being PC than caring for the welfare of the children, has a right to force this issue upon the students. I am still not buying your argument that the children would not recognize this teacher for what he/she is because here we are discussing it. It has been made a blatant fact of life to ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN.
I might be more sympathetic if you were talking about a permanent teacher who changed sexes in the middle of the school year (versus it happening in the summer and the person comes back to a WHOLE NEW classroom of children) so that the children in that same class went from calling him Mr. Smith in September 2005 to calling him Ms. Smith in January 2006.
Irrelevant. The fact is, the exposure potential is too great to risk such young minds with the possibility of having to face gender identity issues well before proper maturation. Its open and shut. That teacher does not need to be in the classroom with such young children.
I disagree that this is an "extreme circumstance" that has much of an impact on education. How so? As long as the person isn't a danger to children, what's the problem?
It is not about being an active danger, but rather a passive confusion to these kids. Its more about the parents' rights to choose the levels of exposure their children recieve. As I said before, I appreciate the unique circumstances of this case and the profound courage of this teacher is not lost upon me. However, that does not nullify the rights of the parents to choose how their children are raised.
And you could certainly jerk your kid out of school. That is your prerogative.
"Daddy, why am I now going to private school?"
"Because one of the substitute teachers underwent a sex change (something I will let you learn about when you are in your 20's), and I couldn't bear to expose you to that. You would be permanently scarred, my child."
:roll:
Now you are just being a smarta$$. I clearly stated that older (perhaps high school kids) would actually benefit from such a unique situation being presented to them. Make all the snide mockeries you want and put all the eye-rolling emoticons you care to, but the fact remains that there is a certain level of tradition and conservative security parents expect from the school system, especially with their elementary kids, and allowing this teacher in the classroom with such young kids undermines the fabric of that security.
As I said, I am tolerant and open-minded with most everyone, but there is a line. That line divides those who care about our future through guarding our children and those who would throw away any sense of stewardship in exchange for a touchy feely political correctness.
