People are continuing to speak out against a Chilliwack school trustee who published a statement against gender identity policies in schools on Monday.
Barry Neufeld, a trustee for about 20 years in School District 33, said he would rather live in Russia or Paraguay, B次元官网网址渨hich recently had the guts to stand up to these radical cultural nihilists.B次元官网网址�
He was referring to the policy known as SOGI, or sexual orientation and gender identity. He cited a group known for being against the rights of the gay community, the American College of Pediatrics, posted an internet meme making fun of gender identity, and blamed the Liberal government for creating B次元官网网址渁 weapon of propagandaB次元官网网址� and embracing B次元官网网址渢he LGBTQ lobby and B次元官网网址� forcing this biologically absurd theory on children in our schools.B次元官网网址�
Many in the education system quickly spoke up to distance themselves from NeufeldB次元官网网址檚 comments, including the Chilliwack School DistrictB次元官网网址檚 superintendent, the BC School TrusteeB次元官网网址檚 Association (BCSTA), and the Chilliwack District Parents Advisory Council. They took exception to NeufeldB次元官网网址檚 comments as they are not in line with the B.C. Human Rights Code.
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But union president of the Chilliwack TeacherB次元官网网址檚 Association, Lee-Anne Clarke, has also pointed out that NeufeldB次元官网网址檚 public statement is an attack on teachers.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very hurtful,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hurtful to our LGBTQ community, itB次元官网网址檚 hurtful to our teachers, some of them who are part of the LGBTQ community. And this undermines the professionalism of my members. It undervalues all the work weB次元官网网址檝e done to make things better for everyone, to make school more safe for everyone, to make it more inclusive and to be more accepting of differences.B次元官网网址�
Teachers B次元官网网址渒now how to deal with controversial issues,B次元官网网址� she points out, including sexual orienttion and gender identity. She said SOGI is about teaching in an inclusive classroom, and is not a prescriptive part of the curriculum like math or English.
B次元官网网址淚t comes up when it comes up,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a subject. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no SOGI class.B次元官网网址�
Clarke said teachers just want safe, inclusive schools, B次元官网网址渁nd to have a trustee talk about a ministry-approved curriculum like this is really hurtful.B次元官网网址�
The BCSTA had for inclusion on September 22, likely in response to anti-SOGI groups holding meetings in some communities. And on Tuesday morning, the association released a pointed statement regarding NeufeldB次元官网网址檚 opinions.
B次元官网网址淏CSTA does not support, nor agree with the position taken by Chilliwack school trustee Barry Neufeld. Our Association strongly believes that schools need to be safe and welcoming places for ALL students, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion or background. It is important that we all stand up and defend our students and our staff against any incidents of prejudice, bullying or discrimination.B次元官网网址�
Chilliwack school trustees weigh in
Criticism also came in from voices around NeufeldB次元官网网址檚 own board table.
Board chair Paul McManus responded to The Progress to say that:B次元官网网址滿r. NeufeldB次元官网网址檚 comments are his own personal opinions and he was not speaking on behalf of the School Board of Chilliwack.
B次元官网网址淭he Chilliwack School Board has not yet discussed the SOGI program in depth. As our policies and regulations indicate, we are committed to providing safe schools and a positive climate for all members of our school community.B次元官网网址�
The board has not yet adopted a specific SOGI policy, but did review their current policies last fall to ensure they complied with revised legislative requirements for the BC Charter of Human Rights and Freedom and the BC Human Rights Code. More discussion is expected at the board level, according to the superintendent, Evelyn Novak.
Trustee Dan Coulter weighed in on the same forum chosen by Neufeld, Facebook.
B次元官网网址淎s a school trustee, I support the SOGI curriculum,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗ow can teaching respect and inclusion be a bad thing? Not only that but the law of the land demands it! The BC Human Rights Code, Canadian Human Rights Act and the Charter demand it. IB次元官网网址檓 glad that human rights commissions will be making a comeback to fight bigotry, fear, and ignorance.B次元官网网址�
He continued:
B次元官网网址淚 have many LGBTQ friends and they are the toughest people youB次元官网网址檒l ever meet. They have to be. It sickens me when I see the arguments against SOGI that always seem to veer into transphobia. Well itB次元官网网址檚 not acceptable and we ALL need to say so. I have friends that are Trans and I know students that are too. This hatred is aimed straight at who they are. It tries to make their existence illegitimate. It pisses me off! Our students and staff need to feel safe in our schools and a valued part of the school community - because they are!B次元官网网址�
What is SOGI?
There are many people who have spoken up against the SOGI policies, and many people who have commented as such on NeufeldB次元官网网址檚 post from Monday.
But there also seems to be a lot of misinformation about what SOGI really is, and how it is used in the classroom. Chris Wejr, a principal at a Langley elementary school, has that explains it through a Q&A format.
It says B次元官网网址渢here is no separate and distinct SOGI program or curriculum. Sexual orientation and gender identity are important topics that are interwoven through several curriculum areas, most notably, physical and health education, language arts, and social studies. How the topics are introduced to students is dependent on the age and stage of their development. These topics may also be discussed as they arise in the daily lives of students.B次元官网网址�
It clears up some misconceptions, too. One of those misconceptions is that sexual acts are taught in the classroom.
B次元官网网址淪exuality as a concept is discussed starting in grade 4 (with the onset of puberty) but does not include discussions about sexual acts or practices. Secondary students need accurate information about relationships and safe sex. Lack of information can have significant consequences for youth.B次元官网网址�
Rob Fleming, Minister of Education, spoke to the media Tuesday to say that while Neufeld shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be removed from his position, Fleming hopes he eventually has a change of heart on the subject.
trustee Barry Neufeld should not be removed from school board says
B次元官网网址� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)
jpeters@theprogress.com
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