Is it any wonder that enrollments are declining, and parents are looking for alternative schools for their children? Is it any wonder, that parents are removing their children from the public schools and looking for alternative schools focused on academics versus social engineering?
JBAB was the transgender policy put forward by The New Hampshire School Boards Association (NHBSB) many years ago. Since this policy is now being challenged in the courts, the NHSBA no longer recommends JBAB to New Hampshire Schools.
As you can see, some school districts continue to include JBAB in their list of school policies. You’d be wise to check your local district’s policies to see if JBAB is included.
Here is what SAU16′s JBAB policy says. Now ask yourself, is this a public school or a gender clinic? (Emphasis mine)
III. PROCEDURE
This procedure will be used to address needs raised by transgender students and/or
their parent(s)/guardian(s):
A transgender student and/or their parent(s)/guardian(s) should contact the
student’s counselor or building administrator. In the case of a student who has not
yet enrolled in school, the appropriate building administrator should be contacted.
A meeting should be scheduled to discuss the student’s particular circumstances
and needs. In addition to the student, parent(s)/guardian(s) and building
administrator, participants may include the school counselor, school nurse,teachers and/or other school staff (including from the sending school), and
possibly outside providers who can assist in developing a plan for that student.
A written plan will be developed by the school, in consultation with the student,
parent(s)/guardian(s) and others as appropriate, to address the student’s particular
needs. The school may request documentation from medical providers or other
service providers as necessary to assist staff in developing a plan appropriate for
the student.
If the parties cannot reach an agreement about the elements to be included in the
plan, the building administrator and/or Superintendent shall be consulted as
appropriate.
What is the purpose?
I. PURPOSE
District policy requires that all programs, activities, and employment practices be free from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. This policy is
designed in keeping with these mandates to create a safe learning environment for all
students and to ensure that every student has equal access to all school programs and
activities.
This policy sets out guidelines for schools and district staff to address the needs of
transgender and gender nonconforming students and clarifies how state law should be
implemented in situations where questions may arise about how to protect the legal rights
or safety of such students. This policy does not anticipate every situation that might
occur with respect to transgender or gender nonconforming students, and the needs of
each transgender or gender nonconforming student must be assessed on a case-by-case
basis. In all cases, the goal is to ensure the safety, comfort, and healthy development of
the transgender or gender nonconforming student while maximizing the student’s social
integration and minimizing stigmatization of the student.
That’s interesting because religious students are also supposed to be “free from discrimination” too. Right now there is a legal case pending in SAU16 because one student says that he was disciplined for refusing to use gender pronouns. There were also parents who spoke before the school board a few years ago describing the anti-religious sentiment their children have had to endure from some of the teachers. It doesn’t sound very inclusive in SAU16 despite their claims of appreciating diversity. Maybe some students are more equal than others?
JBAB also requires school staff to lie to parents:
A. Privacy
The Board recognizes a student’s right to keep private one’s transgender status or
gender nonconforming presentation at school. Information about a student’s
transgender status, legal name, or gender assigned at birth also may constitute
confidential information. School personnel should not disclose information that may
reveal a student’s transgender status or gender nonconforming presentation to others,
including parents and other school personnel, unless legally required to do so or
unless the student has authorized such disclosure.
What about bathrooms? Where are the special policies to make sure that religious students are offered the same consideration? Another case of some students being more equal than others?
E. Restroom Accessibility
Students shall have access to the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity
consistently asserted at school. Any student who has a need or desire for increased
privacy, regardless of the underlying reason, should be provided access to a single
stall restroom, but no student shall be required to use such a restroom.
That doesn’t sound respectful of religious students who do not feel comfortable sharing the restroom with those of the opposite biological sex.
Here biological males will play on the girls teams which will eliminate all those years of fighting for equal access to sports under Title IX.
G. Physical Education Classes and Intramural Sports
Transgender and gender nonconforming students shall be permitted to participate in
physical education classes and intramural sports in a manner consistent with their
gender identity.
One has to ask themselves:
Is this really an inclusive environment? And based on their own policy, it sounds like they are running a gender clinic instead of a school system.
Why is it, no policies were put in place for Muslim, Jewish or Christian students?
There is a Human Rights Commission in New Hampshire to address the civil rights that have been denied. Families need to start filing complaints with the Human Rights Commission based on religious discrimination when they see it. Document the discriminatory policies, and how they’ve been implemented in your school district.
There is also legal assistance that can be provided to parents, if there is a clear case of discrimination. The court case in Manchester involves a parent who was unable to get information on her child’s name change at school.