Assembly Bill 1955, the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act (SAFETY), protects California teachers from dismissal for refusing to disclose a student’s sexual orientation or gender identity to parents without the student’s consent. The law, signed by Governor Newsom, aims to prevent schools from forcing teachers to act as “gender police,” prioritizing student well-being and the teacher-student relationship. While teachers can still communicate with parents about student safety concerns, the act prohibits punitive action against educators for withholding information regarding a student’s gender identity or sexuality. This legislation follows legal challenges to policies in Temecula and Chino Valley Unified School Districts that mandated parental notification of student gender identity changes. The new law is intended to safeguard LGBTQ+ youth and empower them to control the timing and manner of sharing sensitive personal information with their families.
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As a parent, the idea of not being informed about my child’s pronoun change at school might initially seem unsettling. We’re used to being involved in every aspect of our children’s lives, from their grades to their extracurricular activities. However, after carefully considering the situation, I’ve come to realize that this ban on notifying parents of a child’s pronoun change is not only necessary but also essential in ensuring the safety and well-being of all students.
The stories shared about kids facing homelessness, abuse, or even death at the hands of their parents upon coming out as LGBTQ+ are heartbreaking. It’s a stark reminder of the harsh reality many children face, where their own homes are not safe spaces for them to express their true identities.… Continue reading
As a parent, the idea that schools in California are now banned from notifying parents of a child’s pronoun change has sparked a range of emotions in me. On one hand, I understand the importance of creating a safe environment for children, especially those who may be struggling with their identity and fear the repercussions of sharing that with their parents. The stories of kids who have been homeless, abused, or even killed for being true to themselves are heartbreaking reminders of the harsh realities faced by LGBTQ youth.
The argument that if a child doesn’t feel comfortable sharing their pronoun change with their parents, then it’s a failure on the part of the parents, strikes a chord with me.… Continue reading
Growing up in a school district where cellphones have been banned for decades, the news that the 2nd-largest school district is also taking steps to restrict cellphone and social media use for students came as no surprise to me. In fact, it made me wonder why cellphones were ever allowed in schools in the first place. Cellphones are engineered to be addictive distraction machines, and it’s clear that they can get in the way of student learning.
Being a teacher myself, I fully understand the challenges of enforcing a cellphone ban in the classroom. It’s a losing battle in many cases, as students find ways to bypass the rules or use burner phones to deceive teachers.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker