Thursday, August 21, 2014

School Caves In…

The Middletown Schools Superintendent had a change of heart,
Transgender student may go to other schools
Courier Post
Carol Gorga Williams, Asbury Park Press
August 21, 2014

The superintendent met with Rachel and her mother Angela Peters, 32, Monday.

"Although the student is welcome to return to Thorne Middle School for the 2014-2015 school year, we are now in the process of investigating alternative placements at the parent's request," George said in a statement posted on the Middletown Schools home page. "As is our regular practice, we will work with this student and her parent to agree upon the placement that best meets her educational, social and emotional needs in the least restrictive environment."
It might be best that they are allowing her the option to go to another school to have a fresh start and they also agreed to conduct sensitivity workshops throughout the district.

Autostraddle said it best,
Of course, things aren’t entirely resolved. Rachel faces a difficult year of either adjusting to a new school environment or returning to a school where students and administrators have previously been unwelcoming to her. And no matter what she chooses, she will likely face hostility from people who don’t respect her gender. However, with the support of her family and LGBTQ organizations, she can hopefully have a great year — and pave the way for other trans students to have more inclusive experiences of coming out in public school environments.
I think that the media storm over the district’s position to require her to attend school in her birth gender also contributed to the district’s change in their position. They, realized that they had no legal stance to for her to attend school in her birth gender.

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