Yesterday while I was helping out at an organization that helps GLBT youth they got a phone call from a parent and the parent said that the school system where their daughter is enrolled was putting her into a Special Ed class. Not because she is disabled, not because she is a disturbance in class, not for any other reason except that she is transgenderd. She is a straight A student in Junior High School, takes part in after school activities and wants to come to school as a girl. The child has seen a psychologist and has been diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder. The school system where they lived last year had no problem with her coming to school as a girl, but the new school system wants her to be in a Special Ed class.
Wrong! That is a violation of the state Anti-Discrimination statues. Other schools systems in the state have developed policies for transgender student that follow the CT Department of Education guidelines and this school system should also develop a policy for students with GID and not push them off into a class where they do not belong. Besides it is a lot more expense for the school system to have someone in a Special Ed than in regular classes and it is a miss use of tax payer’s monies.
Yes, I think your last comment is the key here: the school system see the chance to make some money off this student. They need to be called on that immediately.
ReplyDeleteThis is absurd on so many levels. It comes down to both money and the fact that they wanted to brush this student under the rug. What a shame. I hope this situation is rectified.
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