Teacher refuses to supervise transgender student in male locker room in FL

[UglyCasanova]

This is a middle school and a female who wants to be a male went into the locker room. There were naked boys in there. The teacher felt this violated the rights of the male students and their privacy so refused to take part and saying at the very least the boys as well as their parents should have a right to know this is going on. I agree, even if there is an accommodation made and the girl allowed in, the parents should know this is occurring. The teacher who refused to participate notified a FL based advocacy group who sent out a pretty detailed letter.

Article about it

The issue arose in September, when a Chasco Middle School student who was born female told teachers he is male. He asked to be considered a boy and to use the boys’ restroom and locker room.​

The school’s two physical education teachers objected to supervising the locker room, where children change clothing and may take showers.​

"I told them (Chasco administrators) I have an issue with it," teacher Stephanie Christensen said in an interview.​

She said she wanted the school to inform others involved that it was allowing a transgender student into the locker room. The district has said it would not do so, because it did not want to violate the privacy rights of the transgender student.​

"Part of my concern is, if students are allowed to do this, the other kids and their parents have a right to know," Christensen said. "It’s their privacy, too."​

She and teacher Robert Oppedisano, who refused to monitor the locker room, contacted the Liberty Counsel to seek protections and advice. Christensen said they felt their jobs were in jeopardy, after they were told locker room supervision is a key part of their work and also that they could not discuss the situation with other students who were affected.​

​

The complaint letter

Thoughts on this? Should a girl be allowed to access areas where male students are nude, and do the parents have a right to know? Should the teacher be punished for refusing to supervise the locker room where he will see an underage female student nude?

 

[Paratus]

I can’t see why other parents or kids should be made aware when my kids are using the school locker room. So I wouldn’t make an exception here.

If they are concerned about something happening between the trans student and the other kids maybe they should monitor the locker room as their job demands.

If they don’t think they can be professional around a trans student in a locker room then they need to be removed from their jobs as they are a potential threat to their students.

 

[UglyCasanova]

The parents in my opinion should be aware that their kids are seeing the naked body of someone from the opposite sex and that they are being seen naked by that person as well. They may agree or disagree and take whatever action they think appropriate I guess, but at the very least they should know what’s going on.

 

[mect]

I can’t see why other parents or kids should be made aware when my kids are using the school locker room. So I wouldn’t make an exception here.

If they are concerned about something happening between the trans student and the other kids maybe they should monitor the locker room as their job demands.

If they don’t think they can be professional around a trans student in a locker room then they need to be removed from their jobs as they are a potential threat to their students.

Disagree. If we are talking bathrooms, that is a different matter, or if there are individual stalls. Otherwise, there is a pretty strong, established cultural practice that leads to individuals feeling far more comfortable being naked in presence of others of the same sex compared to those of the opposite sex. Allowing someone of the opposite sex into a locker room where students are openly changing clothes/showering introduces a pretty significant level of discomfort for most individuals. This is a case where unisex showering facilities are the best solution where individual stalls are available, but in the mean time I actually agree with conservatives on the locker room issue. Locker room assignments need to be done by sex. Otherwise, there is no point having segregated locker rooms at all, and America is not ready for that.

 

[Sunburn74]

The parents in my opinion should be aware that their kids are seeing the naked body of someone from the opposite sex and that they are being seen naked by that person as well. They may agree or disagree and take whatever action they think appropriate I guess, but at the very least they should know what’s going on.

You realize any kid with a cell phone has already seen the naked body of someone of the opposite sex?

I would probably just say the transgender person gets to be in there as a move for inclusion and if they don't feel they can professionally manage this situation, they should resign. It just doesn't seem that big a deal to me or that complex. Schools are supposed to prepare people for life. The reality is in life as adults people will have to see and interact with trans people. You may be an adult in a locker room at your gym and someone trans is there (often you don't even know) or at the grocery store or whatever. You can't run to your parents then. Why is school any different?

 

[SlowSpyder]

More transgender craziness. This is what I mean when I post about this stuff, I don't care whatsoever how someone goes about living their lives, are you a biological male that wants to go about life as a female? More power to you, have at it. But that isn't good enough for the liberals, just saying live and let live doesn't cut it for them. They want to force this type of situation into the norm, but it isn't the norm. This is what I mean, they don't fight a just fight for equality any more, they fight a twisted fight for privilege and to force over PC bullshit into our lives.

 

[cytg111]

1. What IS IT with the concern .. Is this a single issue voting theme for the OP?
2. Its a tought cookie, one should he/she conform to everyone else or should everyone else conform to he/she ... Meh, it would be nice there was room and acceptence for such, i can see how there may not. Personally I wouldnt give two s*''s

 

[cytg111]

They want to force this type of situation

- No.

 

[SlowSpyder]

- No.

You think it was Republican policies that created this situation?

 

[cytg111]

1. What IS IT with the concern .. Is this a single issue voting theme for the OP?
2. Its a tought cookie, one should he/she conform to everyone else or should everyone else conform to he/she ... Meh, it would be nice there was room and acceptence for such, i can see how there may not. Personally I wouldnt give two s*''s

We cant edit out posts anymore? Think of the typos you insensitive clods.

 

[cytg111]

You think it was Republican policies that created this situation?

That reply explains so much.

 

[SlowSpyder]

We cant edit out posts anymore? Think of the typos you insensitive clods.

You can, but I had to wait ~30 seconds after posting for the edit function to work after posting a reply.

 

[Greenman]

I was very shy in middle school. Having a girl walking around in the locker room would have been extremely difficult for me.
I understand the desire to accept deviant behavior, but shouldn't it be the nonconforming person that has to make adjustments?

 

[pauldun170]

From the teachers perspective, its a tricky situation.

Would a community allow a male gym teacher to oversee the girls locker room?
Would they allow a woman to monitor the boys locker room?

From a professional standpoint, monitoring the locker room involves shouting "knock it off!!!!" every couple of minutes. Kids are kids by default they should be given privacy while changing unless there is something that could be threatening their safety.

If there is evidence that safety is an issue, punishing or criticizing potential victims isn't right. If adults aren't mature enough to tackle the sort of conversation to help mitigate "stupidity" then whatever....

From the teacher's perspective, they now have to think of parents giving them crap for doing their job. Parents are insane. Transgender female in the boys locker room turns into "parents talking bout the gang bangs and how the male teacher is eyefucking the butch" on social media...which results in "anonymous accusations" hell at administration.

If Florida has taught us anything, its that women can't control their urges around boys and we need to protect boys from the rapist that are currently patrolling the girls locker room.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Much Todo about nothing.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Much Todo about nothing.

Much ado about something. More liberal madness.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Much ado about something. More liberal madness.

Sure, thats why conservatives are going mad over it. Those liberals are just so mean, making others use their brains and stuff.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Sure, thats why conservatives are going mad over it. Those liberals are just so mean, making others use their brains and stuff.

If you don't see how there can be a real problem with having middle school kids of different sexes sharing a locker, that's your short sightedness, not a problem with society or conservatives.

 

[zinfamous]

Concerned republicans see depraved perverts in everyone else because they, themselves, are the actual depraved perverts. It proves itself time and time and time again.

The very reason this concern exists is because they believe that it is exactly how they themselves would behave if in the same position.

 

[zinfamous]

If you don't see how there can be a real problem with having middle school kids of different sexes sharing a locker, that's your short sightedness, not a problem with society or conservatives.

Shouldn't you be off somewhere butt-huffing a carton of Marlboros?

 

[ch33zw1z]

If you don't see how there can be a real problem with having middle school kids of different sexes sharing a locker, that's your short sightedness, not a problem with society or conservatives.

No worries, conservatives are making it a problem. I think that you look like someone who knows what he's talking about.

Do enlighten us with the problems you experienced as a transgender middle schooler.

 

[nakedfrog]

These are the same people that hate the concept of safe spaces, aren't they?

 

[Fanatical Meat]

This is a work expectation thing for them to sort out. I’m confident it doesn’t require national attention to be resolved.

 

[umbrella39]

Sounds concerning... Yet another paid concern troll with the predictable Green reply. Nice to have a meat puppet follow you around and show consistant and equal concern at the OPs concerns...

I Don't Care

 

[cytg111]

I was very shy in middle school. Having a girl walking around in the locker room would have been extremely difficult for me.
I understand the desire to accept deviant behavior, but shouldn't it be the nonconforming person that has to make adjustments?

I am not sure I would have been comfortable with it either back in the day, key words here being back in the day, times are different and mostly for the better. Maybe we should divide em into three areas, the common area, strictly boys, strictly girls. That would sorta solve it right?