Posted on 03/08/2018 1:43:35 PM PST by Kudsman
WATERLOO — Three teachers in this Seneca County school district criticized Board of Education President Mike Shores during Monday’s school board meeting.
The target of their ire was a video posted on Shores’ Facebook page titled “Transgender identity is child abuse.” The speaker in the video, who says she was a pediatrician for 20 years, states that a transgender child is not a biological condition but a psychological one, emphasizing that gender is determined by DNA. She claims no one is born transgender and cites the danger to the body from surgical and chemical treatments to change gender at a young age.
First-grade teacher Tammy Anhorn called the video “ignorant and offensive” and criticized Shores for posting it. She said the suggestion that transgender children is a form of child abuse is contrary to the message of love and support many parents are trying to apply to their own children.
“To suggest that you can fix transgender children by therapy is appalling and garbage,” Anhorn said. “The school board president should not be posting such ignorance.
“We recently lost three young lives to suicide. This is very disappointing to have this put out here. We should be promoting acceptance, not questioning their sexual identity.”
“I shared this video sent to me,” Shores said at the meeting. “It’s not my opinion. I didn’t comment on it or whether I agreed with it. It was just a shared story.”
On Wednesday, Shores said he was sorry the video offended people.
“I did not intend to offend anyone,” he said. “I didn’t comment or agree or disagree with it. I feel bad people were offended. That was not my intent.”
At Monday’s meeting, Teresa Patchen said parents have asked her how Shores could have put the video on his Facebook page.
“Teachers are seen as representatives of the district,” Patchen said. “A school board member should be held to the same standard.”
Patchen noted that the district must follow guidelines of the Dignity for All Students Act.
She pointed out that Shores voted against a motion supporting a federal law regarding transgender bathroom use at a recent public meeting. Shores said he didn’t recall the meeting and said he would look into it.
First-grade teacher Jean Shutter, a 19-year veteran, said a teacher’s job is to educate and keep children safe.
“The rule in my class is to treat others as you wish to be treated,” Shutter said. “This video is inaccurate. We should encourage children to be proud of who they are, promote acceptance and setting an example. If we don’t address the acceptance and support of children, then shame on us.”
Board member Charles Bronson said he’s become involved with community discussions on the rise in drug overdoses and suicides.
“These kids are finding themselves in a dark place,” Bronson said. “I beg the community to get involved and reach out to our kids. Listen to them. They need to feel safe.”
Board member John Butlak said discussions are underway among school officials in Waterloo, Seneca Falls and Romulus on finding ways to address opioid abuse and mental health issues.
“Mike (Shores) has helped set this up,” Butlak noted. “We have a good dialogue going. It needs to keep going. It’s not just the school district. It’s the whole community that needs to get involved.’’
Butlak proposed a resolution to form a new committee made up of school board members to look at addictions and mental health issues. It was approved by an 8-0 vote.
School Superintendent Terri Bavis then read a statement regarding a Feb. 8 high school assembly on gay and transgender issues. Her message was that intolerance is not acceptable.
That’s the guy I’d want to head my school. He should hold firm.
FREE SPEECH....
Every little girl gets a big crush on her first female teacher - the first female after her mother. Then, she gets a big crush on “Black Beauty” - or some other horse.
These pervs want to change her sex because of these natural childhood steps of development.
I hate it...HATE it when Orwell is right about these things.
Biological facts are hate.
The school board can’t handle the truth.
Tammy Anhorn should never be allowed near children,ever.
the suggestion that transgender children is a form of child abuse is contrary to the message of love and support many parents are trying to apply to their own children
It may be “contrary to the message” but it is still TRUE!!! you belong in Jail for CHild Abuse, ALL OF YOU!!
“”The rule in my class is to treat others as you wish to be treated,” Shutter said.””
And, when other children demand to be treated with respect because they believe something different than the teacher does she?
Perhaps all of these “teachers” should consider that maybe the gender-confused teens would not be committing suicide at such alarming rates, if someone would just set them straight and tell them to accept their “birth gender”, until they are at least age 30, then decide, if still confused.
Every child that claims they are transgendered should be questioned without the parent in the room. I am pretty sure that 99% of children who think they may be transgendered are striving for parental approval......i.e., the parent has put the idea in the child’s head so that the parent can virtue signal. There are too many parents who use their children to gain the acceptance of their peers.
School Superintendent Terri Bavis then read a statement regarding a Feb. 8 high school assembly on gay and transgender issues. Her message was that intolerance is not acceptable.
The child abusers were offended.
I never had a crush on a female teacher. I really liked my first grade teacher, but that was the extent of it.
Unless it's aimed at people we don't agree with...
The Transgender era started when the Homosexual agenda finally kicked the door in. The “slippery slope” is in full slide. I used to not care about any of these people and merely “accepted” as long as they didn’t shove it in our face like dog sh*t but now I hate them all because they are fundamentally destroying our society and children. So much for Libertarian views I once had. Many of us were duped.
Welcome to the club.
Apparently, being a grade school teacher make one more qualified to make psychological or medical diagnoses than having a medical degree and decades of medical experience.
Whodathunkit?
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