A Cochrane mother is upset with Alberta’s new policy on how schools should deal with Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender (LGBT) students.
“The government has overstepped their role. They are now trying to mandate and pressure a one-size fits all program and now they are doing it hastily and secretly. It is very discouraging what is going on,” said Sarah Simoni, adding the government should not be parenting students.
“I do not believe it is the government’s role or mandate to govern or pressure school boards to handle complex moral issues,” she said.
The Alberta government issued a news release on Jan. 13 stating the province was “creating learning environments that respect diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.” This referred to a 21-page document listing guidelines for best practices, released this year by Alberta Education.
Since the guidelines were released, a Twitter campaign named #FamiliesFirstAB started on March 21. It prompts parents to voice their concerns about the new guidelines and states, “Parents are the primary educators of their children.”
Organizers of the #FamiliesFirstAB campaign invited more than 1,000 people to tweet Minister of Education David Eggen, Premier Rachel Notley, Wildrose leader Brian Jean and PC leader Ric McIver opposing the guidelines.
Simoni said one of her main concerns was her interpretation of one of the clauses “saying parents do not need to be informed if their child chooses to be involved with the LGBT club.”
“Some might say ‘Oh that is for kids if their parents might not be supportive,’ but the problem with that is secrecy is never the best policy,” Simoni said.
“I’m sure whoever thought secrecy should be condoned in certain circumstances was probably not thinking clearly. Parents are the primary teachers of their children and that is not being understood or upheld by the government.”
The guidelines were developed to assist schools when addressing the needs of LGBT students and to reflect recent policy shifts in the Alberta Human Rights Act, Alberta Bill of Rights and provincial School Act, according to the news release.
The document lists 12 “Best Practices” including respecting an individual’s right to self-identification; ensuring dress codes respect an individual’s gender identity and gender expression; minimizing gender-segregated activities; providing safe access to washroom and change-room facilities; ensuring students have the understanding, skills and opportunities to contribute to welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and nurtures a sense of belonging and positive sense of self.
Alberta Education stated that Eggen released the document as a resource to assist school boards in drafting their policies.
“I am confident that all (boards) will act in the best interest of their students, their families and staff,” Eggen stated in the news release.
When the guidelines were first introduced, Don Hoium, superintendent of Rocky View Schools, told the Eagle, “We here at Rocky View Schools accommodate all students and look at how to provide a caring environment for them – we will be looking at those guidelines and determining how to continue to care for all students and also to be careful to respect the needs for all.”
School boards are required to complete their policies by the end of March.
Angela Spanier, Rocky View Schools director of communications, said the district is planning to review the guidelines and discuss them at a meeting on April 7.
For the full documents go to https://education.alberta.ca/media/1626737/91383-attachment-1-guidelines-final.pdf
