There has been a lot of controversy and outrage over Alberta's Department of Education ordering school boards to enact guidelines that recognize and protect LGBTQ students. For a lot of people exactly what an LGBTQ student is can be a tad confusing.
There has been a lot of controversy and outrage over Alberta's Department of Education ordering school boards to enact guidelines that recognize and protect LGBTQ students.
For a lot of people exactly what an LGBTQ student is can be a tad confusing. Although not an inclusive list, the community includes anyone who is gay, lesbian or bisexual, transgender or identifies as a gender that is opposite to that of his or her birth. While that is an oversimplification, it encompasses an often discriminated against portion of the student population. It also lists a component of our society that, for whatever reasons, seems to make a lot of people uncomfortable.
That is where the new guidelines come in. They have been developed to serve as a kind of road map on how to protect LGBTQ students and treat them with respect.
The easy parts of the guidelines include ensuring inclusivity in school programs, sports and extra-curricular activities, and efforts to mitigate and eliminate discrimination through education.
Some people are, however, having difficulty with portions of the guidelines they interpret as circumventing parent's rights. Namely, there are portions of the guidelines that endeavour to protect a student's privacy when it comes to their sexual or gender identity.
School boards have interpreted that guideline in different ways. For Rocky View Schools it is worded as follows: “Discussions must occur with the student before disclosing information related to the student's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression to parents/guardians or other adults in their lives. Conversations with parents/guardians will be conducted with sensitivity for the student and his/her family. ”
Yes, that gives students the right to have information kept confidential until they decide the time is right to share it with their parents. The thing is students have always had that right. School counsellors are governed by a code of ethics and legislation very similar to other counselling professionals. They are not only there for guidance; they also serve as confidants and have a duty to protect confidentiality. There are exceptions under the Schools Act for things such as disciplinary matters and matters of health and safety, but the idea is for counsellors to provide students a safe outlet.
The guidelines enacted by Rocky View Schools also do not exclude parents. In fact, the second guideline on the list ensures parents are included, stating in part: “Schools will ensure all families are welcomed and supported as valued members of the schoolcommunity and that parents/guardians are encouraged to play an active role in their child's education. ”
The idea that schools have taken a parenting role when it comes to what some describe as a moral issue is false. All schools have done is try to ensure a safe environment for all students and the fact is there are certain policies that need to be updated to recognize the unique issues that LGBTQ students face. From single-stall gender-neutral washrooms and segregated change areas to allowing for organized support groups, the guidelines address both the needs of the students and the concerns of parents - as irrational as some of those concerns might be.
The fact is bullying, while a problem for many students, can be more pronounced for LGBTQ students. These students can, at times, also have fewer support mechanisms depending on the beliefs of their family, which may not be supportive of their lifestyle.
Parents who worry about their child confiding in guidance counsellors should not point their anger at the school or the school board, they should instead ask themselves why their child fears confiding in them.
