As the election nears, there are some issues that separate candidates. One that should unite us all is that we are called to these roles for the sake of our children and students.
Last year RCS began to offer professional development to school leaders for students who identify or are considering identifying other than the gender they were assigned at birth. During a virtual meeting with students from each RCS high school, school leaders listened to students’ experiences and advice.
While students discussed various gender identity issues they experienced, they also offered advice to school leaders. The overarching theme from students was: listen to us. Students shared experiences of adverse reactions from home, bullying from peers, awkwardness in the lunch room, and questions about their clothing and physical appearance. What school leaders never heard from the panel: use us in your efforts to sensationalize sexuality. They never said seeing and reading books with specific gender identities or sexualized scenes were essential to them. The students on the panel wanted what all students wanted: to feel safe, accepted, and heard. The issue of books never once came up with students.
After hearing about this learning experience, I wonder why classes are being developed, literature is being debated, and it is not part of what students are asking for. This past Board meeting, student representatives from the high schools talked about the sense of community and school spirit that exists. They named traditions like homecoming and attending club and sporting events. They spoke of hallmark school celebrations like hallway decorating and trunk or treat. It is staff and students in schools who keep traditional school culture alive. No student who spoke mentioned that they wanted rallies to keep graphically explicit literature in libraries bringing a sense of community. No student mentioned how “No Place for Hate” is turning cross-town rivals into across-town allies. If we listen to students, they want a sense of community, safety, and unity. They are not asking to be used as political pawns.
When elected to the school board, I plan to uphold the hallmarks and traditions of our schools and hear from our students, who genuinely want to be heard.
