Parents in North Dakota are condemning the school district for keeping parents in the dark about their children’s gender identity, despite a new law outlawing the practice earlier this month
- Angry parents spoke out at a May 23 board meeting, accusing the Fargo Public Schools District of “facilitating secrecy.”
- Superintendent Dr. Rupak Gandhi said the district will not comply with the new state law requiring teachers not to withhold information from parents
Parents in North Dakota have slammed a school district for keeping parents in the dark about their children’s gender identity, despite a new law banning the practice earlier this month.
Angry parents spoke out at a May 23 board meeting, accusing the Fargo Public Schools District of “facilitating secrecy.”
School District Superintendent Dr. Rupak Gandhi recently said the district would not comply with the new state law that requires teachers not to withhold information about a child’s pronouns from parents.
Instead, Dr. Gandhi believes that the district should advocate for students who identify as transgender instead.
He said, “We will not openly throw out a student because of a law if we know it will harm that child.”
Cassie Schmidt, a mother in the district, said, “There’s no way every teacher knows every child as well as their parents do.”
School District Superintendent Dr. Rupak Gandhi (pictured) recently said the district would not comply with the new state law requiring teachers not to withhold information about a child’s pronouns from parents
The bill, officially dubbed HB1522, prevents school boards from passing policies mandating the use of a student’s preferred pronouns — and prohibits the school district, authorities or teachers from “releasing information about a student’s transgender status to the to withhold or conceal from parents or the student’s attorney.’ Guardian.’
The district, on the other hand, believes that potentially unsafe home environments could create conflict if forced to reveal children’s preferred identities to parents.
Parents of children in the district have criticized the schools for “making it easier to keep secrets” and accused them of trying to break the law.
One father said, “The way I see it and hear it, you want to protect kids from their parents.” Instead of encouraging everyone to talk more, you stifle talking.
“Not only do you think you know my kids better than I do, you also think you know every kid better than any parent by saying you won’t deal with the parents.”
“Wouldn’t you be shocked to learn that this is happening to one of your children?”
Another mom, Cassie Schmidt, said, “I urge you all to pay attention to what we are setting as a precedent.”
The bill, officially dubbed HB1522, prevents school boards from passing policies mandating the use of a student’s preferred pronouns — and prohibits the school district, authorities or teachers from “releasing information about a student’s transgender status to the to withhold or conceal from parents or the student’s attorney.’ Guardians’
Other parents thanked Fargo Public Schools for the “courageous support of all children.”
“Whose children are these? Do they belong to you as the school board? Are they part of the Fargo Public Schools? Or ultimately, the parents of each child in their family decide what is permissible and what is safe for the child?
“There is no way for any teacher to know every child as well as their parents.”
Speaking before the school board, she added, “Parenting 101: You teach your children that no one who asks you to keep a secret is safe.”
After Schmidt made her comments, she was quickly told to leave the stage.
In a Facebook post ahead of the meeting, Schmidt also shared her take on the district’s decisions: “The other team on this issue is trying to bring up hatred or child ‘outing’ as an issue.”
“They flip the switch and say their side is protecting kids from angry, bigoted child molesters.” But that’s just a lie to throw you off the real problem.
“Do you want to know what it’s about? It’s easy. Fargo schools want to be able to choose what YOU, the parent, learn about your child.
“They want to be the custodian of information … and unfortunately I’m not talking about test scores, I’m talking about mental health.”
“Who would have the right to know about the child’s mental health if not the parent?”
“School administrators don’t have the right to decide how much access you have to your child.”
Other parents thanked Fargo Public Schools for the “courageous support of all children.”