May 23, 2011

"Boy, girl or both?"

California Catholic Daily

Oakland elementary school teaches pupils there are more than two genders

Today and tomorrow, Redwood Heights Elementary School in Oakland will be teaching children from kindergarten through fifth grade that there are more than two genders, Pacific Justice Institute reports.

In a press release, Pacific Justice Institute provided the following details:

The two days calendared for this are entitled "Gender Spectrum Diversity Training." In documents released by the school, students will be taught that "gender is not inherently nor solely connected to one's physical anatomy." Further, gender is a "complex interrelationship between (physical traits) and one's internal sense of self as male, female, both or neither as well as one's outward presentations and behaviors related to that perception."

Another document from the school advises parents: "When you discuss gender with your child, you may hear them exploring where they fit on the gender spectrum and why."

The activities and reading list include: Grades K-1: "Boy, girl or both? Which Outfit, Which Hairdo? (Reading) My Princess Boy." Grades 2-3: "What is gender? (Reading) 10,000 Dresses." Grades 4-5: "Three dimensions of gender. (Reading/Song) All I Want to be is Me."

"This instruction does not represent the values of the majority of families in Oakland," said attorney Kevin Snider of the Pacific Justice Institute. PJI has been providing legal counsel to parents in the Oakland Unified School District on this matter. "Though to many this may seem extreme, based upon some of the bills now pending in the Capitol such as SB 48, this will be the new normal in California's K-12 public schools," Snider continued.

At this point, it is not known if this is the only campus in the Oakland Unified School District that offers gender diversity training for children.

“Unfortunately, many parents in the school are unaware that this is being taught,” said the news release. “If you are a parent of a child enrolled in a school where this instruction is taking place, you may consider keeping your child home on days when this material is being presented. Please contact the PJI Legal Department if you are a parent and have questions about truancy or absence issues with your child.”

LINK TO VIDEO: 

http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=fea25517-e69c-48e4-867f-93b83cd012c9