Dear DOE: It's Not Your Job to Take a Political Position, No Matter How Much You Disagree with the Policies

Please reach out to your school leaders and tell them it's okay to stand down

The NYC DOE, and departments of education around the country, are gearing up to release, or have released, statements rejecting Trump’s executive orders on sex and gender. We’re right back to where we were in 2016, with people perceiving the establishment of the reality of biological sex, or limitations on teaching gender identity, as hate—except now, almost a decade later, there are thousands more trans kids and their parents, and a much larger gender industry, pushing back. Those who were gently awakening before Trump was elected may decide to hibernate for the next four years.

I don’t want that to happen. Here’s a letter I just dashed off to the powers that be in my school district. Am I wasting my breath—or my taps on the keyboard? Maybe. But if others make it known that they want schools to recover from pandemic mismanagement and try to properly educate kids to be responsible and employable and critical thinkers—and not push a political agenda—now is the time.

Hi, all. In light of the recent Trump executive orders, which, among other things, insist on the reality of biological sex over the subjective interpretation of gender identity, I would like you to consider the perspective of a parent with a gender nonconforming student—in a way this Chalkbeat article does not.

Some children emerge naturally to behave more like the opposite sex. The vast majority of such kids, if not socially transitioned, will grow up to be gay. To support those kids is not to tell them that they're in the wrong body, that they're not really male or female, or that there's no room for them in their sex category. Parents are of course free to do that, but I have worked hard to prevent those messages from taking root in my daughter's head. That means I've had to push back against what Prop1, and DOE guidelines, require.

I do not want schools to take a political position. These gender policies are wildly unpopular with most Americans, and there are plenty of people—moderate Democrats, liberals, feminists, gay people, transsexuals, and most of Staten Island—who would not agree with a position statement you would release. You must represent all of us, and make room for all of us.

It's very difficult to watch the common sense of some of these orders mixed in with the harshness and punitive nature of others. I have tried to explain that they are a response to left-wing overreach—in particular, imposing the belief of gender identity onto everyone. I don't agree with the tactics. I hate Trump. But I want the schools to teach academics and leave the morals and values to parents, because the DOE does not represent the morals and values of most. It represents the morals and values of the elite few.

Happy to discuss more, but so far I've found most of you are not open to discussion, and want to stay rooted in your perceptions. It has been the most profound experience of my life to leave the tiny lefty bubble and have my knowledge grow by considering multiple viewpoints. It's what I wish for students, and it's definitely what I wish for leaders.

I should have added that the way to support these kids is to leave them alone. Make sure nobody beats the crap out of them, but also don’t call attention to them. They’re just variations of boys and girls. They’re fine.

What would you like your school leaders and politicians to know? How would you like them to respond to the political pressure to speak out? Let me know in the comments.