The Daily Wire recently published an article, Washington State Tells Teachers to Hide Student Transitions from Parents, detailing the “gender inclusive schools” guidelines from OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction). As many parents have learned over the course of the last two years, the government schools in Washington state are less concerned with educating our students and preparing them for success after high school as they are indoctrinating them with leftist ideology, including gender diversity, critical race theory and comprehensive sex ed (CSE).
The language of gender inclusive schools guidelines is dictated by SB 5689, passed in 2019:
By January 31, 2020, school districts must adopt or amend, if necessary, policies and
procedures, that at a minimum, incorporate all the elements of the model transgender student
policy and procedure. School districts must share this policy with parents or guardians,
students, volunteers, and school employees in accordance with rules adopted by OSPI.
The gender-inclusive policies require schools to teach children that transgender is an umbrella term to include anyone whose gender identity does not align with their gender assigned at birth. Students are allowed to use any bathrooms, locker rooms, or participate on whatever sports teams they desire based on their “gender identity.”
https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5689-S%20SBR%20FBR%2019.pdf?q=20230616085439
What is most troubling about the “gender inclusive schools” is that it specifically advises teachers not to involve parents if the “transitioning” student feels that their parents will not be accepting. Parents, according to these guidelines, will not even be given an opportunity to be part of the discussion if their child deems them unapproving. (*I recall being a preteen and teen and often made assumptions about how angry my parents my get about my choices – many of my assumptions were incorrect.) As the schools push gender diversity training and CSE into the classrooms of even our youngest students, this presents an opportunity for adults to groom children. Below is the OSPI guidelines for Communicating with Families:
An employee in Spokane Public Schools was appalled that this was happening in their district and sent us a 4-page document that included specific instructions for communicating with parents. See below:
You may find it shocking to know that this document is originally dated, 2015, before the gender-inclusive schools legislation was passed in 2019.
This indoctrination has been coming into our government schools in Washington for decades. Many parents woke up to this in 2020 when classrooms came into our living rooms and they were appalled and furious. And rightfully so. Sadly, over the decades, while we weren’t looking, the left has been baby-stepping these policies into our schools and here we are. In the 2023 legislative session, Washington democrats passed SB 5599 which would allow a minor child seeking “protected healthcare services” (abortion and “gender affirming” services) to be housed in a youth shelter or host home without parental consent or notification. It’s easy to see how a child could go from the school counselor to a youth shelter and parents would be left in the dark.
In an OSPI training for school staff, the presenter, Kasha Roseta, essentially says as much:
“We need students to know that if they want to transition, that the school is willing to support them in that.”
We know that there are many teachers who do not agree with this and would like to see the schools focus on education and academics. In Washington state, 70% of students failed the state math test and 52% failed the English test. Public schools are failing our students and they are pushing out teachers who truly love to teach and love education. And they are pushing out parents as well. Parents need to be informed and educated about the policies in government schools and make decisions accordingly. While these policies are specific to Washington state, there is some level of this going on in all 50 states. There is no “safe place.” YOU, the parent, must be the safe place.
*By Julie Barrett, Founder, Conservative Ladies of Washington
