A suburban Atlanta school board has voted to terminate the contract of a teacher who read a book about gender identity to gifted fifth-graders – the latest salvo in a nationwide clash over how issues like gender and race are discussed in public school classrooms.

  • @joe
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    851 year ago

    For reference, fifth graders are usually around 10 or 11 years old. Gifted or not they’re almost certainly intelligent enough for this topic.

    According to the article, there is a law that restricts teaching “divisive concepts”. That batshit insane. “Divisive” doesn’t mean it’s inaccurate.

    • flipht
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      531 year ago

      Divisive almost always means liberal in these contexts. I find the bible divisive, but I doubt any teacher would get fired for quoting or even directly reading from it.

      • @joe
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        281 year ago

        It seems that the law in question is pretty focused on not making white people feel uncomfortable about racism.

        • @AbidanYre
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          251 year ago

          Racism, or the existence of lgbtq people.

          • @joe
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            111 year ago

            Well, the law itself (I just looked it up) focuses entirely on race. I don’t see how it even applies to the scenario in the OP.

    • rnviewjthpowrh
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      181 year ago

      For reference, fifth graders are usually around 10 or 11 years old. Gifted or not they’re almost certainly intelligent enough for this topic.

      I disagree enough to stop lurking and made an account to comment.

      Our 8 year old knows that “some people feel they are boys, some feel they are girls, and some don’t feel like they are either.” Honestly it’s not more difficult than that unless you’re purposely making it so.

      Also 5th grade is when we (suburban school district in the US) had a district-wide “basic sex ed” information night for students. How is educating about sex okay but not gender for the same age?

      They’re are age appropriate ways to talk about these topics to kids like these, and age appropriate materials.

      • @joe
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        141 year ago

        I think you may have added a “not” to my comment that isn’t there. I am in full agreement with you.

      • hypelightfly
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        61 year ago

        I think you misread their comment. You’re agreeing with what they said.

      • @trashgirlfriend
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        41 year ago

        Funny thing is that the people who are against this are also against sex education.

    • Jaywarbs
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      41 year ago

      I remember in 4th grade (age 10) my class was shown “The Movie”, which described basic sexual functions. I distinctly remember the words semen and ejaculation being used, not because I actually learned the meanings, but because I thought they sounded funny. I’d say that the concept gender is actually easier to describe than the biology of sex and reproduction.