Last year a few cranky conservatives pitched an absurd, reactionary bill seeking to forbid teaching the kids the difference between boys and girls. Senate Education listened to educators and killed that nonsense quickly.
But here we go again: Rep. Tom Pischke (R-25/Dell Rapids) has recycled last year’s dumb idea into House Bill 1108, which says simply, “No instruction in gender identity or gender expression may be provided to any student in kindergarten through grade seven in any public school in the state.”
Good grief: why are Republicans so heck-bent on silencing teachers?
As I noted last year, banning gender instruction in kindergarten and on through grade seven is… illogical. In its passive voice, HB 1108 demands that no child receive any information about gender differences from anyone or anything in a public school. HB 1108 thus bans anything that might inform children of differences between boys and girls. Signs on bathrooms and locker rooms, boy/girl seating charts, titles like “Mr.” or “Mrs.”, gender pronouns—all instruct children in gender differences; all would be illegal under HB 1108.
Please, Senator Novstrup, don’t tell me the Legislature is “hard at it,” not as long as legislators keep clogging the hopper with stupid bills like HB 1108. Working hard on hate doesn’t count.
Where’s the Teacher’s Union? Hey, grudz. Pony up some lobbyist help (gratis) for the ones who raise our kids when we’re at work, huh?
I am sure, Mr. Lansing, that the SDEA Teacher’s Union pays a fair shake and is well represented in the legislatures and can write to fellows like Mr. Bolin who has teachers in his district to support their cause.
You’re probably right, sir. Just trying to give you a leg up, ’cause I know you’re chompin’ the bit to switch to the liberal side. Just look at how Patt Powers treats you. He thinks he’s the Bishop and you’re just a janitor, for goodness sake.
I do clean up many ugly messes, Mr. Lansing. All work has dignity.
What is wrong with the SDGOP?! They’re coming across like a bunch of sex obsessed perverts. Good grief.
This legislature is just too obsessed with guns and genitals to get any real productive work done and it is really too bad. Voters need to wake up and elect brighter people.
If these legislators actually went to their district schools and talked to students they would find out that gender identity is barely an issue to them. Kids today are much more accepting of the LGBTQ than ever before. Banning the teaching of gender identity will not make transgenders disappear no matter how much the republicans want it to.
Schools need to teach scientific facts. The fact is there are only two sexes. Male and female.
Human sexuality is not as precise and concrete as that, Jason. I know you and all the other anti gay Republicans wish it was but it’s not.
Transgender people are not going to go away no matter how many anti-transgender bills you try to pass.
Schools are not meant to play the role of psychiatrists Jenny. Especially grade schools which this bill is about.
if Jack thinks he’s a girl, he can discuss it with the school counselor, his psychiatrist, his parents or all three.
Now you are talking about human sexuality? Why did you change the subject?
Grade school and high school are for facts.
Jack can learn all about his issue in college.
What kind of school has a course on human sexuality in grade school Jenny?
Jason, are schools meant to label bathroom doors for Boys and Girls?
Nope. Scientifically, they should be labeled uterus or non-uterus.
My daughter had a sex ed class in the 5th grade here in MN. A note was sent out to the parents for their consent for permission. The far far majority of parents permitted the school to teach sex ed.
Of course it doesnt take away the responsibility of parents to also educate their children.
Republicans just contribute to the increasing rates of suicide when they demean and belittle people that have gender identity issues. Why can’t you just value them as human beings instead of shunning them?
Life can be hard enough for kids, dont shun them from society. God want transgenders, he keeps making them.
Troll missed the article I posted about the half male/half female cardinal. Or ignored it.
Where would the Troll send a Hermaphrodite to potty? Don’t tell me. Let me guess- a zoo or an asylum.
The Republicans don’t want to believe that there are hermaphrodites out there, Mike. They refuse to believe that some people are in between. I think it scares them or something. Who knows.
Jenny is right, again. Well said, again.
Jason tries to over-simplify, again. Jason, where would a teacher pee who was born with uterus but has since had a hysterectomy? Also, if schools are just for facts, would it be allowed under your regime to teach the fact to the young kids that lots of people don’t feel aligned with their biological sex, or with either “traditional” gender label? Also, should school sports be eliminated as they do not offer instruction with facts? And what about the arts?
Ryan,
Add “born with” to the labels I stated earlier.
No grade school should have an adult discussion.
What is not factual about sports?
What is not factual about the arts?
Jason, how will all the seven-year-olds know whether or not they were born with a uterus without discussing reproductive anatomy?
What is factual about picking up dumbbells and putting them back down?
What is factual about running a relay race?
What is factual about baking pottery?
What is not factual about telling students that millions of people around the world are homosexuals? That is a fact.
Or that lots of people doubt their internal self “matches” their biological self? That is a fact, too.
The problem with your brand of conservatism is that you go to silly extremes to show how conservative you are. Just like some of the wacko radical liberals on this blog, you are so determined to prove that you disagree with “the other side” that you say things so far outside reality that even your less-radical opinions become laughable as you lose credibility with anybody who can see right through your phony posturing.
Liberals and conservatives who refuse to see nuance are equally ignorant.
Ryan,
Colors work good for young kids. How about we use blue for “born without uterus” and pink for “born with uterus”.
Grade school and high school is not for talking about sexuality.
The parents have the role of talking about sexuality with their children, not the school Ryan.
I guess I don’t see why you think that specific area of education should be off limits.
School is for facts, and a well-rounded education seems like a good thing. Most of the world is not as nervous to talk about sex as you and some other hyper-conservatives seem to be.