The Glendale Unified School District in Southern California suspended two students last year for “misgendering” a transgender teacher and had the students undergo a “restorative justice” training, according to an email obtained by a district parent group.
The students ran away after the teacher corrected them and later admitted to being curious about the transgender teacher, Ms. Earl wrote in the email.
“I asked [the] teacher how he wanted to handle it, if he wanted me to just teach them about misgendering or would he like me to speak about being trans,” Ms. Earl wrote. “He asked me to educate on transgender. It was well received from students and parents. [Restorative justice] will happen after suspension.”
According to the district’s website, it employs “restorative practices” in response to challenging behavior by “reducing, preventing and improving harmful behavior” and “resolving conflict, holding individuals and groups accountable.”
The district formed a Restorative Practices Advisory Task Force in 2018 to provide input for implementing such practices throughout the district, according to the website.
District officials were not immediately available for comment, and it’s unclear what specific restorative justice training the two suspended students underwent.
Glendale Unified has made headlines recently after months of rising tension in the district over its policies on LGBT topics in classrooms.
On June 6, a brawl broke out between demonstrators and counter-protestors in opposition of the district’s recognition of Pride Month and policies on LGBT content in classrooms.
On June 2, some parents kept their children at home in protest of the district’s planned “Pride Day” where students learn about LGBT activists and participate in activities that celebrate the LGBT community.
Later that week, at least three individuals were arrested for various charges, including the unlawful use of pepper spray and willfully obstructing officers in the course of their duties, according to the Glendale Police Department.
Parents in opposition say they want the district to focus on teaching academics and allow parents to introduce such topics to children on their own terms.
“We do not [want] public schools and public-school educators to choose the ideology that they choose to push on to our children and indoctrinate our children,” said Ani, a district parent who preferred to only give her first name. “School is a place of learning. It’s for academics.”
Meanwhile, counter-protestors say they’re trying to support LGBT youth.
Hannah Maximova, a parent in the district, said she’s concerned that the protest could make LGBT students in the district feel shameful about their sexuality.
“Some of these kids feel such shame from families that feel like they’re losing their children when they come out as gay or transgender,” Ms. Maximova said. “I hear that, but I feel that they’re endangering children. The message they’re sending is that [being gay or transgender] is a shameful thing. I’m sorry that [parents] have been whipped up into this, but I’m glad so many of us have come to try and quell the flames of disrespect and cruelty.”
