The Alberta NDP government's intentions may be good when it comes to protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, queer, questioning and/or gender-diverse (LGBTQ) students. Their method, however, could end up creating more problems than it solves.
Education Minister Dave Eggen released guidelines for school boards featuring 12 best practices to achieve the government's goal: it includes supporting gay-straight alliances – a controversial measure when suggested last year.
School boards have until March 31 to ensure their policies align with the government's. An Alberta Education group will review policies submitted by each school board to make sure they're meeting the province's goal.
The idea that school boards must create such guidelines, then submit them to the provincial government for approval smacks of interference. School boards should reflect the community -- not the ruling government. Otherwise, why have school boards at all?
Offering gender diverse students, teachers and other staff bathroom and locker room liberty will no doubt create confusion and potential problems. Adolescents have enough issues. Surely the minute gender diverse minority can be accommodated on a case-by-case basis.
How many washrooms will each school have to have to accommodate the preferences of students and staff along the LGBTQ (and beyond) spectrum? Will taxpayers be stuck with the bill to create those extra washrooms?
Guidelines say, for example, skirts can be worn by anyone who cares to do so. But that will simply create confusion. Who is who?
The same question applies to the idea of restructuring sports so that students can join teams of whatever gender they identify with.
Will school divisions and associations have to create leagues for non-gender-specific teams – teams of students who don't identify with either gender? How would that work? How would statistics be compiled for those games/events?
What accommodations will be made for students whose religion or cultural background does not recognize the LGBTQ spectrum? Should the goal not be to create a safe, caring inclusive learning environment for those students and staff members as well?
Gender issues must be dealt with in a compassionate, thoughtful and reasonable manner. Unfortunately, our NDP government thinks we're incapable and politically incorrect.
School boards should reflect the community -- not the ruling government. Otherwise, why have school boards at all?
