The Preeceville School Commuity Council discussed many topics at its regular meeting held at the school on February 26.
Topics discussed included the Good Spirit School Division adminstration draft proposal on gender or sexual diversity. The topic had a few parents raise their concerns with the proposal and how it will affect their children.
Donna Kriger, Deputy Director of Education Services, Good Spirit School Division, helped to answer questions.
"All members of Saskatchewan schools and communities deserve to be treated with respect and to feel safe." said Kriger.
Kriger and Mark Forsythe, Superintendent of Education for the Good Spirit School Division, were both in attendance at the meeting.
"It is our shared responsibility to make sure students know they are affirmed for who they are, not for who someone wants them to be. All students have the right to openly be, who they are in GSSD schools. This includes expressing gender identity without fear of unwanted consequences, as well as the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
“Students who experience discrimination, whether it is based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity or culture have a legal and ethical right to be safe and protected in schools," said Kriger.
GSSD values equality and human rights and is taking responsibility to ensure that learning environments need to be respectful, inclusive and responsive to all students, including those who are, or who are perceived to be gender and/or sexually diverse, said Kriger.
“Our efforts regarding gender and sexual diversity include working with our schools to ensure that teaching and learning practices, as well as the various social and physical environments are inclusive and respectful of all learning environments.
“Safety of our students and the importance that they feel comfortable and safe while attending school has always been at the forefront for the division. This is only a draft policy at this point and we respect the input from all conerned parents. Keep in mind that sometimes we all have a different perception of ideas,” she stated.
Teachers will not be instructing lessons in class on this topic. The draft policy is to ensure the safety of all students in school.
Some background information on the topic was submitted by the division.
Gender and sexual diversity is not about any “agenda” nor about teaching students to “choose a gender.” Diversity is about knowing self and learning about others, respecting differences, and building relationships.
Depending upon community norms and perceptions, gender and sexual diversity may be perceived as controversial for some people while accepted without question by others. While respecting individual beliefs, GSSD will continue its efforts to ensure that all of its students, and their families, feel protected and included for who they are, said information from the division.
Research suggests that after the socialization of family, schools provide one of the most significant socialization processes for children. Schools shape a child’s understanding of self in relation to others and their understanding of identity beyond the family.
Other topics discussed included school reports on the school's ski trip for grades 4-9; students and staff helping out with the Preeceville Hospital bed push for Telemiracle; school clothing, and teacher/staff appreciation week.
The learning improvement program and the garden club were other topics discussed at the meeting.
