Paso Robles school board revives district’s gender debate with a new resolution
At its Tuesday evening meeting, the Paso Robles school board will discuss a resolution to reject any mandate that would require the district to replace “traditional gender-specific names” — even though no such mandate has been suggested here.
The meeting will open to the public at 6 p.m. at the district administration office on Niblick Road.
The resolution notes that “public debate has created confusion and concern among some parents and staff regarding the use of traditional and gender-specific titles.”
“This resolution does not compel speech nor restrict freedom of speech,” it continues.
“Paso Robles Joint Unified School District will not support any mandate which replaces traditional gender-specific names such as mother and father, Mr. and Mrs., ladies and gentlemen, and boys and girls,” the resolution concludes.
District Superintendent Curt Dubost told The Tribune that the resolution was drafted at the request of a board member.
Dubost said it was requested in response to the National Education Association, a labor union that represents public school teachers and other educational staff, reportedly proposing a resolution in July to begin pushing the use of LGBTQ+ inclusive language such as “birthing parent” for “mother” and “non-birthing parent” for “father.”
The alleged proposal was leaked on Twitter by Terry Stoops, director of the conservative John Locke Foundation’s Center for Effective Education.
The photo of the proposal posted by Stoops notes that the LGBTQ+ inclusive language “may be put in contracts,” and was meant to relieve anxiety about how a Board of Education or “solicitor” defines “maternity leave,” “mother,” and/or “father” and that the language is an inclusive reflection of how LGBTQ+ members “build their families.”
That resolution was never considered at the National Education Association’s annual assembly held in Chicago in July and has not been adopted, a spokesperson for the association told NBC News.
The Paso Robles school district resolution is “more of a political statement,” Dubost said, and would not change any district policy in place. He also added that the district will continue to follow state and federal laws to ensure there is no discrimination against anyone who may use non-gendered pronouns or titles.
“I’m hoping it turns into a more inclusive resolution,” he added.
Dubost noted that an amendment could be added to the resolution to clarify that the district does not tolerate discrimination, and that language such as “non-birthing parent” or “birthing parent” is certainly acceptable to use at the district.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 4:02 PM.
