8 Year Old Transgender Boy Returns to School as a Girl!
8 Year Old Transgender Boy Returns to School as a Girl!
An 8-year-old boy is preparing to return to his home school district in Colorado as a girl, so school officials are designating two school restrooms as unisex facilities, and preparing to counsel other studentson the issue of transgenderism.
The report comes from KUSA-Television in Denver, which did not identify the third-grade student or his family in the Castle Rock suburban district.
But the report said the student had attended his home district several years ago, as a boy, and then had taken classes in another district for a time.
One parent, identified by the television station as Dave M., said children in the elementary school are going to wonder what's going on.
"I see this as being a very difficult situation to explain to my daughter, to explain why someone would not want to be the gender they were born with," he told the station.
His daughter will share a classroom with the boy dressing as a girl.
"I do think that there's going to be an acknowledgment that 'Why are you in a dress this year when you were in pants last year?'" he said.
A spokeswoman for the Douglas County School District in Castle Rock, said the district's calling "is to educate all kids no matter where they come from, what their background is, beliefs, values, it doesn't matter."
Whei Wong, the district spokeswoman, said the school is preparing two "unisex" restrooms for the student to use and teachers have been instructed to address the student by name, instead of using a "he" or "she" pronoun.
She also told the television station the school is handing out packets of information to other students and their parents containing "information" about transgender people, and officials will answer questions from other students about the boy-seeking-to-be-girl "in order to protect the child as much as possible."
"It's something we haven't had discussions about before. It's something that we haven't may really had to think about before, but now we will," she said.
Family therapist Larry Curry told the station that the student's age is "very early" to be having such issues.
"I don't know too many parents who are equipped to answer that kind of question or deal with it without some other support," he said.
But Kim Pearson, of the TransYouth Family Advocates which lobbies on behalf of such students, said students as young as five years old are "realizing their true gender identity."
Her group works to break down obstacles for such students, she said.
"Initially there was a lot of resistance (in the Douglas County district)," she said. "Now their position is they want this child to be safe of their school."
Her messages weren't a comfort to Dave M., who believes his daughter is not ready to think about the transgenderism.
"I don't think a third-grader does have the rationale to decide this life-altering choice," he told the station.
He also is upset that although the district has been making preparations for months, officials just recently let parents know what was going on.
"I just find it ironic that they can dictate the dress style of children to make sure they don't wear inappropriate clothing, but they have no controls in place for someone wearing transgender clothing," he told the station.
Wong confirmed "mental health professionals" would be provided for other students, staff or parents if there are "any concerns at all."
What do you think about this? Is it a good decision for the boy to return as a girl, or a bad decision? Should the parents allow him to lead a female life so young or not? Should the school accommodate the boy(girl) or not?
-Also, do you think that a child so young can comprehend what a big decision it is to go to school as a different gender? Hes going to be known as a transgender from now on and what if it is a phase (and it may not be.. he may truly be a transgender.. which I am fine with but what if he isn't)? A good example of what I am trying to say is (a radioshow today a guy said) 'when I was 8 I wanted to be a firefighter and if my parents would have let me dress up as one, act like one, and encouraged it I would have gone to school like that and been happy... but then when I was ten I wanted to be something else.'
I think that child should just wear pants like normal. why does he have to wear a dress just because he is transgender? I guess i just dont understand why someone who is transgender has to "dress up" female and not just wear regular clothes and be who they are on the inside if that makes sense. I have nothing against transgender people.
I'm torn on this one. I feel that a child should be nurtured to be whomever he/she wants to be or is... but I don't think the kids in the school are going to be mature enough to understand what's going on and I'm afraid there's going to be a lot of confusion. Not to mention how cruel kids can be... how is this child going to be treated now? In middle school? In high school? Kids have been killed over a pair of Nikes... what will this do? I would think it would be best to move to a district where nobody knows anything of this child, and just let the teachers know... there's no reason to put this on other kids at such a tender age. JMO.
That is what DEFINES a transgender. They CROSS DRESS. It's who they are.
Quoting vegepunkstr:
I think that child should just wear pants like normal. why does he have to wear a dress just because he is transgender? I guess i just dont understand why someone who is transgender has to "dress up" female and not just wear regular clothes and be who they are on the inside if that makes sense. I have nothing against transgender people.
If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too! ~Maya Angelou
Quoting atlmom2:
I think you need to be a mature adult to make that decision. 8 years old is too young and kids are too cruel.
True... to a point...
I wonder if they will have the same issues with little girls wearing sweats and baseball caps. Those are considered Masculine things.
If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too! ~Maya Angelou
We have that here only it is in the middle school. It is a sixth grade "male" who wants to be a girl. They gathered up all the middle schoolers and told them we have a male student who dresses like a girl and wishes to be referred to as such. Never even told the parents so when the kids came home I didn't know what to tell them. This child uses the faculty bathrooms for changing for gym and was at first allowed to use the female bathrooms during the rest of the day but parents has a fit and now this child can only use the faculty bathrooms. After the initial shock wore off your really never hear anything about it anymore. Nobody really brings it up and I'm sure on the kiddie level there is still some teasing but it isn't that significant and it is rare. The kid has friends mostly girls, and doing fine in school.
When we hear stuff like that there is the initial shock of it all becuase it is different but after a while it becomes old new and that person just is what they are.
Quoting LyTe684:
LOL Hey, if a female can wear sweats, baseball caps, etc. he should be able to wear a dress if that is what makes him happy. JMO.
i agree.. this kid should be able to go to school as whatever he/she wants.. kids are cruel at any age, if its not the dress that they will pick on him about, it will be something different... i blame parents who don't teach their kids tolerance or acceptance... its not okay to ridicule someone who is living a different lifestyle. the school accomodates to handicapped and deaf, so why not transgenders... i know that its scary to some folks, but this is life.. not everyone is going to fit into one catagory..
i admire this child.. he already knows what takes some people years of searching.. i say let it happen, and let him live his life as a girl...
Bring a tomboy and wearing baseball caps and swears doesn't make a transgender that doesn't want to use the girls bathroom anymore etc. There isn't a sex change involved with kids.
Quoting LyTe684:
Quoting atlmom2:
I think you need to be a mature adult to make that decision. 8 years old is too young and kids are too cruel.
True... to a point...
I wonder if they will have the same issues with little girls wearing sweats and baseball caps. Those are considered Masculine things.
Ideas for 8yo girl b-day party
- LiChanelsMommy
on May. 20, 2009 at 10:05 AM