School board OKs return to classroom after sex change

[ducklite]

Again, Why does she/he need to return to the same classroom? I think that no one should deny any teacher a job if there is no educational/professional reason to do so. However, I do feel that the teacher needs an opportunity to foster their new identity with as much privacy as they can be afforded. It has just been my experience that many transexuals do not seem to want privacy. I don't think that young children need to sort this out. It can be done in another classroom and hopefully another school for the benefit of the teacher, the children and the co workers.

I disagree. I know two post op transexuals, and neither of them does ANYTHING to flaunt themselves. One had lived for about 20 years as a male pre-surgery, so there really wasn't any change.

The other is finally in the body she always felt she should be in. While she's open about her choice, she doesn't do anything that would draw attention to herself. And she'd NEVER wear a feather boa, except maybe on Halloween or to Mardi Gras.

Personally I'm just glad that both of them have the love and support of family, friends, and co-workers and were never put in a position to have to deal with people who lumped them into a group with every other transgendered person in the world.

I've met some really obnoxious people from CT. Does that mean that every person from CT is obnoxious?

Anne

 

[DawnCt1]

I disagree. I know two post op transexuals, and neither of them does ANYTHING to flaunt themselves. One had lived for about 20 years as a male pre-surgery, so there really wasn't any change.

The other is finally in the body she always felt she should be in. While she's open about her choice, she doesn't do anything that would draw attention to herself. And she'd NEVER wear a feather boa, except maybe on Halloween or to Mardi Gras.

Personally I'm just glad that both of them have the love and support of family, friends, and co-workers and were never put in a position to have to deal with people who lumped them into a group with every other transgendered person in the world.

I've met some really obnoxious people from CT. Does that mean that every person from CT is obnoxious?

Anne

I have cared for at least a dozen post op, and again, many of them exhibited the behavior in varying degrees that I have mentioned. I have also cared for two female to male transgender patients and this was NOT an issue. They tended to be very reserved and to themselves. Perhaps the two individuals that you know had dealt with the changes and were more "settled" by the time you had the opportunity to get to know them. I saw many on return hospitalizations and frankly, I considered that I had a good relationship with them, so what I am relating is not out of hostility or negative feelings. I actually liked them as people and got to know them over time. They didn't have an easy life then and the surgery can have its complications. The hospital I worked for eventually stopped doing the surgery and many were referred to Johns Hopkins afterward.

Let me just add that its a bit narcissistic and attention seeking to appear on the web page of CNN and allow yourself to be interviewed for a national news story. This all could have been handled discreetly and yet, the picture and the headline is out there. She could have also chosen to respond to the interviewer without a picture but chose not to. I think this is consistant with what I have seen in the past.

 

[DizBelle]

My only problem with putting her back into the classroom is that if Mr. McBeth went away and came back as Miss McBeth a few weeks later, that would be very distracting and would "halt" education while everyone got used to it.

To minimize disruption to the education of the children, have her teach a new batch of students that won't have to go through an adjustment period.

If she's a good teacher, let her teach.

 

[LukenDC]

I think it would have been more appropriate if she couldn't have started out in a different class room, in a different school without taking a public history with her. I used to work on a surgical floor back in the 1970's that did sexual reassignments. My experience in caring for them post operatively was primarily male to female. They would have frequent rehospitalizations for certain procedures and my overall impression is that they tend to be exhibitionistic and flamboyant. Almost like carricatures of women. I had the sense that they had to "learn" how to be women. It wasn't unusual for them to be admitted with extremely sexy lingerie, complete with hot pink boas.

Interesting. My experience with male to female transgender people has been the opposite. Most of the ones I know and have seen are very frumpy. They dress conservatively and wear matronly clothes.

 

[DawnCt1]

Interesting. My experience with male to female transgender people has been the opposite. Most of the ones I know and have seen are very frumpy. They dress conservatively and wear matronly clothes.

Could it have been age related? I would say that the patients we had were in their mid 30's or so. One also has to wonder if the group that we had were being screened properly. I know that they all had psychiatric assessments, had to live for a year as the opposite sex while undergoing hormone treatment with an endocrinologist, and in addition were under the care of a plastic surgeon and urologist. I believe those are the disciplines that made up the team, in addition to social workers, psychologists,etc. The program at our hospital lasted only 2 to 3 years and then the patients dwindled. I think at the time, Johns Hopkins was way out in front in sexual reassignment or the team for some reason fell apart. I found it extremely interesting and I was happy to take care of them. Many of the nurses I worked with were repulsed so I often switched patients with them and I feel in some way, I was able to contribute to their adjustment. When they came back as outpatients they often came up to visit me.

 

[JudicialTyranny]

For those who think "the kids won't notice", I say it's been too many years since you have been a kid!

My experience is that kids notice everything.

While he/she is a 3rd grade teacher and all of the 3rd graders might not realize what is going on, don't forget that the school probably goes up to the at least the 5th or 6th grade. And 5th and 6th graders (especially boys) can be rough.

You can make yourself feel good with liberal/tolerant thoughts, but like it or not, it's going to be a disruption.

Being a "boy", and apologizing to the VP Cheney (who I like very much), I just gotta post this...

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Can I just tell you, I almost had a heart attack reading the title of this thread. I opened up the article expecting to see my old HS history teacher. Yes, this did happen to me.

My history teacher underwent a sex change right after he retired. Then he sent in a picture of his new self along with a letter to the school explaining his transformation. Of course, this letter leaked out and all his old students saw it. If he wanted to teach again, I don't see why the school wouldn't agree to it. Little kids will probably not know the difference and they won't care. Kids are resiliant. But let me just say, I would not have been able to take my old teachers class seriously. It was hard enough at the end of the year to go to his class knowing what he was planning to do. He was starting to grow out his hair and to paint his nails at the end. I also think he wore makeup.

I can see why the school should have no problem allowing this teacher to teach again. But I can also see the other side because I pretty much went through it. Considering these are young children and she is a substitute teacher I really see no problem.

 

[ducklite]

I have cared for at least a dozen post op, and again, many of them exhibited the behavior in varying degrees that I have mentioned.

Key word, "MANY". Not all. So you'll damn someone with a good track record without giving them a chance? Wow. I hope to heck that I never have to have someone as close minded as you providing my medical care.

Anne

 

[Free4Life11]

As a student I would be very weirded out and I know it would be distracting! I don't even get how this surgery works...do they put a uterus in you? How do you pee? Do you get breast implants? It definitely creeps me out and I imagine it would be very confusing for a child. Also I think we need to be teaching kids to learn to accept themsevles.

 

[LukenDC]

Could it have been age related?

Most of the transgender people that I have seen have been in their 40s. I used to work with a male to female transgender person who was in her 30s and she did dress provacatively at times. Leather pants, stiletto heels, etc. The others, however, looked like they were trying out for the part of a spinster.

Have you seen the movie TransAmerica? It is an excellent and very funny film. Felicity Hoffman's character dresses very conservatively. That's the type of style I'm referring to.

I'm glad that you enjoyed caring for the transsexuals. They are people like the rest of us and deserve support and compassion. I cannot imagine the torment of growing up unhappy with one's gender.

 

[ducklite]

Also I think we need to be teaching kids to learn to accept themsevles.

More so we need to teach them to be accepting of others.

Anne

 

[MAKmom]

Wow, I like to think I am open minded about most things & accept people who are not evil for who they are. But I would have a very hard time with this. I believe in reincarnation & we choose the body & life we live. Sometimes females come down in male bodys. I really do not know what I would do if this was my childs school. I find it creepy.

Why does it not bother those of you who are ok with it? Are you really %100 ok with your childs teacher doing this?

 

[disneyguy33]

I don't think it's any different than a teacher who has cancer and loses her hair to a kid. They just don't think of things with a sexual connotation.

"They" meaning kids, and since you don't say "some" kids, but rather imply "all" kids, let's look at the following:

I've met some really obnoxious people from CT. Does that mean that every person from CT is obnoxious?

OK, my kids would notice this teacher was now, ahem, different. Does that mean that every kid would also notice? You don't believe so. But me knowing that my kids would notice, and me knowing that I myself would have noticed if this had happened to me as a kid, proves that some kids would notice, so it isn't correct to say "they just don't think of things with a sexual connotation." How old are your kids? If you think kids don't think of things with a sexual connotation, you're hiding under a rock!

 

[LukenDC]

MAK Mom, I accept transsexuals because I understand what transsexualism is and is not. Transsexuals have a pyschiatric diagnosis called gender dysphoria disorder. The medical community estimates that 1% of the population has this disorder, which manifests itself in early childhood. People with this condition are convinced that they are in the wrong body. Hence the mind is one gender, the body the other.

Transsexuals are not predators and they certainly do not try to recruit or change anyone. They are people just like the rest of us.

 

[disneyguy33]

More so we need to teach them to be accepting of others.

Anne

So we should teach them to "accept" murderers, rapists, child molesters, terrorists, too? They are certainly defined as "others", aren't they? How many people who have responded thus far on this topic would also accept these folks, do you think? Would you?

My point is that we will teach our kids to accept what we believe to be morally, ethically or religiously correct. And different people have different beliefs about what is "correct", so different people will also be accepting, or not accepting, of different lifestyles, based upon their own beliefs. If you believe that a transexual lifestyle is OK, then of course you'll accept it, and teach others you know to accept it. If I don't, I won't accept it, nor will I teach others I know to accept it, either.

 

[pixiemomma]

For those who think "the kids won't notice", I say it's been too many years since you have been a kid!

My experience is that kids notice everything.

While he/she is a 3rd grade teacher and all of the 3rd graders might not realize what is going on, don't forget that the school probably goes up to the at least the 5th or 6th grade. And 5th and 6th graders (especially boys) can be rough.

You can make yourself feel good with liberal/tolerant thoughts, but like it or not, it's going to be a disruption.

Being a "boy", and apologizing to the VP Cheney (who I like very much), I just gotta post this...

I'm speaking of the 7 or younger crowd. Yes after that the ignorance people have installed in their children starts to seep out and influence those who have not been exposed to it.

 

[JennyMominRI]

So we should teach them to "accept" murderers, rapists, child molesters, terrorists, too? They are certainly defined as "others", aren't they? How many people who have responded thus far on this topic would also accept these folks, do you think? Would you?

My point is that we will teach our kids to accept what we believe to be morally, ethically or religiously correct. And different people have different beliefs about what is "correct", so different people will also be accepting, or not accepting, of different lifestyles, based upon their own beliefs. If you believe that a transexual lifestyle is OK, then of course you'll accept it, and teach others you know to accept it. If I don't, I won't accept it, nor will I teach others I know to accept it, either.

The people on your above list are criminals who hurt innocent victims..You don't see a difference?
Transexuals are not usually gay. Precisely what sin are they commiting?

 

[LukenDC]

So we should teach them to "accept" murderers, rapists, child molesters, terrorists, too? They are certainly defined as "others", aren't they? How many people who have responded thus far on this topic would also accept these folks, do you think? Would you?

No, I would not accept the above named groups because unlike transsexuals, they harm people. How do transsexuals hurt you or interfere in your ability to live life? You can disagree with someone and still be kind to them and work with them.

More and more, "morality" is becoming a code word for intruding into other people's lives and controlling them.

 

[disneyguy33]

The people on your above list are criminals who hurt innocent victims..You don't see a difference?
Transexuals are not usually gay. Precisely what sin are they commiting?

I never said they are committing any sin at all. Ducklite made reference to accepting "others", but made no differentiation about who that entails, so "all others" is implied. My point was that we DON'T accept all others, b/c I doubt very seriously that we accept the murderers, rapists, etc...

Some people choose not to accept the actions of others b/c they are illegal, some b/c they don't agree with them from a moral, ethical or religious viewpoint. What I'm saying is that we will choose to "accept" or "not accept" others not based upon what society tries to dictate, but according to how we believe. And there are many, myself included, who don't believe this is right, and therefore don't accept the actions of the person nor would want our children to be subjected to the end result of those actions.

 

[disneyguy33]

No, I would not accept the above named groups because unlike transsexuals, they harm people. How do transsexuals hurt you or interfere in your ability to live life? You can disagree with someone and still be kind to them and work with them.

More and more, "morality" is becoming a code word for intruding into other people's lives and controlling them.

So is the argument then that you can only "not accept" someone if they harm others? What about you? You say that you don't accept a murderer, but you've never been personally harmed yourself by a murderer, as evidenced by the fact that you're alive to write on this board. So a murderer hasn't directly and personally harmed you; why wouldn't you accept one? Because you don't believe that murder is correct, either morally, ethically or religiously, whatever the case may be.

And as I've said before, MY point is that I, and many others, don't believe that transexualism is correct, either morally, ethically or religiously, whatever our particular case may be, and we choose not to accept those actions.