The government’s planned transgender policy could stifle teachers’ ability to provide safe, welcoming spaces for all students, said ATA president Jason Schilling.
On Jan. 31, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith released a video entitled “Alberta Transgender Policy” in which she outlined the government’s 10-point plan to “address a very sensitive issue involving our children and gender identity.”
The video included a number of measures that would impact teachers in schools, such as a requirement for parental notification and consent if a student aged 15 and under chooses to change their chosen name or pronoun within a school setting. For students aged 16 and up who choose to change their chosen name or pronoun, parental notification will be required, but not consent.
“We are concerned about how students may feel forced to suppress their identities and to be afraid of reaching out to teachers as an avenue for support,” Schilling said in a statement released shortly after Smith’s video went public.
The Alberta Transgender Policy will also require parental notification and opt-in for each instance a teacher intends to give formal instruction involving gender identity, sexual orientation or human sexuality.
At a subsequent news conference, Smith was asked whether she felt concerned that teachers would avoid lessons related to sex and gender in order to avoid the extra paperwork involved.
“If, as I suspect, there is structured education on structured days, then I don’t think it’s a hardship for schools to say, ‘this is a day that we’re going to be discussing issues of sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity,’” Smith said.
“It shouldn’t be onerous. It actually should be fairly straightforward to be keeping parents in the loop on these issues.”
Also part of the plan is a requirement that all third-party resource materials or presentations related to gender identity, sexual orientation or human sexuality in the K–12 school system be pre-approved by the ministry of education to ensure the materials are age-appropriate.
Smith said her government has been monitoring legislation and conversations that have taken place in other jurisdictions, such as Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, and feels like they have struck a balance of ensuring children aren’t making life-altering decisions about gender and sexuality before they are mature enough to fully understand the consequences.
“If there is ever an instance where a child feels rejected or at risk of harm, we have a child protection service and we’re going to make sure that those kids also have a safe environment to be in,” she said.
The UCP is looking to introduce legislation and regulations in the fall.
“I would say that this is the right balance. This is what I believe Albertans expect us to do to make sure that we’re protecting kids’ choices.” ❚
Alberta Transgender Policy
The UCP’s transgender policy, as announced by Premier Danielle Smith, has 10 points.
Parental notification
- Parents must be notified and opt in for each instance a teacher intends to give formal instruction on gender identity, sexual orientation or human sexuality.
- Minors 15 and under require parental notification and consent for a school to alter their name or pronouns. Parents must be notified if a 16 or 17 year old changes their chosen name or pronoun in school.
Resource approval
- All third-party resource materials or presentations related to gender identity, sexual orientation or human sexuality in the K–12 school system require pre-approval by the ministry of education.
Gender reassignment
- Top and bottom gender surgeries not permitted for those aged 17 and under.
- Puberty blockers and hormone therapy for the purpose of gender reassignment are not permitted for those aged 15 and under.
- Those aged 16 and 17 will be permitted to commence hormone therapies for the purpose of gender reassignment with parental, physician and psychologist approval.
- Transgender women are not permitted to compete in women’s sports leagues.
Availability of expertise and support
- The government is working to attract to the province one or more medical professionals who specialize in transgender surgery.
- The government is working on a private registry of medical professionals who specialize in this field (transgender surgery).
- A pilot project has been created to provide appropriate counselling services to support parents and youth identifying as transgender to work through their unique challenges.
ATA response
Immediately after the January 31st announcement the ATA released an official response.
Teachers need to be consulted on troubling consequences of new policies
