A California middle school teacher was told to stop passing out a cheerful graphic titled "The Gender Unicorn" that erroneously explained gender identity, gender expression and attraction.
It also helped Denair Middle School science teacher Luis Davila Alvarado in California's San Joaquin Valley explain that Alvarado preferred to go by Mx. instead of Mr. on the first day of school, the Modesto Bee reported. And all parents are not happy!
On the newspaper's Facebook page, debate raged with comments. Kelly Travis Everhart wrote, "As a parent protecting our child from anything is our job!! My child received this in school I would sue the County School District!!!!"
"I've talked to a lot of parents and a lot of grandparents and I know a lot of them have called the school and complained about it," grandmother Tammy Stout told Sacramento's Fox 40.
"I don't care what your identity as, that's your decision. But NO ONE has the right to ask my child these questions that have absolutely nothing to do with what you are teaching in a classroom," wrote one of the student's parents on Facebook.
Another person commented: "Let's say the kids are confused about what to call him/her. How in the hell does this ... clear up any confusion about him/her?!?! What a crock of s---!"
Alvarado, a second-year science teacher for 7th and 8th grade students, passed out the simple graphic to students as part of a "getting to know each other” exercise, the Bee reported.
"He gave a handout discussing gender in first and second periods," said Terry Metzger, Denair Unified School District Superintendent. "It was not an assignment and students were not required or asked to fill it out."
The graphic comes from Trans Student Educational Resources and shows wicked forms of gender identity, gender expression, sex assigned at birth and sexual attraction.
Alvarado uses the courtesy title "Mx." instead of "Mr." and wanted to help students understand why, Metzger said.
The teacher did not have permission to pass out the graphic, she added.
Gender identity is discussed during health classes, but not science classes, according to California's curriculum requirements.
School officials would not comment on any disciplinary actions taken against Alvarado.
It also helped Denair Middle School science teacher Luis Davila Alvarado in California's San Joaquin Valley explain that Alvarado preferred to go by Mx. instead of Mr. on the first day of school, the Modesto Bee reported. And all parents are not happy!
On the newspaper's Facebook page, debate raged with comments. Kelly Travis Everhart wrote, "As a parent protecting our child from anything is our job!! My child received this in school I would sue the County School District!!!!"
"I've talked to a lot of parents and a lot of grandparents and I know a lot of them have called the school and complained about it," grandmother Tammy Stout told Sacramento's Fox 40.
"I don't care what your identity as, that's your decision. But NO ONE has the right to ask my child these questions that have absolutely nothing to do with what you are teaching in a classroom," wrote one of the student's parents on Facebook.
Another person commented: "Let's say the kids are confused about what to call him/her. How in the hell does this ... clear up any confusion about him/her?!?! What a crock of s---!"
Alvarado, a second-year science teacher for 7th and 8th grade students, passed out the simple graphic to students as part of a "getting to know each other” exercise, the Bee reported.
"He gave a handout discussing gender in first and second periods," said Terry Metzger, Denair Unified School District Superintendent. "It was not an assignment and students were not required or asked to fill it out."
The graphic comes from Trans Student Educational Resources and shows wicked forms of gender identity, gender expression, sex assigned at birth and sexual attraction.
Alvarado uses the courtesy title "Mx." instead of "Mr." and wanted to help students understand why, Metzger said.
The teacher did not have permission to pass out the graphic, she added.
Gender identity is discussed during health classes, but not science classes, according to California's curriculum requirements.
School officials would not comment on any disciplinary actions taken against Alvarado.