CRT/Education

Federal judge allows Ohio school policy on transgender bathroom use

A federal judge has ruled that an Ohio school district can go forward with a policy allowing trans students to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.

“Not every contentious debate, concerning matters of public importance, presents a cognizable federal lawsuit,” U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman wrote in his decision.
With regard to parental rights, the court said previous court cases cited by those challenging the bathroom policy “make clear that a parent has the right to control where their child goes to school.”

“But that is where the control ends,” the court ruled. “Public school policies that direct school operations, like the (Bethel) board’s policy here – prescribing the use of student bathrooms – are for the school to decide.”

The student’s parents said using a single-occupancy bathroom at Bethel Middle School was creating difficulty because it was “frequently occupied whenever she needed to use it, and she felt ostracized, humiliated and targeted by other students who taunted her for using the separate bathroom,” according to court documents. - Ohio Capital Journal

SB 361 reduces the qualifications of the very people educating our children.

Ohio Senate Bill 361 has too many similarities to yet another Florida bill. It begs the question who is actually writing these bills? Allowing dark money to infiltrate our government we have allowed the election of unqualified individuals and welcomed deep rooted corruption. 

The news cycles are getting worse as we get closer to the mid-term election and Republicans show no evidence to slowing down. We can't help to question this recent bill as another attempt to completely undermine public schools. Just this year Columbus teacher went on strike in order to finally get a new contract. Coupled with the legislation to provide a change in school funding allows to funding failing private and religious schools. School vouchers have been available for years to students in a "failing" school district as a manner to protect their education. This expansion is set to dismantle public schools and segregate our children once again.

This new Senate Bill 361 will take away the power of the teachers' union by finding thousands of veterans who do not have the proper credentials to step in and take their place. We are just steps away from militarizing our public schools. This year DeWine gave schools the power to allow teachers to carry guns into your children's classrooms.

 
It is time we make our voices known, demand a nurturing environment for our children to learn in. 

HB 616 might as well be called a ban on mentioning race, too.

Ohio House Bill 616 pairs some of the most harmful parts of Ohio’s Curriculum Ban, HB 327, with an even more drastic version of Florida’s Don’t Say Gay Bill. This legislation, sponsored by Reps. Jean Schmidt and Mike Loychik, is so broad that it could censor regular conversations about the experiences and families of LGBTQ+ Ohioans, even at high schools.

The bill not only censors critical race theory and the New York Times 1619 Project but also censors “diversity, equity, and inclusion learning outcomes” and “any other concept that the state board of education defines as divisive or inherently racist.” This language is exceedingly vague and broad and will make it open season on free speech in schools. 

HB 616 leaves room to ban discussions about anything and everything these fringe politicians decide they don’t like