The Hollidaysburg Area School District held a vote during their meeting on Wednesday night to determine the future policy for adult/student boundaries.
The policy in question can be read here. Some of the prohibited conduct included:
"Initiating conversations with students, whether in public or private, on gender identity, asking students for their preferred pronoun usage or sexual orientation. This provision does not preclude adults from following up with students regarding complaints of discrimination and / or harassment received from the student, providing appropriate directions, services and/or resources in response to inquiries initiated by students, and / or otherwise responding to inquiries made by the student where required by law."
and
"Prominently displaying political, religious, or sexual oriented materials in the classroom that are unconnected to an approved curriculum."
The motion failed to pass with a 4-5 vote.
This is all in the wake of heated debate after a teacher brought a controversial book to class. The book in question is a memoir titled "Gender Queer."
The meeting was once again open to public comment with many parents present but this time the students of Hollidaysburg took to the stand to voice their opinions. One student who spoke in favor of teachers asking students their pronouns was reduced to tears by hecklers in the audience.
Another student who spoke to the board is Nina Meadows, a junior at the Hollidaysburg High School. They shared their experience as a non-binary student at the school and how important their relationships with teachers are as well as how banning LGBTQ symbols would be detrimental to the students.
"I would hope that I can continue to have the same relationships as I have with my teachers," said Meadows. "That we can all come under some semblance of unity and not be fighting the rest of the school year over the policies."
Some parents called for the the teacher who brought the book "Gender Queer," to class to be fired.
"I feel ok about the failed vote," said Amber Lewis, a parent of three kids in the school district. "I feel like the focus got a little out of hand. I think it needs to come back to the teachers and one rotten apple spoils the bunch and I know there are absolutely fantastic teachers at Hollidaysburg that support their students. I feel like every classroom should be safe for each and every student."
The board is determined to continue discussions about this topic at their next meeting in December.
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