Education Law

Don?t Be Fooled

Recently, the American College of Pediatricians, a pediatric society, distributed a letter to school superintendents across the country to express its support for a new campaign titled FactsAboutYouth.com, which provides ?approaches to students experiencing sexual orientation and gender identity confusion.? However, this campaign does not acknowledge the scientific evidence regarding gender identity, sexual health, sexual orientation, or effective health education, which in fact is recognized in policy by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

BoardBuzz finds it interesting that the American College of Pediatricians has a very similar name to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the nation?s preeminent organization of pediatricians, pediatric subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists, representing over 60,000 members. The confusion has resulted in numerous communications to notify superintendents and others to what many believe is an intentional action to mislead school educators.

Prior to the development of the American College of Pediatricians ?s FactsAboutYouth.com, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed the American Psychological Association resource titled ?Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators, and School Personnel.? Other majoreducational and school health organizations also endorsed this report, including the American Association of School Administrators, American Counseling Association, American Federation of Teachers, American School Counselor Association, and American School Health Association.

Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics has conducted extensive public education on the issues of sexual orientation of adolescents, and has published a clinical report titled ?Sexual Orientation of Adolescents,? much of which is diametrically opposed to what has been put forth by the American College of Pediatricians. Additional guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics for parents and educators on issues of gender identity and sexual orientation is available from www.healthychildren.org.

NSBA?s School Health Programs has developed a ?Sexual Orientation for Schools 101? guide.   And just last Monday at the NSBA 2010 Annual Conference, a session on gender identity and sexual orientation issues was presented, which underscored the need for school policymakers and educators to have accurate information about these issues if all students are to feel safe and supported at school. And BoardBuzz thinks that?s what it?s all about!

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on April 16, 2010 (boomark / email).