More than three years ago, Harrisonburg Schools presented optional training for teachers and staff on how to keep all students safe, including LGBTQ.
However, three teachers who did not attend the training contacted the Alliance Defending Freedom, which then sued the school system on a freedom of speech issue. The teachers took a portion of the training and alleged that administration had given them a directive to use pronouns requested by students at school, but to lie to parents about the pronouns being used.
According to Harrisonburg Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Richards, the teachers took that portion of the training out of context, and it was the same portion of training President Donald Trump took out of context in his executive order “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling.” In the order, Trump targeted the school system for “gender ideology.”
Richards said the school system’s teachers had asked for guidance in providing support for all students. The training contained guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association on how to keep students safe.
The school system guided teachers to ask students for preferred pronouns and use pronouns.
“I rely on the kindness of our teachers to support students. I don’t have to mandate kindness,” Richards said.
After two years of court litigation, Richards said the teachers accepted accommodations and dropped the lawsuit.
Richards said that Harrisonburg is a diverse city with individuals and students from all over the world.
“And we honor all of the differences and there are a lot of people who don’t like it,” Richards said.
The national publicity from Trump’s order, however, has put all Harrisonburg students at risk by stirring up ill feelings.
To mitigate the situation, Richards said he participated in on-air media interviews with both Harrisonburg High School and the new Rocktown High School. He said the best he can do is “lead by example,” talk with everyone about the truth of the situation and keep everyone unified.
Richards has received some positive feedback from individuals around the world thanking him for standing up for LGBTQ students.
“It’s so heartening that not only in our community, but all around the world [we have support],” Richards said.
Richards said the school system never had a policy regarding the use of pronouns, but the training was presented when Virginia expanded anti-harassment laws to include transgender. Harrisonburg Schools followed and also expanded its definition of harassment, and provided guidance on how not to discriminate.
“We provided state-of-the-art guidance on that,” he said.
Teachers are encouraged to rely on their mental health team if a consultation is necessary with a student and to communicate with the student’s family.
Richards said Trump called the guidance “gender ideology” and indoctrination of students.
“No matter what we do or what we say, they’re going to pin this on us,” Richards said.
He said the Rockingham County Republican Party posted on its Facebook page with links in an attempt to claim that Trump’s order correctly mentions Harrisonburg Schools.
The national attention threatens the safety of teachers, students, School Resource Officers, everyone at Harrisonburg Schools, Richards said.
“It’s using fear as a weapon.”
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Rebecca Barnabi
