California high school suspended students for five days for ‘misgendering’ teacher, according to parent group.
A California High School Suspends Students for “Misgendering” Teacher
Last year, a California high school made headlines when it suspended two students for five days for “misgendering” a teacher. The incident took place at Herbert Hoover High School in the Glendale Unified School District, just north of Los Angeles.
The school’s former Principal, Jennifer Earl, allegedly sent an email on May 24, 2022, stating that the students would also undergo “restorative justice” training. This information was first reported by GUSD Parents Voices, a group that works to support children’s educational goals and development in the Glendale school district.
Glendale high school students suspended for 5 days for “misgendering” teacher, and then undergo “restorative justice (RJ)” education. Any comment on this @GlendaleUSD ?#gusdparentsvoices pic.twitter.com/RcTCLRPJRL
— GUSD Parents Voices (@gusdparents) July 5, 2023
In the email, Earl stated, “I suspended two students for five days each today and will be conducting RJ with students and teacher for the following.” According to the screenshot from GUSD Parents Voices, the students entered the teacher’s classroom one at a time and called him a different gender. The teacher responded by stating his true gender identity, and the students ran away. Earl explained that the students admitted to being curious about a transgender person. She consulted the teacher on how to handle the situation, and he requested education on transgender issues. The lesson was well-received by students and parents, and restorative justice would take place after the suspension.
A spokesperson for the Glendale school district clarified that a student can be suspended if using the wrong pronoun escalates to harassment. However, they emphasized that no student has been punished or suspended for accidentally using the wrong pronoun.
GUSD Parents Voices revealed that “RJ” in the principal’s email stands for “restorative justice.” The Glendale school district has published an online “practitioner’s guide” on “Restorative Practices.”
The district’s guide explains that restorative justice is a way of looking at criminal justice that emphasizes repairing the harm done to people and relationships rather than only punishing offenders. Within schools, restorative justice serves as an alternative approach to traditional methods of exclusionary discipline, focusing on repairing harm and promoting healing.
Restorative responses bring together those affected by harm or conflict to address root causes, support accountability, and promote healing. The goal is to restore a sense of belonging and community for all individuals involved.
The Glendale school district recently made headlines when parents protested sexual curriculum content at a school board meeting, which resulted in violence. Three people were arrested outside the district’s headquarters as parents expressed concerns about age-inappropriate LGBT curricula and policies.
Families in the district, particularly the Armenian American and Hispanic communities, organized the protest to demand transparency and changes to the curriculum.
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