Sometimes a mutual on social media posts something that makes you clarify your position even more. Personally, I don't think that drag ente
Sometimes a mutual on social media posts something that makes you clarify your position even more.
Personally, I don’t think that drag entertainment belongs in schools. I like drag entertainment. I have since my childhood years when I watched Bosom Buddies, MASH, and Rupaul.
Not to mention one of my favorite characters on one of my all-time favorite sitcoms is Shenanah from Martin.
I’m also a Mom. When my child was young, I was notified of nearly every school visitor …in writing. Just like my Mom was when I was a girl. Speakers came to the school regularly, Ronald McDonald, the state lieutenant governor, all kinds of safety animals, firefighters, etc...
When I was in school, dentist offices came through regularly to teach us how to take care of our teeth.
In fact, so much of what I learned came from school guests:
fire safety,
Montel Williams Mountain Move talk,
Up With People
birth control (I know, very controversial)
More Lessons from Our Youth
So, while I personally don’t believe that contemporary drag is the best use of time and resources for school-aged children’s education; I realize that some folks do.
And, despite the younger generations thinking that the more mature demographics have never seen controversies like these, most of us have vivid recalls of the clashes in belief systems.
One of my very first school memories is learning that not all children come from families that celebrate Christmas. No Christmas?!? How???
“You don’t get gifts? No toys for Christmas?
“What do you do on Christmas morning?”
“If Santa knows the name of every boy and girl, does he just not leave them anything? But they haven’t been bad?”
It all sounded like a holiday story that starts tragic but should end with kids getting toys on Christmas.
I remember making Christmas ornaments, gingerbread houses, and macaroni picture frames. Meanwhile, a couple of my classmates made similar parent pre-approved projects without any inklings of Christmas.
We learned to respect people’s beliefs and boundaries.
Thinking of all of this inspired me to write more about guidelines that I think we can all agree on. Every school should have universal guidelines that apply to every individual or group who wishes to come to speak to children.
1. Permission slips and timely notification to parents/caregivers is a must. Participation in the activity should not be required and children shouldn’t be punished for it in any way.
2. There must be a dress code. The drag queens that are going into schools to read to kids in recent years aren’t dressed like Mrs. Doubtfire or Tootsie. Further, if the children have dress codes, anyone coming in to speak to them should have one too.
3. There must be background checks (child abuse registry check, previous sex offenses…) by a reputable third-party organization on any and all persons who come into the school to speak with children. No exceptions.
No background check, no school entry to talk to children.
4. Each group should be provided with a detailed list of what is prohibited. Each group must understand that it is important to refrain from using language with or act toward a child in a way that is inappropriate, offensive, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning or culturally inappropriate.
5. Teachers and trusted adults should always remain with children.
6. No visitor to the school should ever give a child any “gifts”. No edibles, electronics etc. Further, if the group leaves the children with something it should be pre-approved before being handed out to the children.
And these are just starters. Parents, Teachers, and School Administration should all have extensive talks about this. It is critical.
CAUTION: When one controversial group comes into a school, other controversial groups who may have been previously kept out may make a legally convincing case to be allowed to access students.
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