The Browning School, an esteemed private boys’ school in New York City, has announced a groundbreaking policy change that will allow the admission of transgender boys. Here’s the full story.
Evolving Genders
In a letter addressed to parents and signed by Board President Valda Witt and Head of School Joh Botti, the institution outlined its commitment to inclusivity and recognized the evolving concepts of gender in today’s society.
Founded in 1888 by brothers Percy and John D. Rockefeller, The Browning School has a long-standing reputation for providing an exceptional education to its students.
Notable alumni include NBC and MSNBC president Andrew Lack and JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon.
Letter to Parents
The school’s decision to open its doors to Trans boys reflected a progressive approach to education and aligns with its core values.
The letter to parents acknowledged the changing cultural landscape surrounding gender and the diverse ways in which individuals express and live their gender identities.
The Browning School, as an institution that celebrates and affirms boys at every stage of their lives, recognized the need to adapt its policies to reflect these shifting paradigms.
Consultation With Experts
To ensure a thorough and informed approach, the school engaged an expert on single-gender schools.
This expert joined a task force composed of school leadership, faculty, parents, alumni, and Trustees, which was tasked with formulating a gender policy statement.
The collaborative effort resulted in the formulation of a new gender identity policy that is now shared on the school’s website.
Boys Not Girls
According to the policy, The Browning School will consider for admission any child who identifies as a boy or was assigned male at birth and wishes to be part of a boys’ school.
The school’s mission is to serve and support students who align with this identity.
However, the policy states that students who identify as girls at the time of application will not be considered for admission. Plus, the Trans students will still be referred to “broadly as boys and young men.”
Withholding Gender Information
The Browning School’s decision reflects a broader trend in New York City, where discussions surrounding transgender children have sparked debates and led to changes in educational policies.
Last month, controversy arose when schools were advised to keep students’ gender identities confidential from their families.
The New York State Education Department issued guidelines recommending that schools can withhold information about a child’s gender identity from their families if deemed necessary.
No More “Other”
These guidelines also called to end the practice of separating boys and girls during physical education as it “marginalizes” transgender and “gender expansive” students and marks them as “others.”
The controversial guidelines were met with criticism from Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who argued that parents’ rights were under attack in New York.
Aim to Help Students Thrive
In response to the evolving landscape, the New York State Department of Education emphasized the importance of creating inclusive and nurturing environments where transgender and gender-expansive students can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.
The department’s Commissioner, Betty A. Rosa, expressed the intention behind the guidance was to support these students throughout their gender transition.
Some Interesting Predictions
Several social media users expressed their thoughts on the incident.
One Twitter user wrote, “I mean there’s nothing wrong in admitting trans students, it’s the sports that’s troublesome.”
Another Twitter user commented, “Fast forward 1 year: NYC historic Browning school for boys has pregnant boys.”
The post Boys School Will Allow Transgender Children and Put an End to Labeling Genders as ‘Other’ first appeared on Wealthy Living.
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Source: Daily Mail