Northern California parents are furious after a seventh and eight grade science teacher introduced the topic of gender identity and sexual...
Northern California parents are furious after a seventh and eight grade science teacher introduced the topic of gender identity and sexuality to students in an effort to explain the teacher's preferred honorific.
Luis Davila Alvarado, who teaches at Denair Middle School in California's San Joaquin Valley, used a 'Gender Unicorn' graphic from Trans Student Education Resources on Wednesday to explain the choice of 'Mx.' over 'Mr.' before being stopped by the principal.
'Mx.' is a gender-neutral honorific typically used by individuals who do not identify as a specific gender, or for people who simply don't want to be referred to by gender.
'A handful of parents' felt the discussion was inappropriate for the age group, which typically includes 12- to 14-year-olds, and that science class was also not the proper place for the lesson, the Modesto Bee reported.
Gender identity is discussed during seventh through 12th grade health classes as part of sexual health and HIV/AIDS prevention education, pursuant to California's public school curriculum.
DailyMail.com could not immediately reach the school or Alvarado for comment or to confirm the teacher's preferred pronouns.
Parents are furious after a seventh and eight grade science teacher introduced the topic of gender identity and sexuality to students in an effort to explain the teacher's preferred honorific of 'Mx' using a 'gender unicorn' graphic from
Sonia Rush, a stepparent of one student who received the handout, wrote on Facebook:
'The teacher said that because he was transgender and the kids had lots of questions, he thought this would be beneficial to them. Which is the most bulls--- excuse I’ve ever heard.'
(DailyMail.com could not confirm whether Alvarado identifies as transgender. Quotes from parents and school officials using the pronouns he/him to refer to Alvarado have not been edited.)
Rush continued: 'I don’t care what you identify as, that’s your decision. But NO ONE has the right to ask my child these questions that have absolutely nothing to do with what you are teaching in a classroom.'
Metzger, however, noted that the handout 'was not an assignment and students were not required or asked to fill it out.'
She added: 'Only a handful of parents have called to express their concern.'
It was a simple graphic of a unicorn using non-sexual icons to demonstrate the areas of the human body associated with gender identity (the brain), gender expression (the whole body), sex assigned at birth (the pelvis area), and physical and emotional attraction (the heart).
Another parent who was upset, Kristen Hill, wrote on Facebook: 'Let’s say the kids are confused about what to call him/her. How in hell does this ... clear up any confusion about him/her?!?! What a crock of sh*t!'
Mezger estimated that about 50 students received the handout from Alvarado.
She said that the activity was part of a 'getting to know each other' exercise on the first day of school, which Alvarado did not obtain prior approval over.
Principal Amanda Silva 'happened to be in his second-period class as part of her routine visits on the first day of school,' Metzger said.
'When she saw the content of the handout, she spoke with the teacher and directed him to stop distributing it,' Metzger said.
'The principal and I have spoken with the teacher about why we believe this was a poor decision,' she said. 'Any discipline is a private matter between the district and employee.'
Alvarado is a second-year teacher at the school.
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