Waterloo school board says decision to cut discussion about transgender fiction driven by concern for harm and legal liability
Global News
A Waterloo school board meeting discussion about books featuring transgender kids was shut down by the board chair. The teacher who spoke has been assigned to work from home.
The Waterloo Region District School Board says it shut down a controversial discussion at last week’s meeting to avoid potential liability under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
In a statement released on Tuesday morning, it said it is not posting video of the school board meeting to reduce “harm to WRDSB students, staff and community, and reduce its legal exposure.”
During the meeting on Jan. 17, Carolyn Burjoski, who has been teaching English for the board for over two decades, appeared as a private citizen. She noted the board had sent teachers a lengthy list of books and resources for transgender awareness week.
“Some of these books are a positive addition because they show diverse families and represent a variety of ethnicities, however, I am very concerned that some of the resources in our elementary school libraries are inappropriate for young children,” she told the board.
She specifically discussed a book called Rick by Alex Geno, suggesting the book might be asking children to think of sexuality earlier than needed.
“They are children. Let them grow up in their own time and stop pressuring them to be sexual so soon,” Burjoski said. “In fact, some of the books filling our libraries make it seem simple or even cool to take puberty blockers and sex hormones.”
That was when she was initially cut off by Board Chair Scott Piatkowski.
“I’m just getting a little concerned that your content may be problematic,” he said. “I’m not sure exactly where you’re headed but I would caution you to make sure that you are not saying anything that would violate the Human Rights Code.”