Gender concepts too much for young students

There is a buzz going about the Washington state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction adding concepts like gender identity, expression and roles to its curriculum guidelines for the K-12 Health and Physical Education Learning Standards.

Some examples of these lessons that would be taught to students include kindergartners learning about the different ways to express gender, second-graders understanding the range of gender roles, and third-graders discovering how those roles can vary in society.

Fourth-graders would identify how friends and family can influence ideas regarding gender roles while fifth-graders would learn how the media, society and culture can influence those ideas, as well as how to identify trusted adults and how to ask questions.

There are some families who are upset about gender concepts being taught to elementary school students because the lessons may clash with their ideologies and beliefs.

Although OSPI added gender identity to its learning standards, school districts will be the ones to decide if and how they would create curriculums for the new standards. Even if they made curriculums, those lessons wouldn’t reach the classroom until the 2017-18 school year.

There are pros and cons to bringing lessons about gender identity and expression to elementary school students in the classroom

Teaching young children about self-expression can show them that it is OK to be different from their classmates. It can also give them confidence, as well as show them they are not alone in society. They would be able to identify people they can talk to if they have problems.

Some of the lessons will focus on respecting “all people,” which is something that should already be taught and emphasized in the classroom.

Treating others with respect goes back to the golden rule of treating others the way you want to be treated, even if those around you — in this case your classmates — are different.

However, we think trying to introduce concepts like gender identity and expression can be too much for young children, specifically kindergarten, first- and second-graders, to fully grasp.

Most children starting elementary school are still trying to figure out their environment and who they are as people. Many students are still adjusting to the time of being away from their parents during the day.

For the most part, kids are more focused on learning their letters and numbers, recess and making sure they don’t get in trouble.

Devoting a curriculum to gender identity and other concepts could also take time away from other subjects teachers are teaching throughout the day. Elementary school teachers are expected to do a lot and this just adds to their already-full plate.

It is important to teach students that it is OK to be different and to express yourself in ways that don’t hurt anyone else. Just because a boy wants to play with dolls instead of a baseball, or a girl likes power tools and science instead of makeup and fashion does not mean there is something wrong with them.

Part of the conversation with showing respect to others can start at home.

Children are not born with prejudices, they learn them from other people — mainly family and friends — and the media.

Parents should talk with their children about respecting those who are different from them.