A school in Toronto is in the news and people want to know why. The Toronto Public School board is reportedly no longer seeking parental permission for students to attend drag queen storytime events. This decision was made after parents of students at an elementary school raised concerns that the consent form implied that the Pride activity was different from other performances at the school. According to the parents, the performances were also risky and they did not want their children to get hurt.
TDSB Drag Queen Story Time
The address changes come as tensions are already high over Pride in schools, including the York Catholic District School Board voting against a motion to fly the flag at headquarters and a call for a strike Provincial against Pride on Thursday June 1, 2023 when schools raised the rainbow flag. The reports further added that parents of students at Bruce Public School located in Leslieville received an email they received last Friday and a paper form Monday showing their approval was required for an upcoming “field trip.”
It was an afternoon of storytelling in the school gym by Gila Munster, known as a Toronto drag queen and a Toronto District School Board vetted performer who has excelled at other educational institutions. For those who don’t know, please let them know that “Field Trip Forms” are generally issued for field trips off school property. While the school’s Pride Day events planned a march around the block and a flag ceremony, permission was sought particularly for drag queen story time.
In a follow-up email to the school community, Kristina Wessenger-Macdonald reportedly acknowledged that several families had raised concerns about the process, but that this was not a personal or school decision. She described being informed by the area superintendent that recent board-wide directive needed all drug dealer appearances to be treated as required parental consent. Although after Toronto Star inquiries to the principal, Belinda Longe, superintendent and TDSB, the school board acknowledged on Wednesday June 7, 2023 that in the first address suggested the permission forms.
Ryan Bird’s spokesperson states that “In some elementary schools, Drag Queen Storytime events have been held. As we recognize that this may be a new experience for some of our youngest students, we are making sure that their families are aware of this. If you have wishes or questions for your children to participate in different activities at the time of the event, you can contact the educational institution directly.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn