Schools adapt to trans students
The schools of the Navigateurs school board, on the South Shore of Quebec, will have to implement measures
to better accommodate transgender and non-binary students, a first in the region.
Last night, the Council of Commissioners adopted the Policy on Opening and Support Measures for Trans and Non-Binary Students.
The goal is to establish clear rules around the reception of students whose gender identity does not correspond to their biological sex and of those who do not identify with either the male or the female gender, explains the director of educational services, Pascale Girard-Toupin.
This policy was not developed in response to questions from principals, but rather to prepare to face these issues, she says. "It allows us to be proactive, so that our staff feel more equipped and comfortable to intervene" in the face of these realities, she said in an interview with Le Journal.
Designate the student by the chosen sex
The policy is based primarily on the principle of self-identification: transgender students will have to be identified by the first name and sex they have chosen, even if no changes have been made to the student's administrative record.
Transgender or non-binary students should also be able to use the washrooms and locker rooms in which they feel most comfortable.
"We will have a unique way to accommodate each student is case by case," says Girard-Toupin.
It is also recommended to avoid dress codes targeting a particular gender. Rather than writing "girls should not wear short skirts," it is better to opt for the formula "short skirts are not allowed," can read in the document.
In different activities, schools should also avoid separating students by sex.
Sensitization
Training activities should also be offered to school staff. Already last year, all school principals - in elementary, high school, vocational training and adult education - participated in a workshop to raise awareness of these realities.
Ms. Girard-Toupin also states that transgender or non-binary students are usually assisted by professionals who accompany them in their approach, which "reduces the risks" of taking an unfounded approach.
Understanding sexual diversity: four definitions to see more clearly
Biological sex
Set of physical sexual characteristics
Sexual orientation
Deep emotional, emotional and / or sexual attraction to individuals
Gender identity
The feeling or feeling of belonging to one of the two sexes, to both or to neither
Gender expression
How a person expresses their gender identity (through clothing, ways of behaving or interacting, etc.)Sources: Committee for Sexual Diversity and Gender Identity of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec, Tel-jeunes, Jeunesse, J'écoute
The pioneering CSDM
The Montreal School Board (CSDM) was the first to adopt guidelines aimed at meeting the needs of transgender students as of 2016.
Since then, other school boards have followed suit, particularly in Lac-Saint-Jean and Trois-Rivières.
Last year, a guide produced in collaboration with the Ministry of Education was also published to support transgender students in schools.
Other changes to come
After creating 45 ungendered toilets on its campus, Laval University has begun work to modify its computer systems and documents "to allow all people to be identified according to the desired gender," says his spokesman. Andrée-Anne Stewart.
Additional boxes could be added on forms, for example.
The university administration hopes to complete this work within two years.
Neutral toilets in CEGEPs
In the college network, several institutions have neutral toilets, identified as such, for some years now.
These facilities exist in all CEGEPs in the Quebec City region.
Training on the reality of transgender people was also given in most CEGEPs.
to better accommodate transgender and non-binary students, a first in the region.
Last night, the Council of Commissioners adopted the Policy on Opening and Support Measures for Trans and Non-Binary Students.
The goal is to establish clear rules around the reception of students whose gender identity does not correspond to their biological sex and of those who do not identify with either the male or the female gender, explains the director of educational services, Pascale Girard-Toupin.
This policy was not developed in response to questions from principals, but rather to prepare to face these issues, she says. "It allows us to be proactive, so that our staff feel more equipped and comfortable to intervene" in the face of these realities, she said in an interview with Le Journal.
Designate the student by the chosen sex
The policy is based primarily on the principle of self-identification: transgender students will have to be identified by the first name and sex they have chosen, even if no changes have been made to the student's administrative record.
Transgender or non-binary students should also be able to use the washrooms and locker rooms in which they feel most comfortable.
"We will have a unique way to accommodate each student is case by case," says Girard-Toupin.
It is also recommended to avoid dress codes targeting a particular gender. Rather than writing "girls should not wear short skirts," it is better to opt for the formula "short skirts are not allowed," can read in the document.
In different activities, schools should also avoid separating students by sex.
Sensitization
Training activities should also be offered to school staff. Already last year, all school principals - in elementary, high school, vocational training and adult education - participated in a workshop to raise awareness of these realities.
Ms. Girard-Toupin also states that transgender or non-binary students are usually assisted by professionals who accompany them in their approach, which "reduces the risks" of taking an unfounded approach.
Understanding sexual diversity: four definitions to see more clearly
Biological sex
Set of physical sexual characteristics
Sexual orientation
Deep emotional, emotional and / or sexual attraction to individuals
Gender identity
The feeling or feeling of belonging to one of the two sexes, to both or to neither
Gender expression
How a person expresses their gender identity (through clothing, ways of behaving or interacting, etc.)Sources: Committee for Sexual Diversity and Gender Identity of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec, Tel-jeunes, Jeunesse, J'écoute
The pioneering CSDM
The Montreal School Board (CSDM) was the first to adopt guidelines aimed at meeting the needs of transgender students as of 2016.
Since then, other school boards have followed suit, particularly in Lac-Saint-Jean and Trois-Rivières.
Last year, a guide produced in collaboration with the Ministry of Education was also published to support transgender students in schools.
Other changes to come
After creating 45 ungendered toilets on its campus, Laval University has begun work to modify its computer systems and documents "to allow all people to be identified according to the desired gender," says his spokesman. Andrée-Anne Stewart.
Additional boxes could be added on forms, for example.
The university administration hopes to complete this work within two years.
Neutral toilets in CEGEPs
In the college network, several institutions have neutral toilets, identified as such, for some years now.
These facilities exist in all CEGEPs in the Quebec City region.
Training on the reality of transgender people was also given in most CEGEPs.
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