The advice on the subject of informing parents reads:
Telling parents
Note that the ACLU is very protective of a student's right to privacy in his/her sexuality. If a school employee believes that "a situation exists which presents a serious threat to the well-being of a student," the employee must notify parents without delay. (Utah Code 53A- 13-302(6)(b)(i)). Other than a threatening situation, volunteering known information about a student's sexuality with parents is not advised.
Consider the following factors in making a determination about talking to parents:
Age of students
Whether student is being bullied based on sexuality or gender identity
Student requests
Knowledge of parents' relationship with students
What if a student asks to be called a preferred name/pronoun and parents object? Unless the student is 18, parents' requests should govern.
What if a student asks to be called a preferred name/pronoun and parents object? Unless the student is 18, parents’ requests should govern.
This part makes no sense to me. Don't inform parents unless the student is OK with it. But if the parent tells the teacher to call the blank and the student disagrees, ignore the student. Is that just to prevent the teacher screwing up and calling the student by their preferred name to the parents accidentally?
I don't think so - to me it seems more about weighing up the student's need vs the parents' decision. The school district want to honor the student's wishes as much as possible but if they are <18 they are not legally an adult, so the school ultimately should defer to the parents.
Sensible from legal standpoint, even though it would suck for the student.
It's a really dumb take too, though. What if a student named Annabel wants to be called Anna? When Jacob wants to be called Jake? Do the parents really need to be involved in that? When do we let children start making decisions about their own lives? When they want to take on thousands in student loans at 17? When they don't do their work and are permanently punished for it? Are they adults or not?
but if they are <18 they are not legally an adult, so the school ultimately should defer to the parents.
But then what about the rest of these recommendations that say not to tell the parent anything if the child doesn't wish it? Does the child get to make the decisions on how they present themselves and their identity and who gets to know that or not?