12 year-old Educates School Board - There are Only Two Genders
Episode Stats
Words per Minute
206.8029
Summary
In the 7th, 10th grade at Nichols Middle School, I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you today. I never thought that the shirt I wore to school on March 21st would lead me to speak with you today, but it did.
Transcript
00:00:00.000
In the 7th, 10th grade at Nichols Middle School, I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you today.
00:00:05.560
I never thought that the shirt I wore to school on March 21st would lead me to speak with you today.
00:00:12.300
On that Tuesday morning, I was taken out of gym class to sit down with two adults for what turned out to be a very uncomfortable talk.
00:00:18.940
I was told that people were complaining about the words on my shirt, that my shirt was making some students feel unsafe.
00:00:25.540
Yes, words on a shirt made people feel unsafe. They told me that I wasn't in trouble, but the shirt felt like I was.
00:00:32.680
I was told that I would need to remove my shirt before I could return to class.
00:00:37.740
When I nicely told them that I didn't want to do that, they called my father.
00:00:42.060
Thankfully, my dad supported my decisions and came to pick me up.
00:00:46.420
What did my shirt say? Five simple words. There are only two genders.
00:00:51.700
Nothing harmful. Nothing threatening. Just a statement I believe to be a fact.
00:00:56.580
I have been told that my shirt was targeting a protected class.
00:00:59.920
Who is this protected class? Are their feelings more important than my rights?
00:01:04.380
I don't complain when I see pride flags and diversity posters hung throughout the school.
00:01:08.900
Do you know why? Because others have a right to their beliefs just as I do.
00:01:12.940
Not one person, staff, or student told me that they were bothered by what I was wearing.
00:01:17.620
Actually, just the opposite. Several kids told me that they supported my actions and that they wanted one, too.
00:01:26.800
I was told that the shirt was a disruption to learning.
00:01:29.100
No one got up and stormed out of class. No one burst into tears.
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I experienced disruptions to my learning every day.
00:01:37.560
Kids acting out in class are a disruption, yet nothing is done.
00:01:40.500
Why do the rules apply to one, yet not another?
00:01:43.300
I feel like these adults were telling me that it wasn't okay for me to have an opposing view.
00:01:49.880
I didn't go to school that day to hurt feelings or cause trouble.
00:01:54.960
I learned that a lot of other students share my view.
00:01:57.820
I learned that adults don't always do the right thing or make the right decisions.
00:02:01.960
I know that I have a right to wear a shirt with those five words.
00:02:05.400
Even at 12 years old, I have my own political opinions, and I have a right to express those opinions.
00:02:11.220
Even at school, this right is called the First Amendment to the Constitution.
00:02:17.180
My hope in being here tonight is to bring the school committee's attention to this issue.
00:02:21.920
I hope that you will speak up for the rest of us so we can express ourselves without being pulled out of class.
00:02:28.800
There might be more students that decide to speak out.