Is there any greater pain than watching your child hurt? Why would any person not want to help a child in pain?
State policymakers will have to answer this question in the coming weeks.
Some parents have experienced the ultimate pain of losing a child in childbirth, though an accident, illness or the ultimate pain, suicide.
Watching your child, any child hurt is inconsolably painful.
I recall the helpless sensation that smothered me when my 10-year-old little girl, Kat, (so beautiful and smart) was cut from her travel soccer team. Her face all scrunched up in agony and tears welling forth as if her cloistered world had ended. I wanted so badly to take away her hurt and the pain. In fact, the desire to shield her from the randomness of hurt seemed to make it transfer to my body and spirit. I hurt so badly being unable to take her pain away. And this was a “normal” childhood growing up experience.
I would do anything to prevent my children from experiencing the pain that a cruel world inflicts upon them. So, I empathized when a father called me looking for help.
In my roles as former state superintendent of schools, State of Michigan mental health director and now as President and CEO of the Detroit Wayne County Mental Health Authority, it is not unusual for people to reach out for help.
I have been approached by parents over the years desperately seeking help for their children and other family members they love. I have and will continue to bend over backwards to help — as any caring adult should do.”
The State Board of Education has stepped up and in an effort to help children and families manage difficult life transitions, is now developing voluntary guidelines designed to make LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) students feel safe and protect them from harassment. The guidelines are being circulated for public input allowing the light of the day to shine on public policy –not in a corner and writing policy in the dark night of indifference.
Their efforts, especially the leadership of State Board President, John Austin, are to be commended. Their efforts will spare students pain, anguish and help prevent some child from striking out in desperation to take their own life. There are many children who struggle as an individual who identifies as transgender. There are many children and adults dealing with this confusion and desire to be true to themselves.
The safety and education of all students is a role of the State Board of Education. They have an important responsibility to make schools safe harbors, supporting quality education and setting a stage to allow children to celebrate their uniqueness, their individuality and be prepared to embrace this hyper-competitive, global world that is about their future and not our past.
Yet, these voluntary guidelines to help local school districts seeking assistance have led some in the legislature to strike back.
According to Mlive, Michigan House Speaker Kevin Cotter says the LGBTQ voluntary guidelines under development by the State Board of Education to make schools more safe and supportive for gay and transgender students could “eliminate parental authority” and upset children’s “privacy and safety.”
“Parents have very real concerns about the potential abuse of increased bathroom and locker room access that puts their children at risk,” Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, said in a statement. “They have very real concerns about allowing their children to officially change their name or their gender without parental approval.”
Be clear, as a citizen, let alone as Michigan House Speaker, Cotter has the right, but also a responsibility to weigh in. His and others’ input can and will be taken into consideration when the State Board of Education carries out its state constitutional responsibility to provide leadership and supervision for public education.
Rep. Gary Howell put out a statement: “The Michigan State Board of Education is eroding parental rights to the degree that parents will not even be entitled to know what gender clothing their child is wearing during the school day,” “The policy allows children to use any bathroom facility they want, potentially putting the health and safety of children at risk … the draft policy is an example of government bureaucracy gone haywire.”
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students are at a statistically higher risk for being unsafe at school, experiencing bullying and attempting/committing suicide. School Boards would be wise from both a human decency and a legal perspective to have clear, thoughtful policies in place to protect LGBTQ children. Not doing so puts them at risk.
A child’s life is a terrible thing to waste.
Watch Opening Minds- Ending Stigma: A Youth Perspective the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority produced with the generous support of the Flinn Foundation and leadership of Andrea Cole. Opening Minds Ending Stigma may also be viewed on YouTube.
Tom Watkins is the president and CEO of the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority He has served the citizens of Michigan as state superintendent of schools and state mental health director. Email him at:tdwatkins88@gmail.com.
To read this article in its entirety visit michiganchroncile.com
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