On Friday, May 13, the Obama administration issued a statement from the Department of Education and Department of Justice regarding transgender admittance to school restrooms.  

“Federal law requires schools to allow students to use restrooms and locker rooms ‘consistent with their gender identity’,” The U.S. Department of Education said. The administration says that if the school fails to follow this policy, they will lose federal funding.

A recurring question is “How will this affect Parkway West?”

“As a district we do what’s best for our students,” Principal Jeremy Mitchell said. “We will obviously follow the guidelines of the federal government. We started educating our staff two or three years ago in workshops learning about transgender and related issues. It is something that we will continue working on every year.  We work with kids and do what is best for them.”

Mitchell had not met with the district to discuss implementations plans.

“Transgender people are still people and they should have every right to use the bathrooms of their gender identity,” sophomore Ryan O’Connor said. “They should be able to use their own respected bathrooms.”  

[quote author=”-Jeff Duncan” link=””] I think we should make students aware of the situation and we should teach students to be accepting of others regardless of religion, race, sex, but I do think this crosses the line.” [/quote]

Other students agree that transgender students should be able to use the bathroom of their choice.

“It is uncomfortable for transgender people to use the bathroom that is not of their gender identity,” junior Duncan McBride said.  “If it makes them more comfortable, then I think it is great for schools.”

Although support for this idea has been voiced, there are also those who disagree with sharing restrooms.

“My viewpoint on the transgender bathrooms in public schools is it’s something that should not happen,” math teacher and coach Jeff Duncan said. “I think we should make students aware of the situation and we should teach students to be accepting of others regardless of religion, race, sex, but I do think this crosses the line.”  

Duncan believes that this situation will cause more problems than it resolves.
“I don’t view this as an issue in Parkway,” Duncan said. “I think there should be separate bathrooms for male and female and that when you open the door to what the Obama administration is suggesting here, you create a ton more problems with that.  We should just continue to operate as normal.