Teachers Say They Won't Follow Central Bucks Pronoun Directive: Report

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A handful of teachers in the Central Bucks School District say are willing to defy a directive from the administration regarding the use of a student's preferred name, according to a report published by the Bucks County Courier Times.

The teachers, according to the paper, are outraged by the directive and said it would "force them to choose between their jobs and the welfare of LGBTQ students."

Earlier this month, teachers were instructed to use a student's birth name and gender until an official change is approved with parental involvement and added to the school's information database.

CB West government and politics teacher David Klein told the paper that the directive is tantamount to intentionally “deadnaming” students, the act of referring to a transgender or non-binary person by a name they used prior to transitioning, such as their birth name.

The directive came to light Sept. 19 in an Instagram post that said teachers at Lenape Middle School were informed by their principal that they may not call students by their preferred pronouns unless their parents/guardians have approved the change in the school's information database.

"In a cruel, twisted and directed attack on trans and non-binary students, the principal differentiated that students can be called by nicknames contained within their name, like Ben for Benjamin," said the post from save_cbsd. "But it's not acceptable to call a student Samantha if their name is listed as Samuel. See what's happening here?"

The Instagram post continued, "When questioned if this legally unsound directive is an actual policy, the principal said no, but that the directive is expected to come soon from the superintendent ... Actions like this are unnecessary, violate Title IX and can put queer kids in
serious danger."

Superintendent Dr. Abram Lucabaugh, in a statement, said, "The district understands the importance and sensitivity of this issue, and there is nothing automatic about this process. Every child is unique, every situation is different, and our school counselors work with students individually.

"Parents are stakeholders in these matters, too, so we do talk with students about the importance of including parents in decisions like these," he continued. "We help prepare students for the conversations and also help facilitate them to reach an agreed-upon solution."