Parents upset that book, My Princess Boy, read to class

A book read to some elementary students last year and this year at Herrick Park Elementary School has upset some parents. The book, titled My Princess Boy, is about a boy who makes a dress with his mother and then wears it to school. The book was read in an Y5 and second grade class last year and a kindergarten and third grade class this school year, according to parents that talked with The Tecumseh Herald. One of the families who brought their concern to The Herald’s attention wished to remain anonymous. Rod Guth, who had a student in one of the classes the book was read in, said he was upset to learn that parents were not notified the book would be read.According to Supt. Kelly Coffin, reading the book in class was not a “violation of any board policies.”Coffin said books will often be read to help students understand a student in class who is different, which was the case in this instance. The student the book was read for is gender nonconforming, meaning that student does not fit in society’s definition of what a particular gender should wear or be interested in. The student’s actions fall under protection from the U.S Dept. of Education’s Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.“Title IX’s sex discrimination prohibition extends to claims of discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity and OCR accepts such complaints for investigation. Similarly, the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of the parties does not change a school’s obligations,” wrote the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in a May 2014 report.“We are not going to violate anyone’s rights,” said Coffin. Tecumseh Public School must follow Title IX in order to receive federal funding.