Students, parents react to transgender policy at Mount Saint

[Ayla]

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Mount Saint Charles Academy alumni take to social media to oppose the school's move to not accept transgender students.

They've created a Facebook page and a petition, which 2007 graduate Johnelle Bergeron signed.

"I was disgusted and kind of offended," Bergeron said.

She said she went to school with a transgender person.

"I would never expect that from Mount because they always preached about tolerance and God is love, everyone's equal," said Bergeron.

The private Catholic school released a statement in response to the backlash.

"Mount Saint Charles Academy deeply regrets the unintended hurt feelings at and seeming insensitivity of our policy regarding the acceptance of transgendered young people," the statement noted. "The policy that currently appears in the Mount Saint Charles Student Handbook is not intended to be discriminatory toward transgendered students nor is Mount Saint Charles Academy's intent or desire to exclude transgender students. The policy was put in place for the simple reason that Mount Saint Charles feels that its facilities do not presently provide the school with the ability to accommodate transgender students."

While a 2004 graduate posted a video online, noting that he is "outraged," "sad" and "disappointed" by the situation, others don't think it's out of line.

"I personally think that Mount St. Charles is a private institution, not funded by the government, so they can make their own choices," said Nick Dellicarpini, a student.

But Kristine Kinnear, a parent, disagreed.

"They should make some accommodations for some of the kids," she said. "I mean, you don't want anyone to feel excluded. If it was my own children, I would want them to accommodate the needs of my child."

turnto10.com/news/local/students-parents-react-to-transgender-policy-at-mount-saint-charles-academy  

[Deleted]

The private Catholic school released a statement in response to the backlash.

"Mount Saint Charles Academy deeply regrets the unintended hurt feelings at and seeming insensitivity of our policy regarding the acceptance of transgendered young people," the statement noted. "The policy that currently appears in the Mount Saint Charles Student Handbook is not intended to be discriminatory toward transgendered students nor is Mount Saint Charles Academy's intent or desire to exclude transgender students. The policy was put in place for the simple reason that Mount Saint Charles feels that its facilities do not presently provide the school with the ability to accommodate transgender students."

Don't you just love apologies like this?  "We didn't intend to hurt you.  And we don't intend to discrimnate against you.  We don't want to exclude you.  But we are in fact excluding you. Which means that we are discriminating against you.  Which means that you're probably hurt.  But we're sorry.  I mean, we feel real bad."

"I personally think that Mount St. Charles is a private institution, not funded by the government, so they can make their own choices," said Nick Dellicarpini, a student.

Actually, Nick, this isn't a matter of what you personally think.  Either the place gets some government money or it doesn't.  And it appears that they do in fact get some government funding.  So can they still make their own choices?

By the way, Nick: that name "Dellicarpini", that's not Italian by any chance, is it?  Suppose this academy decided they didn't like Italian people.  Would it be OK with you if they made "their own choice" to exclude you?  And don't tell me there's nobody in Rhode Island who doesn't like Italian people.  I lived in Providence for a while, and what with the Italians and the Irish and the blacks, it's an interesting mix.

[Kira]

Because we all know, accommodating a Trans student takes a lot of equipment, including a particle accelerator, a crane and at least like, three anechoic chambers.

Schools dont have money to waste on specialist equipment that won't prepare students for life. Apart from perhaps equipment for reinforcing gender stereotypes, like in the making of toughened steel chisels for the boys, which of course later in life you realise you buy from the hardware shop which requires the purchase of one tool, whereas to make one requires the purchase of several tools including a smelting foundry.

Best order another smelting foundry then and forget about it. Ain't nobody got time for that.

[Shan]

Mar 7, 2016 4:02:16 GMT 8 Kira said:

Because we all know, accommodating a Trans student takes a lot of equipment, including a particle accelerator, a crane and at least like, three anechoic chambers.

Schools dont have money to waste on specialist equipment that won't prepare students for life. Apart from perhaps equipment for reinforcing gender stereotypes, like in the making of toughened steel chisels for the boys, which of course later in life you realise you buy from the hardware shop which requires the purchase of one tool, whereas to make one requires the purchase of several tools including a smelting foundry.

Best order another smelting foundry then and forget about it. Ain't nobody got time for that.

Hehehe love it Kira! Well now that they are faced with a challenge I wonder if they will step up to the plate and deal with it like they should.