Boys, girls and genders in-between: A classroom lesson for modern third graders
OAK PARK, Calif. - School counselor Holly Baxter had prepared for this moment for months. She gathered the third graders of Red Oak Elementary on the carpet for story time, opened the picture book and began to read.
Casey, she said, likes to play with blocks and his dump truck, but he also loves things that glitter and shine.
Casey admires his sister's glittery nail polish and says that he wants to wear it too. His sister tells him boys don't wear glittery nail polish.
"Right, Daddy?" she asks their father.
"Most boys don't wear nail polish," their dad replies. "But Casey can if he wants to. There is no harm in that."
Story time in this Oak Park Unified classroom last month unfolded in a way that relatively few 8-year-olds in the country have ever experienced.
The story by Leslea Newman, the concepts, the questions and the answers between students and teacher culminated in a pioneering - and at times volatile - chapter in this suburban Ventura County school district after educators decided to teach elementary school students about the complexities of gender.
Baxter continued reading from the book.
When Casey and his sister were going to the library, Casey wore a shimmery skirt.
"Mama!" his sister cried. "Why is Casey dressed like
