While "Googling" a solution to our TV that keeps randomly turning off (always right when someone is about to kiss, tell a joke, or reveal a deep dark secret!), I stumbled upon a story from The Daily Caller website about a Milwaukee elementary school's proposed "Switch it up Day" (originally called "Gender Bender Day"). What on earth Google thinks this has to do with the search term "tv turns off when using my dvr", I have no idea!
Anyway, it caught my eye so I clicked and read about Tippecanoe School for the Arts' spirit week. One of the spirit days involved girls dressing as boys and boys dressing as girls for the day. Our school has a similar spirit week and the themes are Crazy Sock Day, School Spirit Day, Backward Day, etc...
I was able to find a copy of the flyer distributed by the school with the original name here:
The school stated that the day's theme was "chosen by the school's student council and it is only meant to be fun" and that participation wasn't mandatory. (source)
A school board member speculated that parents stirring up controversy over the day were using their children for political purposes and that little children aren't thinking of "sexual orientation". (source)
When it came time to celebrate "Switch it up Day"/ "Gender Bender Day" it was reported that few students participated and that most of the gender benders were teachers and staff.
There are lots of comments on the articles I found on this controversy, so I thought I would mention it here for Feedback Friday...
Do you find the idea of "Switch it up Day" offensive or fun?
Would you feel differently if it were called "Gender Bender Day"?
Would you encourage your child to participate in this day as a series of themes for the week?
