Penna Dexter

The pro-trans frenzy in public education is supposedly fading. Early in his second term, President Trump issued several executive orders meant to protect against attempts to indoctrinate K-12 students into delusional gender ideologies. School districts who violate these directives and retain policies, like allowing boys on women’s sports teams and into women’s private spaces, risk losing federal education funding.

But can we really expect public education bureaucrats to resist the pressure coming from activist groups on the left, who exist to influence those who influence the nation’s children?

Tyler O’Neil at The Daily Signal reports that the American School Counselor Association counts as members 42,000 of the nation’s estimated 131,000 school counselors. The Association releases guidance to the entire membership nationwide. So we ought to pay attention to what this organization is promoting under the banner of mental health and leadership.

The ASCA’s stated position on “Gender Equity” involves creating an environment “that facilitates and promotes the development of each individual by removing bias and stereotypes for each and every student in school.”

What bias? What stereotypes?

The same web page provides a clue. It states: “School counselors are vigilant to the harmful effects of stereotypical gender-role expectations.”

So, it’s not surprising that, in February of this year, ASCA held a webinar promoting a leadership program for young girls ages 11-15.  It’s the Lean In Girls program, developed by the foundation, established by former Facebook/Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg.

The representative from Lean In Girls urged school counselors to adopt the program. Tyler O’Neil’s Daily Signal piece includes an analysis of Lean In Girls’ “facilitator handbook,” which recommends that actual biological facts about what a female is be questioned. For students who “may feel uncomfortable with the label girl,” the handbook lists resources from pro-trans and LGBTQ organizations.

The handbook also promotes the teaching of Critical Race Theory.

Such radical indoctrination abuses the access school counselors have to our children.