Sophia Cadaret
eSomethin Staff
House Bill 8, which was recently signed on January 8 by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, is nicknamed the “Parent’s Bill of Rights.” While the law focuses on informing parents about changes with their child within the premises of school, it also limits the teaching of sexual content, including gender ideology.
In Section 3313.473 it states, “Prior to providing instruction that includes sexuality content or permitting a third party to provide such instruction on behalf of the district, provide parents the opportunity to review any instructional material that includes sexuality content.”
Included in Section 3313.473, it also states that schools are required to “promptly notify a student’s parent of any substantial change in the student’s services, including counseling services, or monitoring related to the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health.”
Additionally, the definition of “student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being” includes any request by a student to identify as a gender outside of their biological sex.
“The bill interferes with being able to allow students to fully speak and allow conversations to be confidential,” said Kevin Schaublin, a Perrysburg High School counselor.
Schaublin noted that he has experience working with students in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as helping students come out in both a school and home setting. Soon, counselors will not be able to help students voluntarily come out to their parents in this way under the new bill. Instead, counselors will be required to notify parents of a change in students’ counseling under this new bill. Presumably this would include a change in students’ preferred pronouns.
“The one thing that I always want my students to know is that my office is a safe space for them to come and be who they are. I don’t want them to ever feel like they are not able to recognize and identify who they are,” said Schaublin.
Caz McKenzie, a junior at Perrysburg High School, also shared worries over this bill.
“School is a safe-space for a lot of students. I don’t want that taken away,” McKenzie said.
The Ohio School Counselor Association, before this law was signed, lobbied against the bill. Now, the association is developing a policy for school counselors to navigate the new law and continue to exercise the best practice they can.
Schaublin said, “The goal here at Perrysburg is to support our students just the same.”
Justin Fults, the Director of Student Services and Well-being, commented, “We’re dedicated to supporting all students because we’re a public school. People come from all different walks of life and they are entitled to a free and appropriate public education. They’re also entitled to come here free of discrimination. It doesn’t mean that we all have to agree with everybody’s faith or beliefs, what we need is to respect them.”
The law also states that teachers will also be required to report if students change their gender identity in the classroom.
“It leaves a lot of people more on-edge. You’d have to be careful about how you speak at all times,” McKenzie said, referring to how this law could impact using their friends’ preferred names at school.
Fults said, adding another perspective, “I think the spirit of the law is really to help parents understand all the things that are going on.”
This controversial law has many supporters, arguing for parents’ rights to gain information about their child while at school. Regardless of the policy the district will take regarding this new law, several school faculty and staff mentioned that they intend to continue to support students to the best of their ability.
“As a public entity, we’re always going to comply with the law and do the things we’re asked to do, but we’re also going to take a look at the needs of our community and help set up systems that comply with the law and meet the needs of kids and families in the absolute best way possible,” said Fults.
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