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VER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, I’ve enjoyed
opportunities to impact kids’ lives with truth. The
school I taught at was not a Christian school, but the found-
ing director was a wise leader. However, when the founding
director left, the school’s ability to truly help hurting children
faded because the spiritual aspect of treatment was removed.
This removal occurred over several years. As time went
on, not only did our Christmas program eliminate Jesus
altogether, the atmosphere at the center took on a progres-
sively liberal agenda. So, when I came back to my teaching
job after a short vacation, I would discover my teaching
methods, which included God, were on a collision course
with one of the center’s new policies.
I had a new student, which was common due to the
nature of the school because it was within a residential
mental health treatment center. But what was uncommon:
this young man wanted to be a girl.
The majority of residents’ behavioral issues were rooted
in serious abuse and neglect resulting in anxiety, depression,
and suicidal tendencies. The center had a good reputation
By Chris Quigg
for helping its residents work towards healing and freedom
from past hurts and bad habits. To minimize distractions
and maximize good treatment outcomes, the center sepa-
rated boys and girls in their living areas and also during
meal times, though they did attend class together.
Suddenly, the teaching staff was expected to deal with this
new situation without a plan and little preparation, which
was evident from day one. I was told John would sit with
the boys during lunch. When I told John this, he asked to
speak with the principal. The principal changed his mind.
So, John got his way and sat with the girls. The bathroom
plan was also vague. Was John supposed to use the boy’s or
girl’s bathroom?
An email was sent which included the new LGBT policy.
According to the policy, we would have to call John by his
girl name and refer to him using female pronouns. The
email also said anyone failing to follow the policy would be
subject to discipline up to and including termination. While
other staff members and residents complied, many with
whispered displeasure, I could not.
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