Teacher Posts That Confusing Students About Gender Identity Is Enjoyable

A Louisiana elementary music teacher posted to social media that confusing young students about gender identity and “ignoring” their questions is enjoyable.

Blaine Banghart, a teacher at University Elementary School in Shreveport, part of the Caddo Parish Public Schools, explained in a Facebook post that it has been enjoyable to confuse young students about gender identity purposefully, Fox News reported.

Banghart, who uses the title “Mx.,” as opposed to “Mr.” or “Ms.,” wrote about the confused responses of the students and the need to avoid getting into trouble for causing the confusion.

“The kids are all confused and asking why I have a mustache if I’m a girl, if I’m Mr. Banghart now, why am I trying to look like a boy, etc.,” Banghart wrote. “I’m just ignoring these questions/redirecting, so I don’t get in trouble.”

“Though some of the reactions are hurtful (I’m not mad – they’re kids and don’t mean harm), I’m mostly just enjoying the confusion about ‘what’ I am,” the teacher added.

As the Fox News report noted, Banghart shared a video on Twitter in November in which the teacher stated an example of “teacher allyship” was another person using an individual’s “preferred adjectives.”

Banghart’s behavior was reportedly reviewed during a Caddo Parish School Board meeting in March, during which Keith Hanson, chief technology officer for Shreveport, defended the teacher, stating:

I have never spoken here as a citizen or parent of a student, but I am here today because this is important to me, my family and, most importantly, to her. Let everyone see on public record that there are good people here ready to defend other good people from vile, bigoted hate.

The Star News Network reached out to Caddo Parish Public Schools for comment about the teacher’s status.

Mary Nash Wood, executive director of strategic initiatives, said, in response, “Caddo Parish Public Schools cannot comment on personnel matters regarding individual employees of the school system.”

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Susan Berry, PhD is national education editor at The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Blaine Banghart” by Inside The Classroom.

 

 

 

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