TRANSGENDER: School district missed a teachable moment

I cannot remain silent. Tears flowed as I read Lisa Arnold’s letter. Lisa is Lakeland’s school district superintendent. My chest ached as though my heart had been squeezed letting all the inclusiveness of celebrating human beings drained out. I actually read Lisa’s letter three times to make sure I wasn’t misreading what she was saying. Lisa, whose field is education, was apologizing to some angry parents concerning a transgender person who is part of the Missoula Children’s Theatre group tainting the Lakeland school children. I was dumbfounded, disillusioned, angry, besides having a broken spirit at her inference. My heart aches at the lack of understanding, the opportunity for a teachable moment.

I applaud Alison Granier’s and Lee Wallace’s responses to the Lisa Arnold article. Both were eloquently and accurately written. Words are power.

I hope to write to Missoula Children’s Theatre expressing my apologies as I’m not on social media. I only text my children on my phone, the best I can manage.

Write to Lisa Arnold — maybe.

SUSANNE DuBOIS

Coeur d’Alene