Boys and Girls: Mr. McBeth is now Miss McBeth

[proud2BlibKansan]

Sex change teacher gets job back

To students at a US primary school, she was Mr McBeth. Now, after undergoing a sex change, 71-year-old Lily McBeth will return to the classroom as Miss McBeth.

Despite criticism from parents, the board of Eagleswood Elementary School in New Jersey is standing by its decision to allow McBeth to resume working as a substitute teacher.

After two hours of public debate and a private meeting with McBeth and her lawyer, the board took no action on calls by several parents to bar her from returning to the school where she taught for five years before becoming a woman.

"It was magnificent," McBeth said afterward.

"You saw democracy in action."

more . . .
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/sex-change-teacher-back/2006/03/01/1141095772975.html


http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/03/01/mcbeth_wideweb__470x375,0.jpg

[Orsino]

1. It won't be the same without Mr. Hat. n/t

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. Miss McBeth...

You go girl! :hug:

[DS1]

3. I think that would give me nightmares

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. It would definitely be hard to explain to 5 yr olds

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. Not really...

5 year olds are not prejudiced as adults are. Simply telling them the truth should be enough. It's the parents that have a problem with it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. A fellow teacher told me about this today

She said the article she read said the school was advised to tell the kids that the teacher had his penis removed.

Sorry, I can't even imagine saying that to kids of any age. Nope. No way. :scared:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. I don't think I'd explain it that way...

I think it would suffice to say that he'd had an operation to make him the right sex. Kids that age don't usually require the gory details.

Whoever advised the school was not thinking clearly.

[LisaL]

10. He/she kind of waited a long time to make him the right sex.

71 years old. I just don't get it.
Imagine the kids will have a difficult time of getting it too.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Yes, 5 yr olds would never grasp this.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

21. They'll grasp it as readily as

they do society's prejudice against transgendered people, gays and lesbians, and different races.

The reaction of the parents at the school isn't unlike my grandmother's reaction to my friendship with the only black kid in my elementary school, years ago. It was unconscionable in her southern society for blacks and whites to socialize beyond the level of servant and boss. So she tried to teach me prejudice, which was way over my head at age 5.

I only hope that 40 years from now, people will recognize how foolish our bigotry-du-jour was.

[fleabert]

25. most times, adults don't give kids enough credit...

they are much more accepting than adults are, and much more honest. A five year old will ask some painful questions if not given an explanation that satisfies their curiosity, but when that curiosity is satiated, they just move on with life. The only thing that fucks up this beautiful acceptance is when adult hang-ups, insecurities, and prejudices get in the way.

I agree with you 100 percent.

"what will we tell the children? *gasp*" is such a lame fucking reaction to life's little hiccups. tell them the truth, on a level that is appropriate for their development.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. These operations are still relatively new...

when you factor society's prejudice (including, possibly, Mr McBeth's)into the picture, it's not difficult to understand his waiting so long.
It doesn't hurt to explain to kids that such prejudice still exists; because even if their parents are free thinkers, they'll certainly hear the stink from the kids whose parents are not.

[SoCalDem]

27. Best case scenario?

Miss Mc beth teaches at a new school where she is presented as Miss mcBeth..end of story.. I had some teachers in school who could have been either sex...no one questioned them or even cared.. they were there to teach us to read or do math..not explain their genetic/physical/psychological issues..

and 5 yr olds should not have to confront those issues while they are still trying to figure out a glue stick :eyes:

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

6. Am I remembering correctly - did this happen in "Popular"? nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. What's "Popular" ??

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

11. It was a high-school comedy/drama from a few years ago

Although it got rather shite and ultimately sold out, there was some excellent satirical and sometimes subversive stuff going on.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0202748/

After a lot of googling I've managed to answer my own question - there was an episode called Ch-ch-changes where the students male shop teacher announced that when they came in the next day, he would be dressed as a woman. When the PTA found out about this they threatened to get him sacked because a transsexual teacher would cause psychological harm to the students. After some took a little convincing - the students rallied round him, however at the end of the episode the PTA had their way and he was fired.

[Syncronaut Seven]

13. It seems odd.

I had a friend go thru the surgery in his 70's after his wife died. I never understood the decision, happening so late in life. I supported her, I just couldn't quite understand why.

I also have a casual aquaintance going thru it at 40, She is correcting some things nature didn't quite complete. It seems quite normal, her insurance company agrees.

Regardless, It's a hell of a ride. More power to 'ya Lily!

Real world issues, right there in class! Yea, that'll damage the precious little angels.

[LisaL]

14. He is old. At this age, most people have already retired.

Little angels have other things to worry about, why should they be trying to figure out why this guy is a miss now? Most adults don't get it, let alone little kids.

[Pithlet]

15. Yay for Miss McBeth.

I have a 5 year old son, and I honestly don't see how this would be a huge deal for those kids. I think it's a bigger problem for the adults and they're projecting that onto the kids. If this were my son's school, I wouldn't have had a problem with this.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. I suspect you are in the minority

Don't get me wrong, I have no problems with this either. But I have observed that many parents are quite conservative when it comes to things like this and their kids.

[Rabrrrrrr]

19. I think you're right - I don't think kids would give a shit

Parent: "Mr McBeth asked to be changed into a woman, so now she's Miss McBeth, but she's the same person and teacher you've always known".

Kid: "Okay. Can I have ice cream?"

Small kids simply couldn't give a rip. The only thing I'd be worried about is making sure the kid knows that just because doctors did this doesn't mean that it happens to everyone who sees a doctor, which is why I left that out of the answer I gave above, and made sure to make a point that it was something she requested.

But anyone who thinks would be a trauma for a child is a phobic piece of shit.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

22. When my younger boy was 5, a couple of years ago

he asked me if he used to be a girl...rather loudly, in the grocery store. It was hilarious seeing the heads turn in our direction.

I just answered him, "Not in this life, sweetie." and smiled.

[BikeWriter]

23. Bravo, Rabrrrrrr. You're right on target. Furthermore...

I wouldn't bother to bring this up to the kids unless they specifically asked

[Kellanved]

30. yup

My HS history teacher did pretty much did the same thing.
She was ridiculed for eating bologna sausage with strawberry ice cream; the change thing was irrelevant.

[jpgray]

16. So foul and fair a day I have not seen

:D

[elshiva]

17. You go Lily!

I don't think the little kids need to know the particulars. If she is a good teacher and does what she is supposed to do it doesn't matter.

[enigmatic]

24. I think this is great

And she should be able to do this at any age and keep her job; it's not my life. She's a brave and strong woman to go through this and come out
on top; that's the lesson these kids will have, if the parents and teachers will teach.

[njdemocrat106]

26. Mind you, I live in the same county as Miss McBeth...

and this is New Jersey's freeper county, so I wasn't the least bit surprised that the rubes who live here would raise such a stink. I'm glad, though, that she was able to retain her job, and I hope she continues to find happiness in this life decision of hers.

[NMMNG]

28. Bravo!

:applause:

[arwalden]

29. Good For Her!!

[xchrom]

31. woohoo!

now that courage -- to go after what you want to make you happy and to continue to work.

the kids will more than just fine.
if she's happy -- they will be too.
:woohoo: :applause: :woohoo: