A recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit has raised concerns over parental rights. The court decided that parents have no constitutional right to be informed when their child changes their gender identity in public school.
In the case of Foote v. Feliciano, Marissa Silvestri and Stephen Foote sued Baird Middle School after they discovered their 11-year-old child had identified as “genderqueer” without their knowledge. The school used a new name and pronouns for the student and allowed them to use male bathrooms, all without notifying the parents.
The court ruled in favor of the school, stating that decisions about gender identity are within the expertise of school officials. Critics argue this undermines parental rights, asserting that parents are the true experts on their children’s development.
This case highlights the ongoing debate over parental involvement in education. As the legal battle continues, some are pushing for stronger protections for parents, including expanded school choice options and a Parents Bill of Rights. The case may eventually be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
