Educators Split on Transgender Student Bathroom Use

• PRINT
• EMAIL
• LARGE
• MEDIUM
• SMALL

The survey that revealed nearly half of district leaders support teachers coming out also showed a divide on transgender restroom use among students.

Led by Educator Political Perceptions, the survey asked 902 K-12 teachers, school employees and district leaders which restrooms transgender students should use.

The survey revealed 51 percent believed transgender students should be "allowed to use the school restrooms and locker rooms of the gender with which they currently identify."

Bertucci believed the bathroom debate isn't that important compared to the other struggles of trans students.

"We worry about the bathroom because we're so worried about genitalia," she said. Though she believes students should be able to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity, "we should be looking at depression and suicide rates of transgender students."

On the other side, 49 percent believed they should be "required to use school restrooms and locker rooms of the gender they were born into."

Jason Tackett, teacher at Herald Whitaker Middle School, sided with the 49 percent.

"Because I'm a conservative, to me it's common sense," he said. "If you have a boy body part, you should use the boy bathroom."