NYC preschool read book on gender identity: 'It’s ok to be whatever gender'

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) – An Upper West Side preschool faces questions after teaching the ABCs of gender identity to a class of three- and four-year-olds.

The school said that a substitute teacher, who's transgender, read a children's book about trans inclusivity.

Now, the preschool lesson is dividing parents and educators at the city-funded New York Kids Club on Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan.

“Most of the parents were in shock and clueless of the decision that the school made,” parent, Vivian Cialini said.

Cialini’s son was three years old when a substitute teacher recently read “It Feels Good to Be Yourself” to a class of 16 students. Some of the kids came home with questions, and parents started to debate whether the book exploring gender is age-appropriate. 

An excerpt reads, “There are so many ways to be a boy or girl. Not everyone feels like either a boy or a girl.”

“I believe it’s too early for them to understand. They barely have awareness of their body,” Cialini said.

In a statement to PIX11, New York Kids Club’s CEO Jennifer Clement said: "We are deeply committed to fostering an environment where children can grow, learn, and explore in a manner that is both age-appropriate and respectful of diverse perspectives."

The statement also said the school is working to “ensure that materials utilized align with the developmental needs of our students."

In a separate email to parents, the administration stressed the importance of teaching inclusion to all students, writing, “We all agree that we would rather this have been communicated to our families beforehand and will ensure it takes place in the future.”

Alaina Daniels helped start Transformative Schools, an afternoon program for trans, queer, and non-binary students beginning at age nine. “The message of the book is it’s ok to be whatever gender you’d like to be," she explained. 

“Research says that kids learning about diverse identities helps everyone learn and feel safe,” Daniels said.

She added that it’s healthy for children to ask questions and explore who they are from a young age.

“These are conversations kids and adults should be having and should be learning,” Daniels said.

Cialini says she believes in acceptance and inclusion but also transparency. “We expressed they violated our rights as parents,” Cialini said.

In a statement, a NYC Public Schools spokesperson said: “New York City Public Schools greatly values the use of age-appropriate, diverse, and inclusive educational materials that promote language development, social-emotional growth, and foundational literacy skills. We are currently engaging with this specific program to understand how the material was introduced and whether it adhered to the recommended guidelines.”