Parental complaints alleging schools kept pronouns secret 'do not exist': Department of Education

A right to information response received by a University of New Brunswick professor shows that from 2020 to May 25, 2023, the Department of Education received no written complaints from parents alleging the school was keeping them in the dark about their children's preferred pronouns.

Education Minister Bill Hogan cited "hundreds" of complaints when he announced in May that he was reviewing an education policy designed to ensure the safety of LGBTQ students.  

But when education professor and former teacher Melissa Dockrill Garrett sought details through a right to information request, she was told the Education Department had no records of any complaints. 

"The response that I received was enough reason to indicate that there really was no valid reason to begin this review in the first place," Garrett said.

In June,  after the review of Policy 713, Hogan announced changes because he said the policy had amounted to "keeping secrets" from parents because it empowered school officials to use a child's chosen name or pronoun informally, regardless of parental consent, and only required that consent for official changes in school records. 

Asked about the complaints he'd received, Hogan would not reveal exactly what aspect of the policy they were about, citing privacy. Nor would he say how many of the complaints were shared with him in private conversations or how many went to the department. Premier Blaine Higgs has said that number of complaints is now in the thousands.

Garrett said she filed the request because she wanted to see the complaints that were cited by the premier and the education minister as a justification for changing the policy.

"I just could not believe that in 2023 that these were discussions that we were continuing to have," she said. "Had there been evidence of complaints, perhaps then there would have been grounds to ... at least continue with consultation."

WATCH | 'I would suspect there were zero complaints':

No written complaints from parents who felt kept in the dark by Policy 713

1 year ago

Duration 0:48

Former teacher and now UNB prof submitted a right to Information request to the province asking to see specific complaints received to trigger the review into Policy 713. Today she was told there were no written complaints from parents who weren't told about their children's name or pronoun changes for the three years the policy was in effect.

Garrett said as a former teacher of 11 years, she knew that no one was keeping secrets from parents. But she was still surprised that there were zero complaints about something Higgs and Hogan said was a problem demanding a solution.

"I had a feeling that the review and the alleged complaints were unjustified, but I was still very surprised to see it in writing," Garrett said.

Hogan declined an interview request Monday. In an emailed statement, he said he received "feedback" in the form of written complaints but also in "private conversations," which are not covered under right to information legislation. He did not say whether those private conversations were with a parent or several parents who were kept in the dark about their children's pronoun changes. 

"It is also important to note the review did not focus solely on when and how a student can use their preferred pronouns in a school setting," he said.

Hogan also made changes to the extracurricular activity section of the policy. The policy used to say students have a right to participate in extracurriculars that are "safe, welcoming and consistent with their gender identity." Hogan removed "consistent with their gender identity" and left it at "safe and welcoming."

Hogan's changes now make it mandatory for all schools to have at least one universal change room, on top of the already-mandated universal washroom.

'The records do not exist'

Garrett said her request asked for all complaints from parents "who were concerned that they were not contacted" by schools about their children using a new name or pronoun. The response landed in her inbox this week. Her request was refused "because the records do not exist."

"The department ... has no written complaints," of the nature she requested, the response says. 

Garrett said she asked for "all complaints," not just those in writing.

School psychologists, social workers fight change

The original policy made it mandatory to respect a child under 16's chosen name and pronoun, informally, and to only seek consent from parents if the child wants the change to be official in school records.

Now, the policy says if a child under 16 asks for a different name or pronoun to be used verbally, teachers and staff must decline this request unless a parent consents, Hogan said.

The policy, as it now stands, also says if the child declines to involve their parents, they must be "directed" to a school psychologist or social worker to come up with a plan to include the parents.

School psychologists and social workers have come out against the change, saying they were not consulted and that declining a child's request would cause them harm. Their union is currently fighting the changes to the policy through two grievances.

The changes to Policy 713 are currently being reviewed by child and youth advocate Kelly Lamrock. He is conducting public consultations and is scheduled to release his non-binding recommendations on Aug. 15.