Parents can't
pull children from transsexual teacher's class

Five parents who asked to transfer their children out of classes headed by a transsexual teacher at Batavia High School in New York State have been denied, according to city schools superintendent Richard Stutzman. The written requests did not meet the guidelines set out by the district, Stutzman said Tuesday without providing specifics. "That's all between the school, the teacher, the parents," he said.

Other students were allowed to adjust their schedules because their requests were based on changes in their academic programs, Stutzman said. Fall classes began Wednesday in Batavia, 31 miles southwest of Rochester.

The teacher is still going through a medical transition but returned to school dressed as a woman and addressed as a female. The teacher will instruct about 100 students this year and was to make a "brief statement" at the start of class and then proceed with the course work, the superintendent said.

Among several students heading to school Wednesday, some said the situation was weird or awkward, while others said they didn't have a problem with it. "If he wants to do it, then that's him," said senior Carissa Visalli, 17.

The district has conducted information meetings about the transsexual teacher for staff and parents. (AP)