On Sunday, The Daily Wire posted an article about Kathleen Cataford, 77, a school nurse in Connecticut who was suspended after she revealed on Facebook that an 11-year-old student at her school was on puberty blockers and that other students identified as non-binary without their parents being informed.

The article reports:

Kathleen Cataford, 77, was suspended from Hartford Public Schools after she posted the comments on Facebook, the Daily Mail reported. Cataford’s comments were labeled “transphobic” after she posted to a local mother’s group when someone asked for local school recommendations, saying parents should “Investigate the school system curriculum…CT is a very socially liberal, gender confused state.”

“As a public school nurse, I have an 11yo female student on puberty blockers and a dozen identifying as non-binary, all but two keeping this as a secret from their parents with the help of teachers, SSW [social workers] and school administration,” Cataford continued, according to the Mail. “Teachers and SSW are spending 37.5 hours a week influencing our children, not necessarily teaching our children what YOU think is being taught.”

Although I question the use of Facebook to reveal this, it may have been her only option. I seriously doubt her local newspaper would have touched it. I do think it was a good idea to share it in a local mothers’ group where people would have the opportunity to act on this knowledge. I would be furious if my child’s school kept information about my child’s choice of gender from me. Gender dysphoria used to be considered a mental illness that was to be watched and treated if necessary. Many children go through a period of this and then grow out of it. They don’t need to be encouraged to stay there.

The article notes:

Hartford School District officials were made aware of the post after the mother of the 11-year-old reportedly on puberty blockers saw it and reported it, the Mail reported. The family of the student, who have not been identified in media reports, told WSFB that “As a family we are very happy with how thoroughly and quickly the school and the district has taken action to both ensure the nurse is fully investigated and ensure the safety and privacy of our child. They could not have done a better job.”

Hartford Public Schools superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez released a statement regarding Cataford’s remarks, without naming her.

The nurse did not reveal the identity of the child–all she did was to alert parents as to what was going on in their children’s school.

The article concludes:

“Hartford Public Schools strives to provide an inclusive environment where all students feel seen, valued, respected, and heard,” Torres-Rodriguez said in the statement. “We uphold all of our staff to a high standard, entrusting them to be caretakers and leaders in the community. We as a school district are responsible for the health, well-being, social and emotional development, and safety of ALL of the children entrusted to our care. It is our responsibility to support our students’ growth, personal experiences, and social-emotional development.”

“We take this matter, and any incident that impacts our students’ well-being, very seriously. Ensuring our schools are a safe place for students, staff and visitors is our highest priority. Therefore, we took immediate action to remove this individual from our schools while we investigate,” Torres-Rodriguez added. “While at times the most hateful rhetoric is the loudest it certainly doesn’t reflect the care, commitment, and acceptance that the vast majority of our teachers and staff practice every day.”

It is scary that a school would promote something that is a mental illness. They are not creating a safe environment. They are creating an environment where children too young to make life-altering decisions are deciding things that may leave them physically unable to mature fully physically or to have children.