NYSSA, Ore. (CBS2) — The Nyssa school district is getting some backlash after it announced that students may have to declare their pronouns on an upcoming field trip.
A group of 70 fifth graders will visit a camp hosted by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) next month.
The museum announced that its staff will introduce themselves and say their pronouns and will invite the students to do the same.
While the museum said the idea is to create a supportive environment for the children, parents like Amy Shuster aren't happy.
"He wouldn't have known what this pronoun stuff was, and I don't see why this needs to come into a field trip," Shuster said.
Some students also spoke out about the trip.
"This is crazy. I don't want to do this. It should be obvious just to look at me," said Owen Myers, a fifth-grade student at Nyssa Elementary.
The issue was discussed at a school board meeting last week where parents also voiced their concerns.
"When we approached the board and said okay for the kids whose parents aren't wanting them to go, what kind of options do they have, and they said they can stay in the classroom. I thought, well, that's the punishment classroom, and they should not be punished for their beliefs, for anything like that," said Brandy Gallegos Ragus.
After the meeting, the district announced that the students will no longer be asked about their gender identity, but some parents like Shuster have already made up their minds.
"I'm not sure that I can trust that this still won't be pushed on the kids," Shuster said.
CBS2 reached out to the school board and district. The district superintendent told us they have no further comment.
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