Polite
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- Apr 12, 2011
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An eight-year-old child has been pulled out ofa Christian school after being told she is too much like a boy and needs to understand that. 'God made her female'.
The child was taken out of school by her
grandparents after they received a letter from the principal informing them that Sunnie Kahles appearance did not meet the schools required biblical standards, because she was not feminine enough.
Sunnie has short hair and wears jeans and t-
shirts to school, her grandmother Doris
Thompson told The Associated Press, and
enjoys playing sports.
Ms Thompson said she was left stunned
when the Timberlake Christian School in
Lynchburg, Virginia, contacted her to requestthat her grandaughter behave more in a manner they considered to be more female -or consider transferring to another institution.
You're probably aware that Timberlake
Christian School is a religious, Bible believing institution providing education in a distinctly Christian environment," the letter from Principal Becky Bowman read.
"We believe that unless Sunnie as well as her
family clearly understand that God has madeher female and her dress and behavior need to follow suit with her God-ordained identity,that TCS is not the best place for her future education."
The letter also advised that the school can
deny enrolment based on applicants they
consider to be condoning "sexual immorality,homosexuality or alternative gender identity. It also advised that Sunnies class mates were feeling confused about her gender.
Sunnie realises shes a female, but she wants to do boy things, Ms Thompson told WDBJ. She wants to play rough and tough.
After being told by lawyers they have no
grounds for a lawsuit because Timberlake is a private school, the Thompsons decided to speak publicly about the issue.
Issues over Sunnie's appearance initially beganin pre-kindergarten after she cut her hair to donate it to a program that provides wigs for cancer patients, Ms Thompson said. Shortly after, she started wanting to wear clothes more stereotypically associated with boys, such as trainers.
The school released a statement after Ms
Thompson went public with the letter and
denied evicting Sunnie from school, but
refused to comment directly on the
allegations.
We are heart-broken that Sunnies
grandparents have made her the subject of a public discussion," it said.
We regret that they made the decision to
withdraw Sunnie immediately from Timberlake Christian Schools.
For confidentiality reasons related to a
minor, it is not possible for us to explain in
full detail the volume of documentation we
have concerning the situation that the
grandparents have made public.
The school has never called the girl immoral, has never evicted her and is willing to work with her, a spokesperson added. She is a precious girl
Source:The INDEPENDENT
