A North Carolina school board is recommending that educators use gender-neutral terms when referring to students instead of using words such as “boys” and “girls.”

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools presentation, titled “Supporting Transgender Students,” recommends that children be referred to as “scholars” and “students,” a local ABC News affiliate reported.

The presentation also states that students are permitted to participate in gender-based activities consistent with their gender identity, including single-gender classes, school photos, extracurricular activities and overnight field trips. It also stresses the importance of using a transgender student’s preferred pronouns, such as they, them and theirs.

“Inadvertent slips may occur. Intentional refusals to use a transgender student’s preferred name/pronoun violate this regulation,” a slide states.

School board officials said the presentation is meant to serve only as a guideline, ABC reported.

“CMS remains fully committed to supporting its transgender students and nurturing a safe and welcoming environment for every student and employee,” said CMS Chief Communications Officer Kathryn Block.

The North Carolina Values Coalition called the rules radical and a violation of privacy, ABC reported.

“School is no longer about reading, writing and arithmetic. It is now about gender fluidity,” activist Tami Fitzgerald said.

Another part of the CMS policy permitting students to use the bathroom of their choice was halted last week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Virginia school board could block a transgender male from using the boys’ bathroom.

“As a result of yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling, we have placed a temporary hold on the section of the CMS bullying prevention regulation which states that transgender students will be given access to the restroom and locker room facilities corresponding to their gender identity,” Superintendent Ann Clark said in a statement. “The rest of the regulation, which is intended to promote consistency in anti-bullying support for all students, will remain intact. CMS will respect the Supreme Court’s decision just as we did that of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.”

The CMS stay is in effect until the court decides whether or not it will hear the Gloucester County School Board’s appeal in Virginia, ABC reported.

The NC Values Coalition plans to hold a rally outside the Government Center before the school board meeting Tuesday, the station reported.

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