In 2023, the Saskatchewan government introduced the Parents' Bill of Rights with little public consultation, setting off a political and legal battle that quickly reached the province's schools.
The legislation, passed as Bill 137 and colloquially referred to as the "pronoun policy," is an amendment to the Education Act that requires teachers and other school staff to obtain parental consent before using a student's preferred name or gender identity.
As supporters and critics battled over the policy in media and political arenas, school divisions had to quickly determine how it would work in practice even after a judge temporarily halted the policy's implementation, citing the potential for "irreparable harm" to students.
As education researchers, we conducted a study that combined survey data with teachers' written comments and interviews. The study, yet to be peer-reviewed, is among the first to examine teachers' experiences with the policy. Results suggest that the fallout extended well beyond the public debate.
