Aye, this Georgia matey be fightin' to keep 'is job after readin' a scandalous book o' queer notions to wee lads 'n lasses!
2023-08-12
Avast ye hearties! A Georgia landlubber teachin' scallywags in the public school did speak up, tryin' to keep her position after bein' sent to Davy Jones' locker fer readin' a book on gender identity to her young'uns. Methinks the winds of change be blowin', but will they favour this swashbucklin' lass?
A Georgia fifth-grade public school teacher, Katie Rinderle, is fighting to save her job after being fired for reading her students a book on gender identity that the district claims is prohibited under state law. Rinderle, who has been teaching for 10 years, was terminated in March for reading the book "My Shadow Is Purple," which features a nonbinary character and challenges the concept of binary gender. During the termination hearing, Rinderle defended her decision, stating that the book promotes inclusivity, acceptance, and being true to oneself. The hearing was initiated under a state law that protects teachers from unjustified firings, and a panel of retired school principals will make a recommendation on whether Rinderle should keep her job. Parents and Republican lawmakers across the country have been attempting to remove LGBTQ+ subject books from school curriculum and libraries, adding to the controversy surrounding the case. Rinderle's lawyer argued that the termination was politically motivated and that reading a children's book to children is not against the law. The Cobb County School District claims that Rinderle violated the school district's rules and Georgia's new Divisive Concepts Law, which both prohibit teachers from using controversial topics in their instruction. The district wants to fire Rinderle due to her alleged uncoachability and refusal to acknowledge her actions. Rinderle testified that she believed the book was appropriate and not a sensitive topic. The district's rule on controversial subjects was established last year after the passing of the Divisive Concepts Law, giving parents more say in their children's education. Rinderle's lawyer argued that the ban on controversial issues is too vague, leaving teachers uncertain about what is permitted. The district argues that the classroom should be a neutral place for learning and that one-sided instruction on political, religious, or social beliefs does not belong in schools. The hearing concluded, and the panel will make a recommendation to the school board, which will ultimately decide Rinderle's fate. Rinderle has the option to appeal her firing to the state Board of Education and potentially take the case to court.