In a recent development that has ignited a fresh wave of debate over LGBTQ-inclusive education, a fifth-grade teacher was fired from her position by the Cobb County school board in Atlanta, Georgia. Here’s the full story.
She Was an Experienced Teacher
Katie Rinderle, an educator with a decade-long tenure at Due West Elementary School, found herself at the center of a heated controversy.
She Read a Diverse Book
She had chosen to read “My Shadow is Purple,” an LGBTQ+ children’s book authored by Scott Stuart, to her fifth-grade class.
The Book Had a Non-binary Character
The book goes beyond gender norms by introducing a non-binary character, sparking discussions about identity and inclusivity.
One Parent Complained
However, one parent’s complaint led to Rinderle’s removal from her classroom in March.
The Vote
The Cobb County school board voted 4-3 on August 17th to terminate Rinderle’s employment.
The Violated Policies
The decision was driven by concerns over violating district policies, including two influenced by Georgia laws
One of these policies restricts the instruction of vaguely defined “divisive concepts,” while the other aims to enhance transparency for parents regarding their children’s curriculum.
This Is the First
Rinderle’s case marks a pivotal moment in Georgia’s education history, as she is believed to be the first public school teacher in the state to be fired due to these laws.
She Was Disappointed
Katie Rinderle responded to her termination by expressing disappointment in the district’s decision.
Her Belief
She said, “The district is sending a harmful message that not all students are worthy of affirmation in being their unapologetic and authentic selves.”
Students Deserve Better
“This decision, based on intentionally vague policies, will result in more teachers self-censoring in fear of not knowing where the invisible line will be drawn. Censorship perpetuates harm and students deserve better,” she added.
The Attorney
Attorney Craig Goodmark echoed these sentiments, asserting that Rinderle’s termination lacked legitimate justification.
The Uncertainty Faced by Educators
He highlighted the uncertainty faced by educators in Georgia when it comes to discussing sensitive or controversial concepts.
Offensive
Several social media users expressed their thoughts on the incident.
One Twitter user wrote, “I don’t want my kid’s teacher teaching gender ideology any more than I want them teaching religious ideology. It’s equally offensive.”
File a Lawsuit
Another User wrote, “Hope she files a lawsuit and wins. Seems the book is about a boy who observes his shadow as something different than himself. Is Peter Pan NO LONGER ALLOWED? Wendy will be crushed.”
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The post “Censorship Perpetuates Harm” – Georgia Teacher Fired for Reading LGBTQ+ Book to Fifth-Graders, What Is Next in the Republican Playbook? first appeared on Mama Say What?!
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / AlexandrMusuc. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
