The Wisconsin English teacher, Jordan Cernek, argues in the suit that the district violated his freedom of religion and free speech in mandating the use of the students' preferred names and pronouns.

The Wisconsin English teacher, Jordan Cernek, argues in the suit that the district violated his freedom of religion and free speech in mandating the use of the students’ preferred names and pronouns.

A high school English teacher is suing a Wisconsin school district, alleging it did not renew his contract last year because he refused to use the preferred names of two transgender students.

Jordan Cernek’s federal lawsuit alleges the Argyle School District violated his constitutional and civil rights to be free of religious discrimination and to be able to express himself according to his religious beliefs when it did not renew his contract because he refused to abide by a requirement that teachers use the names or pronouns requested by students.

  • Samvega
    3·
    3 months ago

    Oh. Is now having your nickname/preferred name used a special need?

    Yes, it can be related to special needs, and to protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act (2010).

    I did not know that. Guess they should be placed in a specialized class with a trained specialist in charge then.

    That’s not how inclusion in education works. It wasn’t, for me, when I was a student with special needs in the 80s and 90s. It wasn’t when I trained as a teacher. It isn’t now when I work as a teacher. There are no specialised special needs classes in my (very large) institution. There are no specialised special needs classes in the feeder institutions where students come from. There are no specialised special needs classes in the universities many of these students go to.

    At most, there are organised meetings (twice a year, once a term, once a half-term, or very occasionally more often) between those students with recorded special needs and a member of Additional Learning Support. Many students with special needs only get one meeting, and then no more unless there are issues.

    You seem to believe in some kind of ‘remedial class’ environment. Is that because this was your own experience?

    • lath@lemmy.world
      1·
      3 months ago

      I see you’re talking about a very entirely different problem. The lack of accomodations is not one particular teacher’s job to fix.

      Your demands are pointless if you cannot provide the environment these children need. And stuffing them together with other children and a teacher that aren’t prepared to accept their awkwardness is just begging for trouble.

      If there isn’t space, if there isn’t law, then make those first. As teachers and parents, you’re the bulk of the population, yet you won’t even influence the local council to provide what is needed. Instead you just tell people to play nice or else.

      What does that accomplish really? Is there a replacement teacher ready? Are they informed of what is required of them? Do you support them when they are caught in a situation they can’t handle or will you just throw them aside and repeat ad nauseam until a satisfactory teacher is found? If the former or something better, then congratulations. I support you, good luck! Otherwise all this is nothing but lip service.

      • Samvega
        2·
        3 months ago

        Your demands are pointless if you cannot provide the environment these children need. And stuffing them together with other children and a teacher that aren’t prepared to accept their awkwardness is just begging for trouble.

        You seem to have a very low opinion of children with special needs. I’ve most commonly seen this in people with special needs who mask them. “I’m better than them,” they say.

        But you come across pretty badly, I’m sorry to say.

        • lath@lemmy.world
          1·
          3 months ago

          No. I have a low opinion on society’s ability to interact with and care for children with special needs. People don’t like different or can’t handle it randomly thrust upon them.

          Kids with special needs can be very amazing and creative, so there’s your wrong assumption this time.

          Here’s the thing though, you seem to have trouble understanding a different way of thought, so you paint it in a way that you can grasp it. Perhaps it’s you who should reevaluate their own view of interpreting things, such as my replies.