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.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/18749281

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.

  • radicalautonomy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    29·
    3 months ago

    I just had teacher trainings this week at the school district I am working for this year after moving from Texas to the PDX area. It was like night and day compared to Texas. The training began with Land Acknowledgements, and we spent a few hours learning about and discussing how we will be implementing cross-curricular activities on the culture, language, and practices of the Native American tribes from this area. I teared up, I gotta tell ya.

    But the thing that really hit me the hardest was how comfortable I felt as a queer person. They asked us to put our pronouns on our name tent, and I initially put the ones I was assigned at birth (because I’m coming from Texas where I didn’t dare let on that I wasn’t cisgender). But I soon realized through discussions with the trainers and with people at mine and surrounding tables that this really is a safe place, that I can be myself and not fear repercussions that would affect my livelihood.

    So I shared during discussions about privilege and power that I was non-binary, and nobody batted an eye, no microgestures indicating their discomfort, it was just…normal. Safe. I’ve never felt like this before. Every queer person…teacher, student, citizen, immigrant, or otherwise…should be allowed to feel like this.

    • ThelittleDoeEnglish
      6·
      3 months ago

      EEEEEE, So glad you feel comfortable here! ^^ I love it when people mention that. Not to say we’re perfect, far from it, but safe, we do try to be. c: (Growing up here in the closet, especially during high school, was difficult but not impossible x.x Was able to get put on hormones the same day I was diagnosed with GD. So glad I had the resources to use once I was 18.)

    • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      3 months ago

      Well that’s because if Florida didn’t exist, Texas would be the worst state. I don’t know what state you’re in now, but it sounds like it’s not Florida, Texas, Ohio, or Iowa…in that order.