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.

  • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    30·
    3 months ago

    Every teacher I ever had in public school throughout the 90s and early 00s asked students to tell them if they had a nickname or a name they preferred to be called on the first day of class. And then they would do their best to adhere to it.

    Every single one. Nobody gave a shit. There were more important things going on like, I dunno, educating children?

    • lath@lemmy.world
      229·
      3 months ago

      Most of my teachers in the schools i went to never used a nickname for their students. Those that used nicknames were the exception, not the rule. And guess what happened to them. Parents complained of favouritism and the grades they gave were questioned.

      Every single time. People do give a shit about the non-educating part and it’s an issue schools have to deal with when they’d rather not.

      • ninjabard@lemmy.world
        131·
        3 months ago

        Every teacher, instructor, professor I’ve had from kindergarten through graduate school across three states and as many decades has asked every class I’ve been in if a student has a preferred name over the name they’re officially registered with. Every one made a note in their register to call them as such. Refusing to call a student by their preferred name is a new level of pettiness at best and discrimination at worst. A teacher’s job is to make their classroom a place where children feel welcome and safe. Regardless of whatever their personal views are. So, I say with all sincerity and with no irony, fuck your feelings.

      • Samvega@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        5·
        3 months ago

        And guess what happened to them. Parents complained of favouritism and the grades they gave were questioned.

        Was this in the educational institutions of North Korea?

        • lath@lemmy.world
          1·
          3 months ago

          Hey! Shut up! Harry Potter was an international treasure before Rowling went crazy.

          But I would be an annoying PTA parent.