Katie Rinderle.Photo:Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP
Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP
A Georgia teacher has been fired after reading a book about gender norms to her fifth-grade class. Last week, the Cobb County School Board voted 4-3 to fire Katie Rinderle after she read the bookMy Shadow is Purplealoud in class.
School superintendent Chris Ragsdale recommended that Rinderle be terminated after a parent complained.
In astatement, Rinderle said she was “disappointed in the district’s decision to terminate me for reading an inclusive and affirming book — one that is representative of diverse student identities.”
She continued: “The district is sending a harmful message that not all students are worthy of affirmation in being their unapologetic and authentic selves. 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.”
In 2022, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill allowing parents and guardians to submit complaints about the content of “material” in their children’s textbooks and in books found in school and classroom libraries.
According to the SPLC, “legal advocates say the law is vague and contradicts the U.S. Constitution.”
Similar laws have been passed in other states —most notably Florida, where the so-called Don’t Say Gay bill has receivedwidespread, national backlash.
source: people.com
