A school board in Georgia voted to fire a fifth-grade teacher for reading her students a book on gender identity that the district argues violated its policies and state law.
Due West Elementary teacher Katie Rinderle, who has been on leave for more than a month, was fired in March for reading the book “My Shadow Is Purple,” which features a nonbinary character and challenges the concept that there are only two genders.
The Cobb County School Board voted Thursday in a 4 to 3 decision to terminate Rinderle. This comes after last week’s termination hearing. A recommendation earlier this week from the three-person tribunal overseeing the hearing sided with Rinderle to keep her job, but the school board had the option to accept or change the recommendation.
“The board came in, and in an act of what can only be construed an act of politics over policy fired Katie Rinderle. We believe it’s inappropriate, there’s no justification for it,” Rinderle’s attorney Craig Goodmark told Fox 5 Atlanta.
GEORGIA TEACHER TRYING TO REVERSE FIRING FOR READING CONTROVERSIAL BOOK ON GENDER IDENTITY TO 5TH GRADERS
Despite the Cobb County superintendent recommending Rinderle be terminated, the tribunal decided that she violated just two of the three policies the district says she broke.
“I am disappointed in the district’s decision to terminate me for reading an inclusive and affirming book — one that is representative of diverse student identities,” Rinderle told Fox 5 Atlanta. “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.”
Rinderle said during last week’s hearing, which was initiated under a state law that protects teachers from unjustified firing, that her students chose the…
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