A Georgia school board has voted to fire a 5th-grade teacher for reading a book to her class that promotes a child’s decision to choose their own gender.
The book marketed at children titled “My Shadow is Purple” uses a metaphor to compare gender with a shadow. According to the book, a boy’s shadow is blue, while a girl’s shadow is pink.
The protagonist of the book, however, has a purple shadow, implying that she’s what those in the LGBTQ movement have defined as nonbinary.
According to the Associated Press, in a partisan 4-3 vote, the Cobb County School Board—comprised of four Republicans and three Democrats—chose to terminate Katherine Rinderle, who had been teaching at Due West Elementary School for 10 years.
Parents complained after she read the book to her class, which prompted Republican Superintendent Chris Ragsdale to recommend the termination.
In response, the school board appointed a tribunal of retired educators to conduct a hearing required by a Georgia law established to protect teachers from unwarranted termination.
The tribunal determined Ms. Rinderle shouldn’t be fired, though the ultimate decision rested with the school district, who disagreed.
A school district spokesperson told The Epoch Times, “The District is pleased that this difficult issue has concluded; we are very serious about keeping our classrooms focused on teaching, learning, and opportunities for success for students. The Board’s decision is reflective of that mission.”
“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,” Ms. Rinderle said. “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.”
According to SPLC, the decision perpetuates the school district’s prioritization of “discrimination, bigotry and retaliation in Cobb County Schools.”
State Legislation Combating Woke Ideologies
In April 2022, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed several education bills regulating what is taught in schools and the parent’s right to be involved.“And we put students and parents first by keeping woke politics out of the classroom and off our ballfields,” Gov. Kemp said.
House Bill 1084 banned the teaching of critical race theory, as well as women playing men’s sports, while Senate Bill 226 prohibited obscene material in school libraries.
Tribunal Hearing
Sherry Culves, a lawyer for the school district, said in a hearing on the incident said, “Introducing the topic of gender identity and gender fluidity into a class of elementary grade students was inappropriate and violated the school district policies.”Culves asked Rinderle if she could understand why a family would want the chance to talk to their children about complex sexual concepts like gender identity before a teacher and argued that Rinderle should have gotten approval before reading the book, which is required under school policy.
Officials argued that Rinderle knew better, having already received a parent’s complaint for reading former Democrat gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams’ children’s book, “Stacy’s Extraordinary Words,” which tells the story of a young black girl named Stacey being bullied by a white boy named Jake.
Craig Goodmark, an attorney defending Rinderle, argued that the policy is vague and that Rinderle’s firing was a political scapegoat for elected officials.
Board Member’s Statements on Vote
Four of the school board members gave statements to The Epoch Times on their vote.School board member Becky Saylor, a Democrat, said she wants schools to be “compassionate places.”
“I want teachers and students to be able to read a wide variety of books, to see themselves in those books, to see someone they have nothing in common with those books, to think critically about what they’re reading, to learn something new, to disagree and to agree with what they read, and to perhaps become more empathetic after reading them,” Ms. Saylor said. “To all the parents concerned that it’s too hard to hear about a child who does not feel they fit in as a boy or a girl, I would challenge you to consider how difficult it is to be the child who doesn’t fit in. As a community, let’s do what we can to tell that child they belong.”
School board member Leroy Hutchins, a Democrat, responded to The Epoch Times’ request for comment with his statement issued on Facebook in which he said the school board has an obligation to govern the district in accordance with administrative policy.
In the statement, recalled a discourse on the resolution to ban critical race theory and the 1619 project in which he requested to define divisive concepts so that educators and the community had clear parameters.
“At that moment, my request was denied, and we passed the Resolution without a working definition,” he said. “My fear would be that divisive concepts would become a catch-all for controversial topics. Subsequently, the State of Georgia has since clearly defined Divisive Concepts in state law.”
He added that “clear and concise” language is necessary, and that he has worked with education officials to offer review and revise policies.
“I will continue to work with my colleagues to have a culture and climate within our District that fully supports all students, educators and staff,” Mr. Hutchins said.
School board member Randy Scamihorn, a Republican, said, “I believe in keeping our classrooms focused on academics and the Georgia Standards, while parents discuss social issues in their living rooms.”
School board member Brad Wheeler stated, “The community has entrusted us to keep our classrooms free from controversial topics. The negative impact on our students is far too serious to ignore.”
