Teacher with Ten Years' Experience Fired in Georgia for Gender Identity Picture Book

The Georgia Board of Education upheld the firing of a teacher on Thursday.

Parental Backlash

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Katie Rinderle, with 10 years of teaching experience, faced repercussions for reading ‘My Shadow Is Purple’ by Scott Stuart to her fifth grade class at Due West Elementary School in March.

Classroom Instruction Debate

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Following complaints from some parents, the incident in Cobb County, suburban Atlanta, sparked debates on the limits of classroom instruction, teacher autonomy, and parental influence.

LGBTQ+ Literature

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The controversy unfolded amidst a broader conservative opposition to LGBTQ+ literature and education across the country.

Dismissed for Promoting Diversity?

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Rinderle, asserting that ‘My Shadow Is Purple’ advocated inclusivity, was terminated in August and subsequently appealed the decision the following month.

A Decade of Teaching

Despite her ten years of teaching experience, she faced consequences in March for introducing the book at Due West Elementary School, which led to complaints from some parents.

Unanimous Decision

The state board, meeting on Thursday, unanimously supported the Cobb County School Board’s decision without deliberation, as reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

‘Divisive’ Classroom Topic

In 2022, Cobb County implemented a policy prohibiting the discussion of contentious topics, coinciding with statewide legislation against ‘divisive concepts’ and the establishment of a parents’ bill of rights.

Restricting Political Beliefs

While the divisive concepts law primarily addresses teachings on race, it also restricts teachers from expressing personal political beliefs. The bill of rights ensures parents’ authority over the upbringing and moral or religious training of their minor children.

Vague Policy?

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Rinderle’s legal team argued that the ambiguous nature of the ban on ‘controversial issues’ leaves teachers uncertain about permissible content.

Policies Not Vague

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In a detailed 21-page review, the board concluded that Cobb County’s policies are not ‘unconstitutionally vague’ and that Rinderle’s termination wasn’t a ‘predefined outcome.’

According to Georgia law, either Rinderle or the school district has 30 days to challenge the decision in Cobb County Superior Court.

Discrimination Alleged

Rinderle and the Georgia Association of Educators are pursuing legal action against the district and its leaders, alleging discrimination in connection with her dismissal.

Supporting LGBTQ Students

Filed last week in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, the complaint asserts that the plaintiffs “have been terminated or fear discipline under (Cobb’s) vague censorship policies for actively and openly supporting their LGBTQ students.”

State Board Decision Not Surprising

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“We are not surprised by the decision from the state board. This is why we filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Ms. Rinderle and other teachers in the state,” remarked Mike Tafelski, senior supervising attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Growing Censorship

Tafelski continued, “The decision sends a troubling message to educators, students and families across Georgia that teachers risk their employment simply by teaching inclusion and acceptance. We are seeing this growing wave of censorship across Georgia and the country, threatening public education and our democracy.”

First Teacher Fired

Rinderle is believed to be the first public school teacher in Georgia to be terminated under these laws. Although none of the board members deliberated on the decision, the school district’s attorney, Sherry Culves, stated during the hearing that addressing gender identity and fluidity was deemed inappropriate.

Commitment to Neutrality

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“The Cobb County School District is very serious about the classroom being a neutral place for students to learn,” Culves remarked. “One-sided instruction on political, religious or social beliefs does not belong in our classrooms.”

Book Removals Spark Wider Debate

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Since Rinderle’s dismissal, the Cobb County School District has been removing books deemed sexually explicit from its libraries, sparking debate about the district’s authority to make such decisions.

Marietta City Schools have taken similar actions.

Sex Ed and Religion in Schools

This year’s ongoing legislative session has seen a series of bills aiming to remove sexually explicit books from schools, prohibit sex education for younger students, display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, and allow religious chaplains to counsel teachers and students.