A Georgia teacher who lost her tenure and was fired for reading a book containing gender-ideological messages to 10-year-olds is suing her former employer with the help of her local teachers’ union.
Katherine “Katie” Linderle was a teacher at Due West Elementary School in the Cobb County School District for more than a decade before being fired for introducing gender ideology to students, despite winning tenure. Ta.
The district has a policy restricting teachers from discussing “controversial,” “divisive,” and “sensitive” topics. The lawsuit, filed Friday, said the policies and firings create a stifling environment for teachers to create inclusive classrooms.
Linderle’s lawsuit, backed by the Georgia Association of Educators, did not dispute that she read the book “My Shadow Is Purple” to her students.
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Georgia teacher ‘still unemployed’ after exposing children to gender ideology at school. (MSNBC-Screenshot/YouTube | Adobe Stock)
A review from Social Justice Books says the book “teaches children about non-binary identities.”
“Importantly, children are not portrayed negatively or criticized for being non-binary by their parents, and it shows how parents can support their children and boost their confidence. The author conveys a positive message to people who are different.”
But not all parents felt the same way.
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For example, during Linderle’s hearing in August, one mother said she was “disgusted” by the book she was reading, especially since she couldn’t bring up the topic with her child first.
Additionally, the district has found Linderle to be “hostile,” “dishonest,” and “deceptive,” according to Christopher Dowd, director of employee relations and evaluations.
Katie Rinderle, a teacher in Georgia, read the children’s book “My Shadow Is Purple” aloud to her fifth-grade students. (August 10, 2023)
The lawsuit claims that the former elementary school teacher did not teach her students about gender ideology per se, but simply read books about gender ideology to the children and did not discuss it with them after the fact. The complaint also states that children are the reason for reading books, and that students requested that the books be read in class.
“Lessons have been learned about gender identity and gender fluidity,” Dowd said in testimony at the August hearing. “I was also concerned that Ms. Linderle brought up her personal feelings on this issue. “There is,” he claimed.
He also said students found her defense of allegedly choosing the book to show a lack of accountability.
“As a teacher, she was not at the point where she accepted that she was responsible for everything that happened in the classroom,” Dowd said. She said, “I never heard her ask about her students… Her concern was always for herself.”
Linderle was initially investigated to see if her actions violated district policy and was placed on administrative leave. The Cobb County Board of Education voted to fire Linderle in August, and the Georgia State Board of Education upheld her firing Thursday.
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The lawsuit alleges that the district’s “vague censorship policies enable arbitrary, discriminatory, and retaliatory enforcement against educators who support LGBTQ students.”
“Ms. Linderle was suspended solely because she read to her fifth graders an award-winning children’s book written from the perspective of students who do not conform to gender stereotypes.”
The district’s actions therefore raise concerns among teachers who want to introduce LGBTQ content to their students, the complaint alleged.
“Defendants’ censorship policies, practices, and conduct described herein prohibit teachers from presenting information regarding gender identity and/or representations that do not conform to gender stereotypes,” the complaint states. There is.
The mother said she was disgusted by the gender ideology books introduced to her child. (Screenshot/YouTube)
Teachers currently employed by the district were also named as plaintiffs, seeking changes in the interpretation and enforcement of the district’s policies.
“Defendant’s censorship policy and, on pain of dismissal, did not allow teachers to discuss topics, present material, or age-appropriate information regarding people whose gender expression, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation violates Enforcement of a policy prohibiting the provision of information to students that “gender stereotypes are prohibited as sex discrimination,” the complaint states.
We reached out to the school district for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
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The Southern Poverty Law Center, which is representing Ms. Rendell, said in a statement, “Mr. Lindell remains unemployed and is in shock over the sudden loss of the highly regarded qualities he had achieved in his career.” I’m still upset,” he said.
SPLC Senior Supervising Attorney Michael Tafelski said, “Cobb County district leadership is weaponizing vague censorship policies to fire Katie Linderle and demanding safe and inclusive classrooms for students.” “It has caused fear and confusion among educators.”
