HB2 - My kid's Teacher Promoting it in class...Response ideas?

[masmdu]

Last edited Thu May 26, 2016, 06:37 PM - Edit history (5)

My 7th grade son was made to listen to his Social Studies teacher praise the wisdom of HB2 and Gov. McCrory.

This was not an exercise in debate and she shut down students who expressed opposition while she held forth on it's value. This was class time but it was not even related to the lesson.

I'm curious about how I should handle / respond to this.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Edit:
I have composed the following as an email to the teacher (not sent yet):

I wanted to contact you because of an incident that occurred in your social studies class on 5/26/2016. I understand that you expressed your view on the HB2 law in class. You are, of course, entitled to that view as a private citizen. However, your speech in the classroom does not have much First Amendment protection. You are generally considered to speak for the school district when you are in the your classroom. In case you were not aware, GCS Board has taken an official stance and urged the repeal of HB2.
I understand that it is challenging to separate your roles as a private citizen and a public educator but the rights of free speech as a private citizen are not the same as those of a teacher. I would like to remind you of the power of influence and therefore obligations of any person entrusted with the education of young people. I trust that should this topic or any similarly divisive topic be explored in the future you will provide your students with an opportunity to fully explore and express the merits of the issue at hand without interjecting your own personal views.

[Brickbat]

1. What's your goal?

[masmdu]

2. Just to express my disapproval of her actions.

[Brickbat]

4. Express disapproval to whom?

[masmdu]

5. To the teacher

[Brickbat]

8. Why not write an email or ask for a meeting?

[Iggo]

11. Okay, that's enough.

[haikugal]

6. Talk to the teacher and honestly express your opinion. Don't bring negative, angry energy with you.

If it makes no impact go to the principle with your concerns. Talk to your child about it. If it needs to be addressed beyond that you may have to decide if you're going to make it an issue that needs to be address in the PTA or something similar.

Just thoughts off the top of my head. Raising children is a big responsibility and you sound like a caring, good parent. Good luck to you and your child...keep fighting for equality for all!

[No Vested Interest]

7. Public school? Charter school? Religious school?

What does your son wish you to do?
Is he willing to take action or have you take action in his name, knowing that there could be unpleasant consequences, perhaps long-term for him, if action is taken?
Are you willing for him to endure long-term consequences if a response is unwelcome?

You have to determine your level of commitment to consequences before determining if, and how to respond.

1. The teacher could be answered or challenged in a letter.
2. The principal could be notified of the teacher's words and conduct in class time. (Did the teacher launch the words knowing she could get away with it - Did she know or believe that the principal would back her up?)
3. The school board could be made aware of the teacher's words and actions.

Good luck. Just be sure your son feels strongly enough about the problem to pursue.

[masmdu]

10. Public School...Thanks for the suggestions.

[gratuitous]

9. Contact the administration

Tell them what your son told you, and express your objections that a teacher should not be holding forth on a topic which she is so clearly uninformed. (By the way, make sure you have it clear in your mind what it means for a person to identify as transgender, so that you by contrast with the teacher do know what you're talking about.) Compounding her error is the fact that she didn't brook any discussion of the topic, discussion that might have enlightened her about the topic.

[Odin2005]

12. Has your school board has been taken over by RW nuts?

If not, complain to the board, if it is, try to get the attention of local news.

[pnwmom]

13. Show her a photo of a bearded, muscled transgender man, and ask why she thinks

he belongs in the ladies room, simply because his birth certificate says he was born a girl.

Won't that make everyone uncomfortable? But that's what that law is calling for.

(You can search "Google images" for a hyper-masculine looking photo of a transgender man, and then print it out.)

[DesertRat]

14. I'd call the principal and request a meeting

ASAP. Good luck and let us know what happens.

[phylny]

15. My kids are long out of school, but the first thing I would do

is to contact the teacher and ask for a meeting. When you meet with her, you don't need to convince her she's wrong (she is), but you do need to let her know your reasons for your disapproval - and the least volatile one is that you don't think it's wise for a teacher to espouse political views. Tell her you didn't want to bring it to the principal first, but wanted to give her a chance to explain to you what her reasons were for this lecture to the students. If she doesn't apologize, or if she gives you any resistance, then thank her for her time and tell her you'll be meeting with the principal.

Today in Virginia (edited to add, MY part of Virginia), school is out for summer, so you may need to do this quickly.

Good luck, and good job teaching your children!

[procon]

16. Meet with the teacher first.

For all you know, she might have been ordered to take that stance. The entire school system might be under some state order to comply with the bill. So find out the why and how of things before you decide how to proceed. If she did it on her own volition, then you lodge a formal complaint with the principal, followed by going to the school board if you don't get satisfaction.

At that time you should also contact the local newspaper to get coverage for the issue. Also reach out to the ACLU maybe for advice and and the local or regional LGBT group as well. You may even want to organise a protest group to focus attention on the issue.

If you discover that an order came from the state, you'll need a copy ofthe notice and the name the agency, the person issuing the order and the address. Then you'll need to contact that agency to find out their complaint process. You should also contact your state representative and your local town government... its the squeaky door that gets the oil.
'