On Tuesday, the Georgia Association of Educators, along with two educators, initiated a lawsuit against Cobb County School officials, alleging educational "censorship" resulting from two bills that impose restrictions on the subjects teachers can address in classrooms.
Georgia Association of Educators Sues School District
The lawsuit contends that these laws, deemed "vague," pose an ongoing threat to educators in the school district and negatively impact the ability of Cobb County students to learn in inclusive and safe environments.
The Protecting Students First Act, enacted in 2022, prohibits educators from expressing personal political beliefs related to "divisive concepts," encompassing a defined list of notions concerning race, unconscious bias, racial privilege, and the role of racism in American history.
The Parents' Bill of Rights law, also passed in the same year, emphasizes parental rights in directing the upbringing, moral, or religious training of their minor children without interference from governmental entities.
Supporters argue that these bills empower parents in shaping their children's education, with Governor Brian Kemp stating that they prioritize students and parents by excluding "woke politics" from classrooms and sports fields.
Critics argue that the policies are overly vague and hinder teachers from addressing topics relevant to race or the LGBTQ community.
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Katherine Rinderle, one of the lawsuit's plaintiffs and a former elementary school educator in the district, was terminated in August 2023.
The lawsuit claims that the district used these policies to justify her termination after she read the book "My Shadow Is Purple," aiming to promote an anti-bullying message and address the needs of students with diverse identities.
The lawsuit also alleges that the district is leveraging these policies to intimidate other teachers who touch on similar topics, claiming that the district administrators cannot clearly define terms like "controversial," "sensitive," or "divisive" in their Censorship Policies.
The Georgia Association of Educators, part of the lawsuit, represents over 1,600 teachers and faculty members in Cobb County. The district, in line with Republican-backed restrictions, has removed certain books related to the LGBTQ community from its libraries.
The nationwide clash between educators and conservative lawmakers over classroom restrictions, including book-banning efforts, has contributed to teacher shortages and forced some educators out of classrooms, as reported in previous ABC News interviews.
Georgia Educator Appeals Her Termination
A former elementary school teacher in Cobb County, Georgia, who was removed for supposedly improperly reading a book on gender facility to her fifth-grade class, is pleading her termination to the State Board of Education.
In August, the Cobb County School Board voted 4-3 to terminate Katie Rinderle's employment, going against the endorsement of a panel of three retired educators who, after a two-day hearing, found policy offense but debated against her termination.
Rinderle, with 10 years of teaching experience, faced scrutiny in March for reading the book "My Shadow Is Purple" by Scott Stuart at Due West Elementary School, prompting parental complaints.
The case is getting awareness as it raises questions about the border of public school teachers' curriculum choices, the intensity of a school system's control over teachers, and the role of parental input in shaping classroom instruction. This occurrence occurs within a larger national context of traditional pushback against LGBTQ+ content in school materials and teaching.
Related Article : South Carolina Education Board Debates Restricting School Books and Materials, Controversy Ensues
