Karen Cahall, an elementary school teacher in Ohio, is suing her school district after she was suspended for keeping a book featuring LGBTQ characters in her classroom library.
Ms. Cahall, a third grade teacher at Monroe Elementary School in New Richmond, Ohio, has worked for the New Richmond Exempted Village School District for more than 30 years. But last month, Superintendent Tracy Miller filed a complaint after parent Kayla Shaw complained that four books featuring LGBTQ characters in Cahall’s classroom library were inappropriate for elementary school students. He was suspended for three days without pay.
The book in question is anna on the edgewritten by AJ Sass; great zed watsonwritten by Basil Sylvester, Hazel Bligh and the Deep Blue Seawritten by Ashley Herring Blake; It’s too bright to seewritten by Kyle Lukoff.
All feature LGBTQ characters, but reportedly do not include sexual acts or depictions of sexual acts. cincinnati enquirer.
Kayhole argues in her lawsuitthe lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio states that none of the books are deemed “obscene,” “offensive,” or sexually appealing, and all contain significant literary, artistic, or The court ruled that it had political and scientific value.
The lawsuit also alleges that the presence of LGBTQ-themed books in the collection is based on Cahall’s “sincere belief that all children, including LGBTQ+ children and children of LGBTQ+ parents, should be respected and accepted.” It claims to be consistent with its “moral and religious beliefs.” And they are loved just the way they are. ”
Arguments like this, invoking religious freedom, are often used by conservatives to justify anti-LGBTQ discrimination and the removal of LGBTQ materials from classrooms and libraries.
Ms Cahall said the book in question was not prominently displayed in the classroom, but was “kept in a series of large boxes”, dotted with nearly 100 other books on various subjects. claims. She said that the book was do not have Arranged or displayed so that the title of the book can be easily viewed and the contents can be checked. Search for specific book subjects without having to physically go through trash cans individually. I review each book. ”
Ms. Cahall maintains that she did not teach using these books as part of her teaching duties and did not require her students to read them.
The complaint alleges that even Ms. Shaw, in an email complaining about the books, never claimed that Mr. Cahall was teaching from those books or “was using them in any other way.” It points out that there is no. to indoctrinate or support a student LGBTQ+ lifestyle in her classroom. ”
Rather, Shaw’s objection was that the mere presence of the book in the classroom, even if one student did not read it, was inappropriate and warranted disciplinary action.
Superintendent Miller said in a letter to Cahall that teachers knew the books were controversial and “unacceptable” and asked that they be kept in the school library. It claimed that the request was denied.
Mr. Miller accused Mr. Cahall of placing the book in his classroom library “without going through the established approval process.”
Miller suspended Cahall for three days without pay because he believed her actions were “deliberate.”
“It is my sincere hope that you will internalize the discipline you are receiving, reflect on this, and change,” Miller wrote in her suspension notice. “However, if you continue to engage in this type of behavior, you will be subject to more severe disciplinary action, including termination.”
The Board of Education has policyadopted in 2009 on a controversial issue.
Under that policy, topics that are “likely to arouse both support and opposition in the community” should be kept in the classroom as long as they are related to the classroom’s instructional goals, encourage open-mindedness, and teachers do not attempt to “indoctrinate or oppose.” permitted to teach. Persuading students to a particular point of view. ” If non-curricular topics are covered, approval from the school principal is required.
In his lawsuit, Cahall challenges the constitutionality of the policy, saying it is vague because it does not clearly define what constitutes an “educational program” or a “controversial issue.” he claimed.
She also noted that the policy does not specify which books teachers may keep in classroom libraries if they are not used as part of formal classroom instruction, thus violating the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It was alleged that the right to due process under the law was violated. .
Cahall noted that he opposed two proposals during the 2021-2022 school year, including one that would have allowed districts to allow teachers who support LGBTQ people to show their allyship with rainbow-colored stickers.
Cahall acknowledges that others at the school have moral and religious views that differ from hers, especially regarding LGBTQ issues. However, other teachers are allowed to display symbols of their religious beliefs and use official district emails to promote Christian events and charities.
Cahall argues that the U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from promoting or favoring one religion or religious viewpoint over another. So by disciplining her for her religious views while allowing other teachers to express their opinions and promote events and organizations consistent with their beliefs, the district is Cahall alleges that the company engaged in “discrimination based on content and viewpoint” in violation of the law. Her First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and freedom of speech and her Fourteenth Amendment rights to equal protection under the law.
Mr. Cahall named Mr. Miller and the school board as defendants in the lawsuit, as well as all five members of the school board, individually.
She is asking the court to declare the “controversial issue” policy unconstitutional and block school districts and school officials from enforcing it. She is also seeking damages for lost wages, as well as legal and attorney fees associated with filing the suit.
The school district declined to comment on the matter.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
