Feel the Rainbow? Texas teacher fired over rainbow stickers

It wouldn’t be the same rights, but rather different presumed rights that are in opposition. Free speech might be an example. And then the debate is over which rights are more legitimate or true to what the law says.

I’m not sure what the disagreement is. It seems self evident to me that if you have one group of people that support gay rights that are being contested, and another group that is contesting them, then there is a political disagreement. I’m OK with teachers mentioning their political leanings as part of a broader conversation, but putting signs up in the classroom that declare a political stance on a contentious topic? I don’t think I agree with that.

 

OK. But why not just tell her students that directly, rather than using coded messages via stickers?

 

Why would you assume it wasn't since she sponsored the Gender and Sexuality Alliance?

How is a rainbow sticker different than a Christian cross or a Jewish yamaka?

 

You don’t think people would react to a Jewish or Muslim crescent sticker?

how about just not? I thought this was an overreaction but if what was posted earlier is true I’m not so sure.

All of us are taught to leave religion, politics out of the work place.

 

Sorry, I didn’t get the question. What was I assuming or not assuming?

I’m not comfortable with religious signage that would come across as proselytizing. If it’s something discrete on their person, it’s fine. I don’t think I’d be in favor of a teacher wearing a “Jesus is my savior” shirt. I don’t know if that’s considered protected speech or not in a public school.

I certainly don’t think a teacher should be hanging up a Christian cross on the wall or on the window, which seems a more apt comparison.

 

That the teacher only used a rainbow sticker to indicate it was a safe space.

I was more speaking about on the person crosses, yamukas, or hijabs as you can't display religious iconography on the wall or window in a public school.

Or what about political bumper stickers in a teachers parking lot? Or

Texas Teacher Showed a Photo of Her Wife, and Was Barred From the Classroom

 

I read the tweet in the OP and responded to that. I interpreted the rainbow sticker as a signal for gay rights political advocacy. If the intent was much narrower — to let LGBTQ students know that she’s a person they can talk to if they are struggling — that’s wonderful, but I think it can be communicated more directly.

 

There's a shortage of teachers and these dimwits think homosexuals are the problem.

 

Bingo

Being pro human beings isn't political. Inalienable traits are not subject to interpretation, they simply are.

 

What rights are in opposition?

The teachers free speech vs what???

 

I wasn’t referring to free speech rights of the teacher. I was referring to gay rights which a rainbow sticker could be perceived as a symbol for, which covers a variety of different civil rights, and how they may collide with other claimed rights, such as the right to practice one’s religion. These are politically and legally contentious issues, even if your view is that one side is clearly right and the other side clearly wrong.

 

Politics and religion have nothing to do with being gay. It's only bigots and racists who make a person's sexual preference, skin color, or race political. Probably the same types who wish they could still own slaves to do their chores while they are at church, or drag a "f*ggot" behind their pickup truck legally.

 

In a school setting, it's about the student and education. The school district traditionally has the power to restrict activities and speech they deem to cause an issue with students or education.

I generally agree that politically contentious issues should not be in the classroom to not disrupt education.

But I also generally agree that showing a passive symbol in support for a minority group that is going through active discrimination and recently being actively prosecuted (parents of LGBT in TX are now going through this) doesn't harm anyone, doesn't hurt education, and likely will do the opposite for those that are being discriminated against or whose parent are at risk of being prosecuted.

The harm to students or education should be logically demonstrated or be real before that speech or activity is restricted. I read now from the above post that one of the concerns and justification of the school board's action is the rainbow sticker / LGBT symbol endangers students. I don't know how other than the school board believing that the symbol can cause students to become gay or something like that.

 

Obviously you don’t know teachers. It’s the same thing as being fired. The school is doing THEMSELVES a favor by not firing on the spot because of a lack of subs available to cover a class the rest of the year. It’s the same damn thing.

 

actually I do know teachers. both parents were teachers, daughter is a teacher, friends are teachers, and I work in an institution that employs teachers on annual, 3-year, and 5-year contracts.

I have also run three not-for-profit organizations and have employed people on both a contractual basis and on an at-will basis. I have terminated peoples' employment for cause ("firing") as well as not renewed contracts for budgetary reasons, such as grant money running out.

so no, not renewing a contract is not the same thing as being fired.

and I'll add again that my spouse is an employment attorney for an organization with some 10,000 employees. I have observed and discussed her work with her for 35 years.

 

doesn't matter and not relevant at all

fire or let go or whatever, she's gone is what matter

the next teacher knows to not repeat else risk the same fate

 

if I were to speculate, I would guess that if this teacher had simply let the matter go in September of 2021, she might still be employed. But I suspect (based on several clues, including the fact that she was reassigned mid-year) that she continued to push the issue, and possibly pushed the issue in public and on social media, thereby skirting the line of insubordination, perhaps even crossing it. Again, we don't know any of the relevant details, other than what has been reported. Personnel decisions are private, and none of us knows what really has gone on in the background since September 2021 with this teacher.

Again, speculation, but I strongly suspect something like this gets closer to the full story.

 

Hopefully one day in the future we won't have the fear, hate, narrow-mindedness and bigotry that unfortunately still exists today (and sadder, seems to have worsened) that someone wouldn't be fired for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace... or even see the need to do so in their workplace.

 

It’s worse then that you know better and are still minimizing Texas teachers being fired, dismissed, intimidated, whatever into appeasing a bigoted agenda to whitewash our schools.