The Wisconsin English teacher, Jordan Cernek, argues in the suit that the district violated his freedom of religion and free speech in mandating the use of the students' preferred names and pronouns.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/18749281

The Wisconsin English teacher, Jordan Cernek, argues in the suit that the district violated his freedom of religion and free speech in mandating the use of the students’ preferred names and pronouns.

A high school English teacher is suing a Wisconsin school district, alleging it did not renew his contract last year because he refused to use the preferred names of two transgender students.

Jordan Cernek’s federal lawsuit alleges the Argyle School District violated his constitutional and civil rights to be free of religious discrimination and to be able to express himself according to his religious beliefs when it did not renew his contract because he refused to abide by a requirement that teachers use the names or pronouns requested by students.

  • @ravhallEnglish
    52•1 month ago

    Back in the 90s, most of my teachers would ask the class on the first day if they had any (school appropriate) nicknames they prefer to be called.

    Just make this a requirement.

    • Transporter Room 3English
      26•1 month ago

      My 6th grade teacher did exactly this, but went beyond normal nicknames and said if there’s ANYTHING you want to be called she would use that name instead. Granted, every teacher before that would hear the nicknames and just use them anyway, but this one went a step beyond that.

      Not a single kid used their birth name. Some used regular nicknames, some used their parents nickname for them, and some chose something else. I went the cringier route and chose “silent hill because I like that game and I’m usually quiet” and sure enough she called me that all year. Had the nicknames down by the end of the week and still knew each child’s real name for when she’s talking to other adults.

      I don’t see what the big deal is with using someone’s preferred name. Legitimately the only reason to not use it in this context is to be a piece of shit.

      • DrasglafEnglish
        6•1 month ago

        Silent Hill LMAO, I love it. I once asked a teacher to call me Mega Man and she told me to fuck off.

    • Dizzy Devil DuckyEnglish
      7•1 month ago

      Throughout all of my years at school, ending in late 2010s they always at some point around first day asked something similar too, but it was mostly just another name you go by rather than nickname.

      Totally agree they should do something like that as a requirement, though.

      • @ravhallEnglish
        7•1 month ago

        A kid in my class hated his first name Courtney, and went by his middle name, Roger (preferably Rodge), because there were several other girls in our grade named Courtney, and people had made fun of him for having a “girls name,” even though Courtney is technically not gender specific.