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.

  • grue@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    121·
    4 months ago

    I feel like remembering people’s names properly is a superpower teachers have. I sure as Hell don’t understand how they manage it, but in my experience they consistently manage it.

    (Besides, I assume they could just annotate the attendance list with the preferred names/pronouns on the first day of school.)

    • wallybeavis@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      4 months ago

      Pretty sure that’s what they do. When I was school most teachers had trouble pronouncing some names, so they’d just ask us what we preferred to be called, or how we’d prefer our names to be pronounced and they’d make a note.

      Most kids had nicknames that they preferred to use anyway, so that’s what how they’d be addressed. All official paperwork had the given name, but their friends, and teachers would just refer to them by the name they preferrred…which is why this whole name situation is just baffing to me. I’m guessing they didn’t renew his contract for other/additional reasons, this is just his way or trying to hit back

      • grue@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        6·
        4 months ago

        I’m guessing they didn’t renew his contract for other/additional reasons, this is just his way or trying to hit back

        Imagine how ridiculously terrible he must be if this self-report is his idea of trying to make himself look less bad, LOL!

        • wallybeavis@lemmy.worldEnglish
          4·
          4 months ago

          From this article it sounds like he’s one of those religious nuts trying to force their views on everyone. He probably starts off every conversation with “well, you know, as a Christian.”

          It’s never about religion with a POS like this, it’s almost always about control. Hopefully the lawsuit gets tossed before it costs the school district too much money, and he can go work at a religious school where his views will probably not cause waves

    • snooggums@midwest.socialEnglish
      5·
      4 months ago

      They get a lot of practice since it is part of their job with all the nicknames that differ from class rosters and also see the same kids every weekday, grade their papers with their names on it, etc.

      Most, and maybe all, School Information Systems (SIS) that are used have a field for nicknames/preferred names because of how common nicknames are.

    • breckinva@fedia.io
      3·
      4 months ago

      Was a teacher. I used tricks like assigned seating with a name chart until I learned each name. It’s just repetition, and anyone could do it. Usually took me about a week to get them all. And if you forget a name during that week, you just ask. It’s not a big deal. I would always say something like, “Sorry, I know you. I’m getting it.”