A public elementary school teacher in Alachua County, Florida, has been placed on administrative leave. This action follows a complaint and subsequent letter from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who stated the teacher violated state law by using the gender-neutral courtesy title 'Mx.'.
Key Takeaways
- An Alachua County teacher is on leave for using 'Mx.'
- Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier claims this violates state law.
- The law prohibits K-12 employees from using titles or pronouns not matching birth sex.
- Critics argue the law stigmatizes LGBTQ+ youth and creates fear among teachers.
- The Alachua County Public Schools district is investigating the complaint.
Attorney General Cites Violation of State Statute
Attorney General James Uthmeier sent a letter to Alachua County Public Schools Superintendent Kamela Patton and the school board on October 22. In the letter, Uthmeier called the teacher's behavior at Talbot Elementary School 'unacceptable'. He urged the district to enforce state law and consider disciplinary action against the educator.
Florida Statute 1000.071 is at the center of this controversy. This law, which took effect in July 2023, prohibits employees in K-12 schools from using preferred personal titles or pronouns that do not match their sex assigned at birth. District policy in Alachua County requires teachers to adhere to this statute.
Fact Check
Florida Statute 1000.071 became law in July 2023. It stems from House Bill 1069, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. This bill mandates that sex education programs teach sex assigned at birth as 'binary' and 'unchangeable'.
Policy on Sex and Gender Identity
The legislature established Florida's public school system policy regarding sex. Uthmeier emphasized this in his letter. He wrote that the policy declares 'sex is an immutable biological trait and that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to such person’s sex.'
The law's implementation has drawn significant criticism. Opponents often refer to House Bill 1069 as an extension of the 'don’t say gay' bill passed in 2022. They view it as an extreme form of censorship within the state's education system.
"It is meant to stigmatize LGBTQ+ youth and family members and make teachers fearful of providing a welcoming and inclusive classroom," said Kara Gross, legislative director and senior policy counsel for the ACLU of Florida.
Complaint Received by Office of Parental Rights
According to Uthmeier's letter, his newly formed Office of Parental Rights received a complaint. The complaint stated that 'a female teacher was forcing students and faculty to address her with the prefix 'Mx.' instead of 'Ms.' or 'Mrs.''.
Uthmeier labeled the use of 'Mx.' as ideological 'non-sense'. He argued that it undermines parental rights. He specifically claimed that the courtesy title 'interferes with parents’ religious upbringing of their children.'
Background Information
The term 'Mx.' is a gender-neutral honorific. It is used by individuals who do not identify as male or female, or by those who do not wish to specify their gender. Its usage has become more common in recent years as society recognizes a broader spectrum of gender identities.
District Response and Ongoing Scrutiny
Uthmeier informed Superintendent Patton and the school board that if they failed to act promptly, his office would hold district officials responsible. In response, Alachua County Public Schools spokesperson Jackie Johnson confirmed the district is investigating the complaint. She also stated that the teacher involved has been placed on administrative leave.
This incident occurs amidst increased scrutiny of the Alachua County Public Schools district by Republican state officials. The Florida Department of Education decided to monitor ACSB meetings through the end of the year. This decision followed a finding that the school board violated a parent’s free speech rights at a meeting in July.
Other Recent Incidents in the District
This is not the only recent case of a teacher being placed on administrative leave in the district. A Gainesville High School teacher faced similar action after Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas filed a complaint against her. The complaint alleged she gave a student a 'Most Likely to be a Dictator' superlative.
These events highlight a challenging period for educators and administrators in Florida. State laws and policies concerning gender identity and free speech in schools continue to generate debate and action from state officials.
- The state's Office of Parental Rights is actively addressing complaints.
- School districts face pressure to comply with new state statutes.
- Teachers' conduct and curriculum choices are under close examination.