The Orange County School District, which is the fourth largest in Florida, has implemented a new policy regarding the use of student names and nicknames. In response to the state’s controversial pronoun policies, which have been criticized as anti-trans, the district is advising teachers and faculty to only address students with names and nicknames that have been approved by their parents. This measure aims to ensure compliance with the recently passed House Bill 1069, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which imposes restrictions on preferred pronouns and classroom topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
According to a memorandum from the county’s deputy general counsel, John C. Palmerini, educators must obtain written permission from parents if a student prefers to be called by a nickname instead of their given name. For example, if a student’s legal name is Robert but prefers to be called Rob, the school must have written authorization to address the student by their nickname. If no such permission has been granted, teachers are instructed to use the student’s legal first name or last name to avoid any potential repercussions.
The guidance comes in the wake of the expansion of the Parental Rights in Education law, which has sparked controversy due to its limitations on pronouns and other aspects of LGBTQ+ inclusion. The bill, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, introduces new regulations for school bathrooms, preferred pronoun usage, and permitted classroom discussions.
However, there is uncertainty regarding whether parents have the right to request that a school employee use a pronoun that does not align with the child’s assigned sex at birth. Palmerini noted in a separate letter to school principals and college directors that the State Board of Education has not clarified this issue.
Teachers who violate the state’s pronoun rules may face disciplinary action, including the possible revocation of their teaching certificate. It is emphasized that educators are not allowed to ask a child about their preferred pronouns, as this directly contradicts the law. Instead, parents must initiate the conversation and inform the educator of any pronoun preferences that differ from the child’s assigned sex at birth.
In addition to the pronoun regulations, House Bill 1069 prohibits the instruction of sexual orientation or gender identity in pre-K through eighth-grade classrooms. Schools are also required to acknowledge that a person’s sex is a biologically inherent characteristic and that it is incorrect to assign a pronoun that does not correspond to their sex.
Critics argue that this legislation aims to erase transgender and non-binary individuals from school curricula and perpetuate the misgendering and deadnaming of staff and students. The Human Rights Campaign and the ACLU of Florida have condemned the law as anti-LGBTQ+ and an infringement on free speech rights.
In summary, the Orange County School District’s new policy regarding student names and nicknames aims to comply with Florida’s strict pronoun policies. Teachers and faculty are instructed to obtain parental consent before using any deviations from a student’s legal name. Failure to comply with the pronoun rules could result in disciplinary action. The legislation has faced criticism for its implications on LGBTQ+ inclusion and freedom of speech.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
