High school students in Florida arranged a peaceful walkout to protest their district’s decision to not renew a teachers annual contract because she used a students preferred name without parental permission.
Literature teacher at Satellite High School, Melissa Calhoun, broke the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law — or the Parental Rights in Education law — with the action.
A spokesperson for the school district, Janet R. Murnaghan, has announced that an investigation is currently being conducted due to a parents complaint that Calhoun did not use their child’s legal name and did so without their parents permission.
“This directly violates state law and the district’s standardized process for written parental consent,” the statement said, according to NBC.
The “Don’t Say Gay” law has been criticized since Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill in 2022. The law places a plethora of restrictions on the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in classrooms.
The law also requires school districts to receive parental permission before its employees can refer to a student by anything other than their legal name, even by a student’s request.
The statement released by Murnaghan states that “Based on the teacher’s own admission that she knowingly did not comply with state statute she received a letter of reprimand. Teachers, like all employees, are expected to follow the law.”
I think that Calhoun is incredibly brave and commendable for breaking this controversial law to use her students’ preferred name. I also think it’s brave for the students at Satellite High School to rally behind their teacher in support.
The Satellite High School community is also supportive of Calhoun getting her contract renewed. A change.org petition has received over 52,000 signatures.
Aside from the fact that Calhoun was simply respecting her students personal rights and bodily autonomy, she was also taking great strides to make the student feel safe and supported.
A 2018 study published in the “Journal of Adolescent Health” found that use of accurate and preferred names and pronouns resulted in 71% less symptoms of depression. The use of preferred names also saw a substantial drop in suicidal thoughts and behavior.
Simply using preferred names could significantly improve someone’s mental state, and may even be life-saving.
The use of a preferred name or nickname should not be by permission of a student’s parents. This strips the student of their personal rights, teaching them that they don’t have control over themselves and how they present to the world. It’s an infringement on self-expression.
jhammer@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of floridatoday.com
