Virginia high school teacher Peter Vlaming, 47 (pictured), has been fired from West Point High School after refusing to use a transgender student's new pronouns, with students staging a walkout in protest over his dismissal
A Virginia teacher who refused to use a transgender student's new pronouns was fired on Thursday for insubordination.
The West Point School Board voted unanimously to dismiss Peter Vlaming after a four-hour hearing, after he told his superiors at West Point High School that his Christian faith prevented him from using male pronouns for a student who had informed the school of his transition during the summer.
The 47-year-old French teacher had offered to use the boy's name and to avoid feminine pronouns, but his attorney Shawn Voyles said the school was unwilling to accept the compromise.
In this instance, the school said Vlaming's plan would discriminate against the boy, and Vlaming said the school's decision discriminated against his religious beliefs.
Vlaming had been on paid administrative leave since October 31, leading up to Thursday's hearing, WRIC reported.
Students at the school walked out in protest of Vlaming's firing on Friday.
When the student returned this year after his transition, Vlaming (shown writing French words on a board) refused to refer to the student using masculine pronouns, which the student said made him feel uncomfortable and singled out
Vlaming had taught the night grade student the year before, prior to his transition.
When the student returned this year after his transition, Vlaming refused to refer to the student using masculine pronouns, which the student said made him feel uncomfortable and singled out.
At the hearing, West Point High School principal Jonathan Hochman said that Vlaming told him that he liked and missed 'the female version of the student.'
The school system told Vlaming he could not treat this student differently than any other student.
At the hearing, West Point High School principal Jonathan Hochman (pictured) said that Vlaming told him that he liked and missed 'the female version of the student'
'That discrimination then leads to creating a hostile learning environment. And the student had expressed that. The parent had expressed that,' West Point schools Superintendent Laura Abel told Richmond.com. 'They felt disrespected.'
The school's nondiscrimination policies were updated one year ago, to now include protections for gender identity.
But Shawn Voyles, who is Vlaming's lawyer, has argued no specific provisions detail exactly what must be done in terms of use of gender pronouns, calling the policy 'unconstitutionally vague.'
Jennifer Haynes, a 52-year-old West Point High parent spoke out in support of Vlaming.
'If there’s no policy in place, how can they just let him go?' she asked.
Mera Babineaux, a supporter of the student, a West Point resident and founder of the Virginia Anti-Bullying and Discrimination Action Network, wrote in a letter to the board:
'No matter what sense of self or identity a child may have, public schools must remain a bastion of secular education, where children can learn without fear of retribution for who they are, where they worship, who they love, or how they present themselves.'
Voyles also said that Vlaming has constitutional rights, even as a government employee.
'One of those rights that is not curtailed is to be free from being compelled to speak something that violates your conscience,' Voyles said.
The school's nondiscrimination policies were updated one year ago, to now include protections for gender identity, but Shawn Voyles, who is Vlaming's lawyer, has argued no specific provisions detail exactly what must be done in terms of use of gender pronouns, calling the policy 'unconstitutionally vague.' The sign outside of West Point High School is shown
'We are here today because a specific worldview is being imposed upon me,' Vlaming said at the Thursday hearing, while reading from a prepared opening statement
Speaking on his own behalf, Vlaming asked the board to reconsider the 'absurdity' of equating pronoun usage with what he characterized as having no accusation of overtly malicious behavior to discrimination.
'My religious faith dictates that I am to love and respect everyone, whether I agree with them or not. Because we are all made in God's image,' Vlaming said at the hearing, while reading from a prepared opening statement.
'I am also aware of, and agree, with speech limits that are placed on public school teachers, concerning matters of religious faith. I represent the state in my role as a public school teacher and therefore speak with a certain authority. That authority is not to be used to promote any one specific worldview, and I don’t. However, we are here today because a specific worldview is being imposed upon me,' he said.
In a separate comment, Vlaming added, 'I am being punished for what I haven’t said.'
He added that his job was put in peril for him having views held by 'most of the world for most of human history.'
'That is not tolerance. That is coercion,' Vlamin said, while calling his suggested course of action a display of 'mutual tolerance.'
Students staged a walkout at the Virginia high school in protest over Vlaming's firing
A small group of students outside of West Point High School chanted, 'Vlaming!' repeatedly on Friday, during their walkout in protest over his firing
A small group of students outside of West Point High School chanted, 'Vlaming!' repeatedly on Friday, during their walkout in protest over his firing.
The school system shared a statement on Vlaming's firing with Fox 8 News.
'The School Board has policies that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity. As detailed during the course of the public hearing, Mr. Vlaming was recommended for termination due to his insubordination and repeated refusal to comply with directives made to him by multiple WPPS administrators,' Abel said.
'As superintendent, it is my responsibility to enforce board policy, and due to Mr. Vlaming's non-compliance I therefore recommended termination.'
Vlaming is considering a legal appeal.
'I have to research how we would do that, what that would entail,' Vlaming said. 'I do think it’s a serious question of First Amendment rights.'
The district wouldn't comment further, citing potential litigation.
Mr. Vlaming was recommended for termination due to his insubordination and repeated refusal to comply with directives made to him by multiple WPPS administrators,' Superintendent Laura Abel said after the hearing on Thursday
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/07/virginia-teacher-fired-for-refusing-to-use-transgender-students-preferred-pronouns/
Main photo article
Virginia high school teacher Peter Vlaming, 47 (pictured), has been fired from West Point High School after refusing to use a transgender student’s new pronouns, with students staging a walkout in protest over his dismissal
A Virginia teacher who refused to use a transgender...
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Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/07/18/7148318-6471579-image-a-36_1544208994414.jpg
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