A Kansas middle school teacher was suspended under the district\u2019s bullying policies after she rejected the preferred pronouns of a biologically female student. Arguing that her religious beliefs were \u201cactively violated,\u201d and that only God assigns genders at birth, the teacher sued the district and claimed her victory with a massive reward.<\/p>\n
In 2021, Pamela Ricard found herself at the center of a national conversation about gender identity, religious freedom, and educational policy.<\/p>\n
The former middle school math teacher, who worked at Fort Riley Middle School in Kansas since 2005, was suspended after \u201caddressing a biologically female student by the student\u2019s legal and enrolled last name,\u201d according to NBC.<\/p>\n
Despite being told by a school counselor that the student preferred an alternative first name, Ricard put her faith first.<\/p>\n
Believing that God assigns gender at birth and that using language contrary to the student\u2019s biological \u201cactively violates\u201d her commitment to religion, Ricard rejected the requests to use the student\u2019s preferred first name and instead started calling the pupil by their last name, preceded by the gendered title \u201cmiss.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Associated Press (AP) writes that Ricard thought she found a compromise that respected the student and her religious convictions.<\/p>\n
\u2018Bullying\u2019
\nThough there was no formal policy in place on gender pronouns at either the school or the district at the time, Ricard was suspended under the district\u2019s \u201cbullying and diversity and inclusion policies.\u201d<\/p>\n
This didn\u2019t sit well with the retired teacher, who asked three times for a \u201creligious exemption to the policy\u201d as her \u201cbeliefs were never accommodated,\u201d according to a federal lawsuit filed by Ricard in 2022.<\/p>\n
The filing outlines Ricard\u2019s claims that the Geary County School District \u201cviolated her constitutional rights\u201d to free speech, free exercise of her religion, due process and equal protection under the law. It also says, \u201cher beliefs\u201d were not considered \u201cwhen [the district] suspended her for three days.\u201d<\/p>\n
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that teachers were \u201ctold to conceal a student\u2019s preference by using legal names when addressing parents, if that was the student\u2019s wish.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo school district should ever force teachers to willfully deceive parents or engage in any speech that violates their deeply held religious beliefs,\u201d said Tyson Langhofer, the director of the Alliance Defending Freedom \u2013 a conservative legal group \u2013 that filed the lawsuit alongside Ricard\u2019s team of lawyers at the Kriegshauser Ney Law Group.<\/p>\n
Josh Ney, one of her attorneys, told AP: \u201cOur suit contends that schools cannot force teachers to promote novel views about gender fluidity and ever-expanding pronoun categories without regard to the First Amendment or due process.\u201d<\/p>\n
He adds, \u201cThroughout her career, Ms. Ricard has consistently treated every student in her classroom with respect and dignity; unfortunately, the school district has not treated Ms. Ricard with similar good faith or basic fairness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Absurdity and deception\u2019
\nOnly six months after suing the district for actively violating her religious beliefs, Ricard claimed a victory with a $95,000 settlement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Geary County School District unsuccessfully tried to convince a federal court that a teacher should completely avoid using a child\u2019s name during a parent-teacher conference in order to hide new names and genders being used by the school for a child in a classroom. Absurdity and deception has its limits, especially in federal court,\u201d Ney said, adding that after the ruling, the school district revoked the parental communications policy that put the requests of students first.<\/p>\n
He adds, \u201cI\u2019m glad the case clarifies the financial stakes for school boards if they attempt to force teachers to lie to parents about their students.\u201d<\/p>\n
What the public says
\nSocial media users rallied behind Ricard, unanimously offering their support and praise to the teacher that the district tried to disgrace.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is just wrong. This teacher is not responsible for these silly and dangerous ideas. Glad she is standing her ground. Need more like her!\u201d one netizen writes on a Facebook post announcing Ricard\u2019s settlement.<\/p>\n
A second writes, \u201cThankful for this teacher for standing up for what\u2019s right,\u201d while a third adds, \u201cHorrible! So glad she won her right to be a woman of honor and trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of Ricard\u2019s settlement, the district scrubbed her records and issued a statement confirming that she was in good standing without any disciplinary actions. Ricard retired the same year she filed the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
What are your thoughts on the teacher staying strong to her beliefs? Please let us know what you think and then share this story so we can hear from others!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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