i’ve made this point in a column but these laws are basically designed to facilitate the heckler’s veto and empower the most bigoted and reactionary parents at the expense of the teachers and students
interview the parents making the complaints
A friend of mine was fired from his job as a drama professor at a college in the South for simply saying he was gay. A student complained that he felt sexually harassed. This was about a decade ago. No recourse.
Oh wait, this was in purple GA! LMAO! This isn’t just in crazy Florida. Argh. My partner is always talking about moving to Charlotte or ATL from Brooklyn due to cost of living and this shit - has been my biggest argument against moving!
Suppose someone considers the teaching of evolution divisive? Do they strip that from the curriculum, or does it only work against protected classes?
One smart solution, which already emerged in Utah, was using this system to get the Bible banned from libraries and put on the "do not discuss" list, too.
The paradox of tolerance states that if a society is tolerant without limit, its ability to be tolerant is eventually ceased or destroyed by the intolerant. A self-contradictory idea that in order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must retain the right to be intolerant of intolerance.
These laws are passed to give bullies all the power while intimidating their victims and putting a chill on free speech.
Customer service mindset
This is what's happening in my kids' district. It's not what I want for them, but my divorce decree prioritizes school rankings if there's a dispute over where they go to school so my kids and I lose while my ex stays disengaged from what's actually happening and says the kids and I overreact.
Evil, evil stuff.