It was long thought that “words will never hurt” you. As it turned out, this was incorrect.
In fact, not only can words hurt, but you can be injured by your own — more precisely, the pronouns you employ.
Ask a group of middle schoolers from Wisconsin.
As reported by Green Bay’s Channel 2, three boys at Kiel Middle School have been charged with sexual harassment.
Parents allege that their sons are being investigated by the district because they made a reference to a classmate who used the wrong pronouns.
Moms and fathers received notices last month that their children were violating Title IX through gender-based harassment. They had named the children based on sex.
Succinctly:
The district claims the boys were not referring to the student’s requested pronouns of “they” and “them.”
One mother took her son with her to school after the announcement. She had a conversation with authorities. She insisted the pronoun issue was confusing for him and that he wasn’t obligated to comply.
Rose Rabidoux, speaking to WBAY, blasted the current situation.
“Sexual harassment, that’s rape, that’s incest, that’s inappropriate touching. How did you raise your son? He’s a little boy. He told me that he was being charged with sexual harassment for not using the right pronouns.”
As for anyone’s demand to be invoked via “they”:
“It’s plural. It doesn’t make sense to him. After I stated that, I advised him to refer to them as their. [name].”
Now, attorneys are involved. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty’s Luke Berg lambasts the whole thing as hogwash:
“It’s not sexual harassment under Title IX, under their own policy, under federal law, and it’s probably a First Amendment violation. Almost certainly, if that’s their theory, that solely using the wrong pronoun…that would be a First Amendment violation.”
Furthermore:
“Eighth-graders shouldn’t be subjected to this kind of investigation or this type of reputational harm for something that on its face clearly doesn’t violate Title IX in sexual harassment. Their own policy says that, if on the face of the complaint the conduct — even if proven — wouldn’t amount to sexual harassment, it should be immediately dismissed. And that’s what should have happened here, and it didn’t.”
It is a form of forced speech to demand that student references be made. However, adolescents and institutions seem to be increasingly accepting compelled speeches.
University Directs Students to ‘Practice With Pronouns,’ and It Highlights Our Stunning Sophistication
University Eyes Forcing Students/Staff to Use Preferred Pronouns, Giving Everyone Access to Girls’ Locker Rooms
Student Protests University’s ‘Inclusive’ Pronoun Rules, a Petition Demands He Be Kicked out of School
Students Decry College’s Paltry Pronoun Provisions — There’s Not Even a ‘Mushroomself’
University Orders Adherence to Preferred Pronouns and Made-Up Monikers, Threatens ‘Action’ Regardless of ‘Intent’
For some, it’s downright religious:
Christian Church leads prayer to the “God of Pronouns”, the “Great They/Them” Who Breastfeed
https://t.co/36aVkeNQxR— RedState (@RedState) April 8, 2022
Back to Wisconsin, the Kiel Area School District’s Superintendent Brad Ebert has issued a statement:
The KASD prohibits all forms of bullying and harassment in accordance with all laws, including Title IX, and will continue to support ALL students regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex (including transgender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability (“Protected Classes”) in any of its student programs and activities; this is consistent with school board policy. The KASD does not provide any comment regarding student issues.
As for pronouns, of course, they’re words generally spoken in one’s absence. So whether or not one’s orders are followed will likely never be known to them. Yet, as we continue to learn, it’s of the utmost import.
Actually, someone’s safety can be affected by their mouth sound ringing away.
Cartoon Network teaches children about pronouns. They define you and make it feel safe
https://t.co/Ur4dznYX6W— RedState (@RedState) December 16, 2020
It’s an increasingly sophisticated world.
And in Wisconsin — as well as all of America — there is surely much more to come.
-ALEX
You can find more of my content here:
Profess Your Privilege: Southern University Launches ‘White Student Accountability Group’
They’re Cotton-Picking Committed: Oregon Education Stocks the Boys Room With Tampons
Salute to Self-Awareness: Washington Post Publishes a Denouncement of George Washington’s ‘Racist’ Name
Check out all of my RedState work Click here.
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