A woke charter school in Tennessee suffered a major defeat after losing its bid to force a Christian teacher to violate his beliefs and read a book about same-sex marriage to his class of 1st graders. Additionally, all disciplinary action has been revoked and his record has been cleared.
For context, Eric Rivera of KIPP Antioch College Prep Elementary was given multiple warnings and disciplinary action in an effort to force him to participate in the woke left’s LGBT agenda by reading his classroom of young students a book that highlighted same-sex marriage. As a Christian, he said that this violated his deeply-held beliefs and refused. He did, however, ask that a different teacher simply read the book.
Even still, that was not enough. The administrators at the school wanted him to read the book in a bid to break him down to complete conformity. After being issued written warnings and a final threat of terminated employment for not adhering to the school’s curriculum, a legal group known for defending speech and beliefs stepped up to defend his rights, ultimately winning.
According to the New York Post, the Nashville-area school has since “cleared the record of a first-grade teacher who was disciplined for refusing to read a book about same-sex marriage to his young students…after he declined to read an LGBTQ book to his class that was included in the language arts curriculum.”
The Post notes that Rivera’s Christian beliefs meant “he could not in good conscience read the book to his class,” though “he asked a colleague to read the book instead. The next day, Rivera was summoned to the principal’s office and threatened with termination. He was told he must maintain “fidelity” to the curriculum, and a discipline letter was placed in his personnel file.”
Writing on the social media platform X, Libs of TikTok featured his victory prominently. Posting a photograph of the teacher, the account said: “Meet Eric Rivera, a @KIPP_Nashville teacher who was threatened with termination after he REFUSED to read LGBTQ books to his students because of his religious beliefs.”
“The school just BACKED DOWN and RESTORED his clean record after receiving a warning letter from First Liberty Institute. Big win!” the account continued.
Responding to that post, many commentators seconded their support of the victory for freedom and expression of Christian beliefs. “Religious liberty doesn’t stop at the schoolhouse door. No one should be forced to violate their sincerely held beliefs to keep their job. Glad to see this corrected,” stated one user.
“Now this is a teacher who entered teaching for the right reasons! Mr. Rivera is a defender of children as well as a teacher! When the students are aware something is wrong in school they are fearful to speak out for fear of retribution from the teacher. They will even often say nothing to their parents for fear of what will happen to them when the parent isn’t in school to stand up for them. That’s where a real teacher comes in and makes a difference. This sick woke and LGBTQ sexual nonsense is definitely something a teacher should not only stand against but should notify parents so they know what is being presented to their children,” wrote another.
Featured image: Eric Rivera, First Liberty Institute