The West Point HS School Board re-scheduled the December meeting to January 15, 2019 at 3:30 PM at the WP Elementary School Library
West Point High School in West Point, VA - Niche
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2700 Mattaponi Ave. West Point 804-843-3630
2700 Mattaponi Ave. West Point 804-843-3630
(from Beth Clarke 1/7/19)
FYI:
I received a phone call yesterday from Ann Custalow (804-843-4368) regarding the W.P. School board meeting on Jan 15th. She says the public may attend and may make comments to the board during this open meeting, however, if you are planning on attending and would like to address the board, you must let Ms. Custalow know that you are planning on attending within the next several days by emailing her at
lacustalow@wpschools.net (this is a different policy than what was stated to my husband recently).
You also would need to “sign in” with Ms. Custalow prior to the start of the meeting on the 15th (if you plan on addressing the board). She said the dismissal of teacher Peter Vlaming is not on the agenda for the 15th meeting and any comments made to the board regarding his firing will not be responded to during the meeting, as they consider this a “personnel issue”. In fact the board simply listens to comments made to them in an open meeting, they do not engage the speaker (Lancaster County practiced similarly as I recall). Public comments are limited to 3 minutes per person. She said the board’s agenda should be posted by Friday Jan. 11th I believe. If you just want to attend and observe, you would just show up for the meeting is my understanding. Meetings are held in the W.P. Elementary school library at 5 pm (3rd Tues of each month).
Let me know if you are planning on attending (and commenting) or not. (I would still email the individual members
beforehand.)
There is a gofundme page for this teacher for those wanting to contribute to his legal expenses (I assume a legal challenge to his firing is in the works);
The 47 year old father of 4 has taught French at WPHS for 7 years.-now the 60 some impacted students are taught by a substitute French teacher
Teacher loses job after refusing to use transgender student's pronouns
A school board voted unanimously to dismiss Peter Vlaming after a four-hour hearing that drew an overflow crowd.
Monday, December 10, 2018
WEST POINT, Virginia --
A Virginia high school teacher who refused to use a transgender student's new pronouns has been fired.
News outlets report that the West Point School Board voted unanimously Thursday to dismiss Peter Vlaming after a four-hour hearing that drew an overflow crowd. The school system said in a statement that Vlaming was fired for insubordination.
Over the summer, the ninth-grade student's family informed the school system of the student's gender transition to male. The student wasn't involved in Thursday's hearing.
It's not suggested that the 47-year-old West Point High School French teacher deliberately referred to the student using female pronouns in the student's presence but in conversations with others.
Witnesses described a "slip-up" when the student was about to run into a wall and Vlaming told others to stop "her." When discussing the incident with administrators, Vlaming made it clear he would not use male pronouns, a stance that led to his suspension referral for disciplinary action.
"I can't think of a worse way to treat a child than what was happening," said West Point High Principal Jonathan Hochman, who testified that he told Vlaming to use male pronouns in accordance with the student's wishes.
Vlaming told superiors that his Christian faith prevented him from using male pronouns for the student. Vlaming said he had the student in class the year before when the student identified as female.
Vlaming's attorney, Shawn Voyles, says his client offered to use the student's name and to avoid feminine pronouns, but Voyles says the school was unwilling to accept the compromise.
"That discrimination then leads to creating a hostile learning environment. And the student had expressed that. The parent had expressed that," said West Point schools Superintendent Laura Abel. "They felt disrespected."
Nondiscrimination policies were updated a year ago to include protections for gender identity, but didn't include guidance on gender pronoun use, according to Vlaming's lawyer, Voyles, who notes Vlaming has constitutional rights.
"One of those rights that is not curtailed is to be free from being compelled to speak something that violates your conscience," Voyles said.
Vlaming said he loves and respects all his students but when a solution he tried to reach based on "mutual tolerance" was rejected, he was at risk of losing his job for having views held by "most of the world for most of human history."
"That is not tolerance," Vlaming said. "That is coercion."
Vlaming is considering a legal appeal, but said he wants to consult with his attorney before announcing further steps.
"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."
Equality Virginia, an LGBTQ-rights group, said the situation reveals the need for "statewide guidance" that will protect all students from discrimination at school.
News outlets report that the West Point School Board voted unanimously Thursday to dismiss Peter Vlaming after a four-hour hearing that drew an overflow crowd. The school system said in a statement that Vlaming was fired for insubordination.
Over the summer, the ninth-grade student's family informed the school system of the student's gender transition to male. The student wasn't involved in Thursday's hearing.
It's not suggested that the 47-year-old West Point High School French teacher deliberately referred to the student using female pronouns in the student's presence but in conversations with others.
Witnesses described a "slip-up" when the student was about to run into a wall and Vlaming told others to stop "her." When discussing the incident with administrators, Vlaming made it clear he would not use male pronouns, a stance that led to his suspension referral for disciplinary action.
"I can't think of a worse way to treat a child than what was happening," said West Point High Principal Jonathan Hochman, who testified that he told Vlaming to use male pronouns in accordance with the student's wishes.
Vlaming told superiors that his Christian faith prevented him from using male pronouns for the student. Vlaming said he had the student in class the year before when the student identified as female.
Vlaming's attorney, Shawn Voyles, says his client offered to use the student's name and to avoid feminine pronouns, but Voyles says the school was unwilling to accept the compromise.
"That discrimination then leads to creating a hostile learning environment. And the student had expressed that. The parent had expressed that," said West Point schools Superintendent Laura Abel. "They felt disrespected."
Nondiscrimination policies were updated a year ago to include protections for gender identity, but didn't include guidance on gender pronoun use, according to Vlaming's lawyer, Voyles, who notes Vlaming has constitutional rights.
"One of those rights that is not curtailed is to be free from being compelled to speak something that violates your conscience," Voyles said.
Vlaming said he loves and respects all his students but when a solution he tried to reach based on "mutual tolerance" was rejected, he was at risk of losing his job for having views held by "most of the world for most of human history."
"That is not tolerance," Vlaming said. "That is coercion."
Vlaming is considering a legal appeal, but said he wants to consult with his attorney before announcing further steps.
"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."
Equality Virginia, an LGBTQ-rights group, said the situation reveals the need for "statewide guidance" that will protect all students from discrimination at school.
It's very effortless to find out any topic on web as compared to textbooks, as I found this piece of writing at
ReplyDeletethis website.