In the United States, a teacherfaces an investigation for showing a Disney movie in class. Jenna Barbee, a fifth grade elementary school teacher, was reported by a concerned mother with a specific theme from the animation “Strange World”, the fact that the main character of the film is gay.
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The complaint was made based on the Parents' Rights in Education Act, popularly called "Don't Say Gay" ("Don't say gay", in Portuguese), implemented by Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida.
This legislation prohibits school educators from talking about sexuality and gender identity. However, Barbee claims that she never intended to address these topics in her classes.
In response to the ongoing investigation, she took to TikTok to share her thoughts on the matter. See the video:
Thus, she stated that she got permission from the parents of her
However, the situation was controversial and raised questions about education policies and the interpretation of the Parental Rights in Education Act.
The teacher reported that, since the beginning of the school year, she has obtained signed permissions from parents to show feature films rated PG, with no specific objections regarding the content. He further explained that the entire 5th grade team signed such documents.
However, even in compliance with the guidelines established by the administration of the educational institution, Barbee was denounced by Shannon Rodriguez, mother and member of the school board. The teacher believes Rodriguez is on a campaign to eliminate any form of representation in schools.
She reported that the school board member contacted the Department of Education even before visiting the institution and discussing the situation with the professional or administrator.
The teacher and the school board member decided to meet to discuss the issue. However, the complainant was informed that she would not be able to attend the school as a board member, but only as a concerned parent, which she did.
During the meeting, Barbee understood the perspective of the woman who did not want her son exposed to the film's content. After that, the teacher and the mother reached an understanding.
Even after solving the problem in person, Rodriguez had already reported the teacher, which resulted in the continuation of the investigation against her. Thus, Barbee is still subject to the consequences of this process.
According to Jenna Barbee, the work transmitted to the students was an appropriate choice to present valuable lessons, directly related to the school curriculum.
During the “Earth Sciences” unit and study of ecosystems, the filmwas exhibited for appropriately addressing the interaction between plants, humans and animals. Thus, becoming an option to discuss this subject in the classroom.
She stressed that the presentation of the feature was not motivated by the presence of an LGBTQIA + character. It was further explained that during the school year, several fifth graders shared their LGBTQIA+ experiences and identities. This contributed to the importance of promoting an inclusive environment in the school.
The goal was to create a welcoming and respectful space that adhered to Florida's BEST Social/Emotional Learning Standards (SEL).
Despite the various justifications, the teacher was not exonerated and awaits the conclusion of the investigation.
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