An unidentified student’s mom has accused a Seattle high school teacher of scolding her son for identifying as “straight.” According to reports, the high school teacher said it’s “offensive” because it suggests LGBTQ people must be “crooked.”
This remark infuriated the student’s mom, and she filed a formal complaint about Ian Golash, the social studies department chair at Chief Sealth International High School. She claimed in the complaint that Golash provided students with a “Social Identity Wheel” worksheet.
Also, she said Golash asked 10th graders to reflect on various identities, including race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. However, after her son labeled himself “straight,” Golash allegedly told the boy that the term was offensive.
Aside from that, he bizarrely explained that the word implies that those who are not straight are crooked. Also, in an email to Principal Ray Garcia-Morales, the mom aired her concerns. She claimed Golash said identifying as straight could have a “negative connotation.”
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“It is completely inappropriate to dictate what terms a student can and cannot use to identify themselves with,” she wrote. Golash denied the allegations, saying he didn’t single out her son. But he confirmed, saying he prefers not to use the term “straight” because “it could have a negative connotation.”
The mother also claimed that Golash targeted her son during a discussion on Florida banning ethnic studies. She said her son was absent the day before and could not answer when asked for his thoughts. “I’m told that rather than converse about the topic and provide him with information and an actual answer,” she wrote.
“He said my son was a product of the patriarchy that teaches young boys not to care.” The mother noted that Golash missed an opportunity to teach the student about current events. “Instead, you shamed him for being a male,” she wrote.
POLL—Should Public Schools Include Critical Race Theory and Sex Education in Their Curriculum?
In addition, the unidentified parent accused Golash of assuming her son grew up in a “patriarchal household.” However, she noted that the assumption was “very mistaken.” Again, Golash insisted that he didn’t direct his comment “at one student.”
He claimed the comment was due to class discussions days prior. Also, he noted that he commented because of “the behavior of several boys in the class.” “I certainly wasn’t making any implications about your household,” the teacher said. “I was referring to a system of power that we all live in.”
Appearing on “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH, the mother accused Golash of “pushing his ideological agendas.” She claims he could have handled the situation better by inviting an open discourse on controversial topics. Instead, she says he shamed her son with his teaching methods.
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As a result, the mom said her son began to “self-censor.” Also, she alleged that Golash accused her son of being disruptive and disengaged in a “retaliatory manner.” Before making this complaint, the mom accused Golash of failing her son on a quiz.
She claimed he failed her son by labeling two statements “true.” The first, “All men have penises,” and the second, “Only women can get pregnant.” Although Seattle Public Schools said the quiz promotes inclusion, they’re investigating the possibility of discrimination.
Hence, the school district is investigating two complaints against the teacher—one for the failed quiz. The other, for allegedly teaching an antisemitic curriculum.
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