US teacher Melissa Calhoun was sacked for calling a student by their preferred name – what would happen in Australian schools?
Using a student’s preferred name cost this US teacher her job under controversial anti-transgender laws. Australia’s approach to the rights of teens and parents is very different.
Controversial “Don’t Say They” laws have led to a US teacher losing her job after calling a student by their preferred name instead of their legal name.
The teacher, Melissa Calhoun, who taught at Satellite High School in Satellite Beach, Florida, called the 17-year-old a name that had not been approved by their parents.
The case is being hailed as a win for parents’ rights under a 2023 Florida law which states sex is an “immutable biological trait” and that it is “false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond”.
Without written parental consent, it is illegal to use names or pronouns that don’t align with a student or employee’s sex assigned at birth in Florida.
The laws were part of a suite of reforms which also censored curriculum materials and restricted classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity.
In contrast, many Australian states give certain students rights over their parents. Those deemed to be “mature minors” capable of making their own decisions can override parental wishes in areas such as health care and gender transition.
Although there are some state exemptions for faith-based schools, federal anti-discrimination laws also require schools to cater to a students’ affirmed identity.
Transforming Families’ guide to schools notes that “if a student wishes to make social changes to affirm their gender identity it is crucial that they are involved in the planning and decision-making at every possible step”.
“Using the wrong pronouns, deadnaming, separating the class by gender, or forcing a non-binary child to use a gendered toilet can trigger distress, dysphoria, and even self-harm,” the guide says.
Across Australia, official policy documents are also increasingly encouraging teachers to use ‘non-gendered’ and ‘gender-inclusive’ language in classrooms.
The Florida school district has said Ms Calhoun was guilty of “gender affirmation” and was aware of her legal responsibilities when she used the name back in April, but chose to ignore them.
Florida Today reported the student’s parents believed Ms Calhoun and other teachers were “influencing and grooming” their child to become transgender, in part by calling them by their chosen name.
A change.org petition calling for Ms Calhoun’s reinstatement, which has now attracted 56,000 signatures, said the teacher was “being punished merely for showing respect to a student’s choices”.
“She was reprimanded for referring to a student by the name they prefer rather than their official name – a direct blow to personal rights and respect,” it stated.
Former students of Ms Calhoun left comments on the petition calling her compassionate, inspiring and respectful.
A statement for Brevard Public Schools (BPS) said the misnaming “directly violates state law and the district’s standardised process for written parental consent”.
“BPS supports parents’ rights to be the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives, and Florida law affirms their right to be informed,” it said.
“After the accusation was made, the district conducted a detailed investigation. Based on the teacher’s own admission that she knowingly did not comply with state statute she received a letter of reprimand. Teachers, like all employees, are expected to follow the law.”
Ms Calhoun had taught in Brevard Public Schools for 11 years.
She has still not been cleared to return to the classroom despite settling with the state for a $750 fine and a year of probation. However, recent reports suggest she was able to keep her teacher’s license.
Brevard Country Superintendent Mark Rendell has been quoted as saying teachers “must never override the rights of parents to be involved in critical decisions affecting their children”.
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Originally published as US teacher Melissa Calhoun was sacked for calling a student by their preferred name – what would happen in Australian schools?
