A man in Springville is furious after he said a substitute teacher told a seventh-grade class there are 48 genders.
"I just think it's ridiculous," Corey Fortner told 1819 News. "Teachers need to be there to teach our kids facts, not their opinions, especially on that subject. I'm just not okay with it."
Fortner said his cousin's child, who recently moved to Springville, was in the class when a group of girls said something that offended the teacher. That's when she allegedly made the statement. Fortner said his cousin's child raised his hand and asked to be excused from the class because it made him uncomfortable.
"He said, 'I want to be excused. I don't want to be in here,'" Fortner said. "He got up and walked out, as did most all the other kids in the class, except for about four or five."
After finding out about the incident, Fortner posted about it on the Springville community Facebook page. There, other parents said their kids told them the same thing.
"For a teacher to come out and start saying there's 48 genders, I mean, come on," Fortner continued. "That's just a reach."
The Facebook post was removed from the community page, but Fortner said it is important for others to speak up.
Springville Middle School and the St. Clair County Schools superintendent have not returned calls from 1819 News.
However, Springville Mayor Dave Thomas said he would investigate the matter himself.
"We are not going to turn a blind eye to this," said Thomas. "That teacher needs to be removed from the substitute list. This is the first time I have heard of this kind of rhetoric in any St. Clair County School."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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