The Nashville school reportedly backed down after discipline triggered legal warning.
By Catholics for Catholics
After being threatened with termination and being disciplined, a first-grade teacher had his record cleared by a Nashville elementary school for refusing to read a book about legal unions between two persons of the same sex to his students, according to a report.
According to a story by Fox News, KIPP Antioch College Prep Elementary issued a “final warning letter” to teacher Eric Rivera in January after he refused to read an LGBTQ book to his class that was included in the language arts curriculum.
Rivera, who holds Christian beliefs, said he could not in good conscience read the book to his class, according to legal group First Liberty Institute, and he asked a coworker to read the book instead.
Rivera was beckoned to the principal’s office the following day and pressured with termination. He was told he must maintain “fidelity” to the curriculum, and a discipline letter was placed in his personnel file.
Rivera had no prior warnings and had nil discipline history. He requested a religious adjustment but according to First Liberty was in its place relocated to a lab and technology position and then to a kindergarten position, according to the legal group.
After facing a warning letter from First Liberty in February, KIPP Antioch agreed to clear the occurrence from Rivera’s record, according to a press release from the legal group.
The school will now also permit “all teachers to ask another employee to read materials objectionable to their faith.”
“We are pleased that the school has made the right decision by accommodating Mr. Rivera for his deeply held religious views,” said Cliff Martin, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute in a press release.
“Our client is deeply devoted to teaching and is grateful that his record has been cleared and reasonable accommodations will be provided going forward,” he added.
KIPP Antioch Elementary did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
KIPP Antioch College Prep Elementary is a public charter school authorized by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.
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