Elementary school teacher Jenna Hall returned to teaching after her prior school disciplined her because she said she spoke to her students about sexuality. She posted on TikTok, explaining what she said to the students.
The video posted by “Libs of TikTok” has reached 1.8 million views thus far. While recording the TikTok, Hall said:
“A lot of them are queer because I’m queer, and they figured it out, and so I’ve become their safe space.”
Hall added that students who visited her classroom put a “queer” spin while playing “Guess Who.”
She said:
“This person looks like a lesbian baddie who’s going to come over and make you dinner,” and “Which character just looks gay?”
Some parents pushed back when they saw the TikTok, saying they were concerned Hall was bringing sexual orientation into classroom discussions.
Following the TikTok, Renaissance Academy said:
“In the video, the teacher described several inappropriate conversations with former students … Our teachers are expected to comport themselves with the highest degree of professionalism. Behavior that is unprofessional, in violation of state code, or that violates the trust placed in us by the families of Renaissance Academy will not be tolerated.”
In May, Hall and Renaissance Academy in Lehi, Utah, parted ways following backlash over the TikTok video.
Following Hall and the charter school parting ways, the public relations director for Utah Parents United, Corrine Johnson, said:
“I think parents across Utah, when we see things like this, you can’t help but feel a little bit violated.”
“That is a parent’s domain — values, attitudes and beliefs of their children to be shaped by parents. And these topics, they do stray into the realm of religion,”
In a recent TikTok video, Hall announced she began working at a new school.
“Right now, my school is a brand new school, so none of the kids know each other, so we’re working on those social-emotional skills to know how to make friends and what good friends do.”
A parent told the Daily Wire: “Jenna Hall should not even be around children, let alone teach a second-grade class.”
The fact that another school hired Hall, knowing what she said to the students and how she wants to control what they think and how they think, is a disgrace. Teachers should not involve children in their theories and beliefs. It is wrong, and now that Beehive Science and Technology Academy hired her, they are rewarding the teacher for what she said, encouraging her to speak to the children about topics that have nothing to do with the curriculum.
The parent continued:
“Our kids deserve more from our teachers. Many of us at Beehive removed our children from the public school system in search of real academic excellence without a political agenda. There now seem to be few options free of children groomers like Ms. Hall. Therefore, my family and others with similar concerns have decided to fight back.”
Hanifi Oguz, the Academy Director, emailed the Daily Wire.
“Since its inception, Beehive Science and Technology Academy has been a strong advocate of human rights for all of its students and staff members. Discrimination in any form is against everything this school stands for. Diversity of beliefs and cultures helps encourage an environment of growth and acceptance among all of us.”
“Due to privacy laws, we will not be discussing the qualifications of the individual in question. However, we can assure you that this person–like all of our staff members–has been carefully vetted and interviewed. We’re confident that all of our students will benefit from this individual’s presence on our campus,”
This is where the left conflates the two things, and they are wrong in doing so. Nobody is saying people should not have their own beliefs, should discriminate against others, or be against human rights for all. Parents are saying that these topics that Hall and other teachers have spoken about to students should be nowhere near children and the classrooms. The children should learn the basic fundamentals in school — math, English, writing, reading, etc. — not about sexual orientation, gender identity, or the use of “proper” pronouns, which is the message these parents are sending by protesting.