A first-year teacher at Becker Elementary in Austin, Texas, Sophia DeLoretto-Chudy, was fired from her position after a series of concerns were raised about her conduct. One issue was her failure to respond promptly to emails, which is understandable as many people struggle to keep up with an influx of messages. Another concern was her use of the Harry Potter series in the classroom. While the books were once praised for fostering a love of reading, some parents may have reservations due to the presence of witchcraft and dark themes. Though these concerns can be understood, they may not warrant immediate dismissal.
The most noteworthy issue arose when DeLoretto-Chudy’s students refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance during a school assembly. She expressed her frustration on TikTok, which gained significant attention and ultimately led to her termination for violating the district’s social media policies. According to DeLoretto-Chudy, the incident stemmed from a lesson on the Holocaust, during which the students drew parallels between nationalism and propaganda, leading them to protest the pledge. However, the principal did not believe her account.
While it is worth discussing the implications of nationalism and propaganda, it is questionable whether young students independently decided to protest without any influence. Teachers have been increasingly instructed by woke propagandists to inject social justice narratives into various aspects of education, as highlighted by James Lindsay in a recent interview. Therefore, it is reasonable to suspect that DeLoretto-Chudy saw an opportunity to advance her own progressive agenda.
In the end, it appears that DeLoretto-Chudy was more concerned with the validation of her TikTok followers and the support of the media than with whether her vice principal, the parents, or even the students fully understood her intentions. It is disheartening to see the media rallying behind her without considering the potential manipulation of the situation. It is crucial for the parents of the Austin Independent School District to take these matters seriously and evaluate the actions of teachers with caution and critical thinking.
