Daren Cusato, a well-regarded biology and anatomy teacher at South Side Area School District in Beaver County, became the center of a heated controversy.
Known for his commitment to education, Cusato has been respected in the school community for years.
Highlights
- Daren Cusato, a biology teacher at South Side Area School District, was suspended for refusing to use transgender students’ preferred pronouns, citing religious beliefs.
- The board ultimately reinstated Cusato, pausing the enforcement of the pronoun policy and planning to draft a new one in the future.
- Following the incident, a skit video featuring a teacher named ‘Darren’ teaching various pronouns went viral.
However, his refusal to refer to transgender students by their preferred pronouns, citing religious beliefs, led to his suspension.
Community Rallies Behind Teacher Daren Cusato: A Stand for Conviction Amidst Controversy!
More than 400 people gathered in the school’s auditorium to express their opinions.
Most of those present were there to support Cusato, with many seeing his actions as a stand for personal convictions in the face of changing social norms.
Over 40 individuals spoke during the meeting, most advocating for Cusato’s reinstatement, arguing that his religious beliefs should be respected.
One of the most strong speeches came from Cusato’s niece, who praised her uncle for his courage. She said,
My uncle Daren is standing up for what is right, even though he is standing by himself. I am thoroughly embarrassed that the South Side School District has taken this arbitrary stance in choosing to align with the one percent.
Cusato’s Niece
Other supporters agreed, urging the board to reconsider the policy requiring teachers to use students’ chosen pronouns.
Teacher Daren Cusato Reinstated: Suspension Over Pronoun Policy Ends Without Termination!
However, not everyone was in favor of Cusato’s attitude.
Several speakers at the meeting voiced their support for the district’s original policy, highlighting the importance of respecting transgender students’ identities.
One woman argued, highlighting the need for inclusivity in schools, saying,
Transgender students have a right to be identified by their chosen name and their pronouns. School staff must use that name.
Reddit User
Another speaker warned against allowing Cusato’s popularity to influence the decision, stating,
If we allow a teacher, particularly one with a highly-regarded reputation, to model that these children don’t deserve acknowledgment of who they are, then the children we are trying to protect are in even greater danger.
Reddit User
In the end, the school board sided with most attendees, reinstating Cusato and suspending the policy that mandated the use of students’ preferred pronouns.
The board announced plans to draft a new policy on the subject at a future meeting, leaving the issue unresolved but temporarily favoring Cusato.
Thus, while Darren Cusato was initially suspended, he was not fired. Instead, he was reinstated, with the district pausing the enforcement of the controversial pronoun policy.
This debate shows that the issue isn’t settled yet, as the school board continues to balance personal beliefs with the rights of transgender students.
Following The Incident, Viral Pronoun Skit Featuring Another “Teacher Darren” Sparks Debate!
A video featuring “Teacher Darren,” teaching students about various types of preferred pronouns for people of different identities, went viral.
Some people emphasized that teaching basic pronouns is simply part of grammar, a concept that has been taught for years.
Others were concerned that the skit might wrongly suggest that schools are teaching more controversial pronouns like “ze/zir.“
I only see sucessful ragebait and it is proof that transphobes cannot even comprehend something other than believing that trans people are indoctrinating children and thinking that a video like this will prove them right. Teachers literally have a job to do to live and I don’t think they are spending their time teaching ze/zir pronouns LMFAO.
Reddit
People pointed out that the real issue isn’t teaching basic grammar but rather the potential for misinformation or exaggeration about what’s being taught in schools.
Overall, the discussion reflects a mix of opinions, from defending the teaching of basic pronouns to concerns about how such topics are presented in media and education.
Additional Information
- The school board plans to create a new pronoun policy after Cusato’s reinstatement.
- Future meetings are set to further discuss and refine the pronoun policy, keeping the issue active in the community.
- The debate highlighted a range of opinions, from strong support for Cusato’s personal beliefs to advocacy for inclusive policies respecting transgender students.
