Florida

Florida Teacher Suspended After Quizzing Students on Gender

A Tampa, Florida, middle school teacher has been suspended after parents complained that she gave students a questionnaire on personal information including their sexual orientation, gender identity and religion.

School officials said 23-year-old Yoselis Ramos didn't collect the forms given to seventh and eighth grade Spanish students at Monroe Middle School, but that she used the April 4 assignment as a starting point for discussion on inequality. The lesson was aimed at discussing how much privilege various groups have.

Hillsborough County School District spokeswoman Tanya Arja told local news outlets the district doesn't collect such information on students.

When parents complained to principal Peter Megara the next day, Ramos was immediately suspended. He sent a recorded message about the assignment to parents.

Arja says an investigation should be completed this week. While Ramos isn't teaching, Arja didn't provide her current assignment.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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