Cumberland County Parents Want School Board Action For Teacher Who Gave Woke Assignment To Students

Image Credit: Cumberland County High School

Tennessee Conservative News Staff –

Cumberland County parents are addressing concerns over a recent assignment at Cumberland County High School with the school board.

According to parents, students were given an assignment by visual arts teacher David Wilcox called “Two Worlds.” Part of the assignment asked students about their sexual orientation and their preferred pronouns.

Students were not given a choice as to whether they completed the assignment or not. After students relayed to their parents that the assignment made them uncomfortable, parents voiced their concerns to the school.

One parent noted that “there’s no reason for a grown man to be asking students at all what their sexual orientation is.”

Cumberland County Superintendent Rebecca Farley sent a statement to parents, stating that “an investigation was conducted immediately, questioning pertinent individuals. At the conclusion of that investigation, the situation was addressed.”

Parents were not told what the outcome of that investigation was, so 10News requested a copy of Wilcox’s personnel file. In it was information showing that Wilcox had been suspended without pay for two days following the incident and will be required to have weekly lesson plans reviewed by the principal.

According to parents, this is not the first time Wilcox has been disciplined for something similar. Parents went to the school board meeting the following week to address concerns over Wilcox’s return to the classroom.

Policies did not allow the board to comment on teacher discipline until the director of schools investigates and returns findings to the board. Following that, discussion of the issue can become an agenda item.

Tennessee law requires that teachers notify parents in advance of any curriculum or class discussion that involves gender identity or sexual orientation. 

The school board is scheduled to meet again on February 9.