The Watertown School District in South Dakota is being asked to take action after a teacher tried to dismiss students’ gender identities with a letter, a DVD and candy.
The letter was called a “pre-meditated attack” by parents of the children. It was given to four classmates and told them they were wrong to use masculine names.
The students and their parents didn’t appreciate the letter.
South Dakota. Zero days without being a national embarrassment. Local teacher at the high school thought it was a good idea to hand this letter to several students.pic.twitter.com/BjnJx4dLdG— Lee Bruns (@Lee Bruns) 1650927145
The letter, identified to be from Watertown High School German teacher Calvin Hillesland clumsily tries to equate being transgender to being bitten by a rattlesnake. Hillesland claims he feels wrong for not trying to talk to the students about being asked to “call [their] friends by masculine names.”
He goes on to claim while the student may feel differently about it, the feeling is “like a mirage” and their cells are “feminine”.
That’s the “biological truth” Hillesland claims.
The letter ends with an offer of a DVD he claims will explain the spiritual nature of the students’ assigned gender and implies he also gave them candy.
Finally, he signs off with a German valediction, part of the clues that led to his identity.
The whole thing reads like a fever dream.
This is BS, given the current dog whistling of the GOP, this constitutes grooming, throw that candy back! \u201cKeep sweet and pray.\u201d \u201cAlways the best\u201d translates to F off in German in my book!https://twitter.com/realleebruns/status/1518724641992454148\u00a0\u2026— R and R (@R and R) 1651082199
I respect school faculty and I say this with all the love in the world. What is wrong with lunch monitors?pic.twitter.com/olVV31Vx69— Zinnia Jones (@Zinnia Jones) 1651070840
this is so sickening and embarrassing for South Dakota— Dr.ProudDakota (@Dr.ProudDakota) 1651110255
As a fellow WHS grad \u2026 I\u2019m appalled at this!— KW (@KW) 1651027134
This whole thing is so awful... the part where he tells them that their feelings can't be trusted is disgusting, incredibly harmful, and if taken to heart could easily keep students from reaching out for help when they need it. I felt sick to my stomach reading that.— Joanna Spaghetti (@Joanna Spaghetti) 1651022559
The school district confirmed that the letter existed by informing parents. It was sent to four students at the high school earlier this week.
One of them was the transgender child of Ashley Bakke. When she was informed of the letter she went to the school to get answers about it.
Bakke was frustrated with the talk she had with the principal, comparing it to “talking with a politician.” After being frustrated that the district couldn’t do anything about her child being bullied all year for being trans, this was the final straw.
She pulled her child from the district.
Other students were devastated to learn that Hillesland had given four students this letter. He was a very popular and well-liked teacher before this incident.
Alex Rambow, a student at the high school said:
“We were all flabbergasted. Mr. Hillesland was always the nice teacher who always said hi to everyone, but he's lost all my respect.”
The district tried to come out in support of the students, saying:
“The Watertown School District does not support this sort of action, and we respect the rights of our students to be who they are.”
“We want to provide a safe learning environment for all students. We continue to work through the situation and ask for your support as we handle it.”
However, it was confirmed that as of Tuesday, Hillesland was still teaching. The administration says they are investigating the situation and assessing their course of action.
Leading to calls for the district to do something.
Mr. H is obviously a German teacher. There can\u2019t be too many high school German teachers being Mr. H. Someone in South Dakota speak up. Would love to know what DVD he\u2019s pushing as well— rationalhumanbeing (@rationalhumanbeing) 1650988980
He should be fired.— RVAMidlo (@RVAMidlo) 1650986353
@AmyRambow is a parent who's child is a recipient I believe. Amy is the one who shared this on social media.— Dr Bree Oatman (she/her)\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Dr Bree Oatman (she/her)\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1650985411
My brain froze thinking this said "biblical" at first. And honestly you're not wrong, brain.— Jessie Zawadzki (she/they) (@Jessie Zawadzki (she/they)) 1651113221
When the Governor rants about teachers spreading their personal ideology in school, the fantasize that it is a Left wing agenda. Reality is that it is a FAR Right agenda. Anyone want to take odds on this teacher facing ANY repercussions?— Lee Bruns (@Lee Bruns) 1650929024
No, it's a thing a conservative South Dakota teacher actually did.— Evelyn (Neptunemaxxing) (@Evelyn (Neptunemaxxing)) 1651084398
Hillesland is planning to retire at the end of the school year, but some of the parents want something done now. In addition to discipline for Hillesland, they’re calling for mandatory training in LGBTQ+ youth issues.
