Trailer for Strange World (Disney)
A Florida teacher is under investigation for showing her class the Disney cartoon from Strange World, which features an LGBT character. The teacher defended herself online, insisting that the film was school-related and warned that investigators were traumatizing her 10- to 11-year-old students, according to a report in The Guardian.
Jenna Barbie, a teacher at Winding Waters Elementary School in Hernando County, Florida, posted a TikTok video showing her side of the story. She said the mother of one of the students reported her to the local school board because "her mission is to eliminate all forms of representation in our schools."
Barbie, who is in her first year as a teacher, said she was reported to the Florida Department of Education for "brainwashing" before anyone even spoke to her about it. She is now under formal investigation for possible violations of the "Parental Rights in Education" Act, or "Don't Say Gay," as it is called, enacted by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis last year. The law prohibits gender and sexual identity studies in schools of all ages.
The teacher said she decided to show the film in question in fifth grade to allow the children to relax after a morning full of exams. She thought the film was directly relevant to the students' earth science studies. Barbie also signed certificates from the parents of the students in the classroom granting her permission to show the film.
@becomingabetterbarbee I am the teacher. Here is the truth. #indoctrination #disneymovie #disney #strangeworld #viraltweet ♬ original sound - Jenna Lynn
From the movie Strange World (Photo: Disney)
From the movie Strange World (Photo: Disney)
The film, which was released last year, focuses on a team of researchers searching for a rare planet that provides energy for their planet. The main character, Ethan Clyde, played by comedian Jabuki Young-White.
According to Barbie, as part of the investigation, her students are dragged out of the classroom one by one to interrogate them. How ironic, she wrote, that parental permission was not required. She added that she would never try to influence anyone and her goal was to "spread a message of compassion, positivity and acceptance of everyone."
The mother who reported the teacher was identified as Shannon Rodriguez, a member of the right-wing group Moms for Liberty, which also demands boycotts of certain books in libraries and schools.
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