Others should follow me: Teacher who quit her job in CRT row says her former colleagues should follow her out the door and reveals she has a new job at a private school after being inundated with offers
A Virginia teacher who quit her job during a televised school board meeting over her opposition to Critical Race Theory has called on others to do the same - and says she now has an exciting new job after being inundated with offers.
Speaking to Tucker Carlson on Fox News on Thursday night, Laura Morris said she'd received support and emails from others she hoped would translate into further resignations.
She told Tucker: 'One of the emails I received from another state, from Connecticut, it's been said that one candle can only light a thousand others without diminishing its own illumination and he said, you are that candle.
'I was so moved by those words because I never thought of myself in that position, never felt like -- in fact, I feel like the blessing of god pouring down for me which is happy that I'm so excited what I did and what I said might spark others, illuminate in others the desire to put some action to their words.
'There's a lot of wars going on in county, people upset on both sides, and I'm just noticing more and more that doesn't seem to be changing things. But if people do something bold, when people put action to their words, actions speak louder than words and that seems to be captivating people. So I'm excited to see what other actions people might be taking.
Morris said she'd been inundated with support from her former students and their parents, and said she was touched to know they 'have her back.'
Laura Morris appeared on Fox News to discuss the sensational moment she quit her job and said she's 'excited' to inspire others to 'put actions to their words'
Since her sensational resignation at the school board meeting, Morris has been flooded with support online - but also branded a villain.
In one tweet, user Peter Anthony said: '#LauraMorris. This woman is a brave hero. She should be trending all over social media. She definitely isn't a sheep. She quit her job as a teacher because of CRT. WAKE UP SHEEPLE.'
In another, user Matt Endspiel said: '#LauraMorris this woman deserves a medal for standing up for her beliefs. The school board are pathetic and tried to silence a dissenting voice by turning off the mic.'
Morris admitted to Carlson that there was a divide between the counties near her school and, so it seems, the world. Despite the multitudes of support she has received, those who are pro-CRT aren't holding back.
Morris experienced tons of support after her resignation at Lucketts Elementary School with many dubbing the teacher 'brave'
Carl McCasland wrote: 'Laura Morris is a bigot who quit her job because her job told her she can't continue being a bigot to children. CHILDREN. Laura Morris isn't a patriot, she is a bigoted, heartless fool parading around fraudulently as a Christian. Good riddance. These kids deserve better.'
Another user, who goes by Emperor Aloysius XVI, said: 'What U incorrectly call #CRT's whole point is to teach inclusion. And In this case, there's nothing that can't be resolved through talking.
'"How did you feel when you were excluded?"'
Despite the divide on the topic, Morris has been offered multiple jobs from different schools and has accepted a position at a private Christian school.
At the school board meeting, Laura Morris spoke before Loudoun County School Board in an emotional address, explaining why the 'equity trainings' and political dogma forced her to resign.
She said she could no longer be part of an organization that told her 'white, Christian, able-bodied females' needed to be reined in.
Morris, who has taught at Lucketts Elementary School in Leesburg, Virginia, for five years - half of her career - told the board: 'I quit being a cog in a machine that tells me to push highly-politicized agendas on our most vulnerable constituents – the children.'
Her voice breaking with emotion, she said she no longer felt able to teach within the district, despite it being affluent and well-resourced.
'This summer I have struggled with the idea of returning to school, knowing that I'll be working yet again with a school division that, despite its shiny tech and flashy salary, promotes political ideologies that do not square with who I am as a believer in Christ,' she said.
Morris said that she was dismayed by the 'lack of consideration for the growing population of concerned citizens in this division', pointing out that Tuesday's meeting was in an empty hall.
Loudoun recently adopted rules for the public comment section of board meetings that prohibit a general audience and allow only 10 scheduled speakers to enter the building at a time.
She said she was angered by 'emails sent by the superintendent last year reminding me that a dissenting opinion is not allowed, even to be spoken in my personal life.'
Laura Morris has been a teacher for ten years, and for the past five has taught within Loudoun County Public Schools. On Tuesday night she quit, saying she could no longer teach their 'highly-politicized agendas' and objecting at being asked to report colleagues to the authorities
Morris taught at Lucketts Elementary School (pictured) as a fifth grade teacher
A map shows Loudoun County in Virginia - which is known to be America's wealthiest suburb
And she said that she had been sent a form which she and her colleagues were told to fill out if they heard others within the school system criticizing 'the controversial policies being promoted by this school board'.
Morris continued: 'Not only that, but within the last year I was told in our so-called equity trainings that white, Christian, able-bodied females currently have the power in our schools and, quote, 'this has to change'.
'Clearly you have made your point.
'You no longer value me, or many other teachers you have employed in this county.
'So since my contract outlines the power that you have over my employment in Loudoun County Public Schools, I thought it necessary to resign in front of you.
'School board, I quit.
'I quit your policies, I quit your training, and I quit being a cog in a machine that tells me to push highly-politicized agendas on our most vulnerable constituents – the children.
'I will find employment elsewhere. I encourage all parents and staff in this county to flood the private schools.'
Morris had spoken before the Loudoun County School Board, in a virtually empty hall. Following a series of heated meetings, the general public is no longer permitted to attend
A man is detained after a fight broke out during a Loudoun County School Board meeting on June 22
Parents attended a packed Loudoun County School board meeting in June which descended into chaos
Loudoun County, when asked about her resignation, said: 'LCPS does not comment on personnel matters.'
Loudon County, which borders Washington DC, has become the epicenter for arguments about the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in schools.
School board meetings have become contentious with parents yelling and being arrested, furious at the idea of teaching what they see as divisive and unpatriotic approaches. Defenders of CRT say that it is simply a reframing of traditional narratives, to deal with some uncomfortable truths about America's racial history.
The school board is no stranger to controversy.
On May 25, physical education teacher Byron 'Tanner' Cross was suspended after refusing to 'affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa.'
He had taught at Leesburg Elementary School for eight years, but said that his Christian faith would not allow him to use a student's preferred pronouns - although he said he was happy to use whichever name they chose.
On June 8, a court ordered that Cross be reinstated, but LCPS said they will appeal.
On Tuesday night, the school board discussed whether to grant transgender children access to sex-specific facilities and school activities that match their gender identities.
A vote was postponed until Wednesday, after public comment stretched on for more than four hours.
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