At the risk of being the lone voice in the crowd, where did the teacher’s freedom of speech go?
She gave an assignment and felt that the girl did not fulfill it. The article says nothing about how the teacher responded in class, so we must assume that she responded appropriately, by not saying anything derogatory. Then, in a semi-anonymous blog (the article says that her name is posted and her occupation, but not school), she posts her “reply,” though of course it is not an actual reply, as the student does not see it as far as we know.
This is not a political attack - it’s the act of a teacher venting her frustrations. Do I agree with her politics? Nope, but I do agree with her method of doing so. If she had named the student, or even the school, or posted the speech on her blog, that’s a different story, as it points out the student, but she didn’t. Also, did she give out the link to her blog to her students, or did the parents just happen to find it?
Then, when the parents complained about the post, she did not defy them, but took it down immediately.
The email also complained about two previous comments by the teacher, but for the one about keeping her maiden name, that was prompted by questions from the students, according to the article.
I ask again, when did the teacher’s freedom to free speech disappear? Freedom is a two-way street - she has the right to express her opinions, and since she did not name the student (or even the school!) I do think this is an overreaction.