Posted on 05/14/2004 9:31:26 PM PDT by wagglebee
SAN DIEGO -- Two teachers are suspected of showing students video of American Nick Berg being decapitated, 10News reported.
A social studies teacher from Grossmont High School in El Cajon allegedly showed students Wednesday a portion of the video, pictures and audio of the beheading, Grossmont Unified School District Superintendent Terry Ryan told 10News.
Ryan said the teacher, Michael Smith, (pictured, far right), has been removed from the classroom pending a full investigation.
Smith, an El Cajon native, graduated from Grossmont High School in 1983.
Many of his students wore shirts Friday that read "Free Mr. Smith." Others, who also support Smith, said he is a very popular teacher, but they question his judgement.
An art teacher from El Capitan High School in Lakeside Thursday allegedly noticed a student watching the video and invited other students to come to the computer terminal and watch.
Ryan said the art teacher, Gina Grossini, (pictured, above, right), told the students, "That's what we get for being in a war we shouldn't be in."
Kenneth Blackington, a senior at El Capitan High School, said, "A couple of kids almost fainted during it, and another kid had to go to the bathroom and almost puked."
Grossini was also removed from the classroom.
An investigation has been launched and district officials met with the teachers Friday along with attorneys.
Counseling services have been made available for students.
"We have set aside counseling and we are making a provision at the school that any student who saw the video can have counseling. That is our first and foremost concern," Ryan told 10News.
Parents and school administrators have expressed deep concern, according to 10News.
The San Diego City School District sent a letter to all principals Friday morning advising them not to allow their students to see the video.
It read:
"We believe that the content of the video is not age-appropriate for students in grades K-12. We suggest other means for students in the upper grades to discuss this world event in age-appropriate formats."
The letter also told principals to make sure their school counselors can provide support for students who have seen the video, or who are disturbed by reports of the incident."
The video, posted earlier this week on an Islamic militant Web site, showed five men wearing headscarves and black ski masks, standing over Berg, a U.S. contractor whose body was found on a highway overpass in Baghdad on Saturday.
"My name is Nick Berg, my father's name is Michael, my mother's name is Susan," the man said on the video. "I have a brother and sister, David and Sarah. I live in ... Philadelphia."
After reading a statement, the men were seen pulling the man to his side and putting a large knife to his neck. A scream sounded as the men cut his head off, shouting "Allahu Akbar!" - "God is great." They then held the head out before the camera.
Bet if Mr. Smith instead showed the photos and videos from Abu Ghraib he'd get a raise....
Wait I thought I read somewhere on here that a fellow freeper whos wife was a teacher was going to show the video. Anybody here remember reading that?
Ohhhhma Gawd the teacher showed kids about to enter the real world, the truth?
You know, I distinctly remember seeing and reading some pretty horrible things about the Holocaust while I was in school.
How is this really any different?
They showed the video to blame Bush for what happened.
Pictures of the Holocaust are shown to remind us of man's depravity so it won't happen again. Most of these teachers are showing these pictures to support an anti-war, anti-Bush agenda.
I know according to this article, and its despicable. But I remember reading a post here about a freeper wanting to show it to his/her students.
I agree absolutely in showing this to students to demonstrate the savagery of the enemy, but I think with this there should at least be some parental notification.
This is why they showed the video, PERIOD.
Thanks for the tag line. I've been trying to remember that phrase for months.
If that's the case, then it's very poor strategy. It would be like showing an abortion on video to support "choice". Watcing five hooded Muslims cutting the head off an innocent, helpless American civilian will not promote anti-American feelings. It can only have the effect of creating disgust and hatred for the Islamofacists.
Geez it's not like these students were 8/9 yrs old Cripe I saw worse when I was in HS. this Super is a Wossie.
"Wait I thought I read somewhere on here that a fellow freeper whos wife was a teacher was going to show the video. Anybody here remember reading that?"
Yep...It was me. My wife, and several other teachers at their high school, did not directly show the students the video. They provided a link and made viewing it the student's choice. Most...actually almost all...watched it and there has not been a peep of a complaint. Of course, this is Texas and not California...;-)
-Toonces
That image montage is so funny and yet so true.
"That's what we get for being in a war we shouldn't be in."
These people are such idiots. I wonder what American action she blamed 911 on? Yeah, maybe if we just roll over and do everything they say then everything will be o.k. Doesn't "Islam" mean "submission?"
At first, I thought he should have been given an award as an outstanding teacher, until I saw his commentary on his REASONS for SHOWING IT.
9/11 is what we got for NOT being in a war that we should have been in.
The teacher's commentary sounds a lot like what Michael Berg has said about his son's murder. They're both twisted commie fellow travelers, IMO.
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