Posted on 06/11/2004 7:04:05 AM PDT by 12GA
The Associated Press 6/11/04 9:39 AM
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- An upstate teacher could be punished for criticizing the late President Ronald Reagan to students during a moment of silence in his honor at the high school.
Shenendehowa school district spokeswoman Kelly DeFiciani said once the investigation is finished, the unidentified teacher "could be subject to disciplinary action." The district is investigating whether her comments violated the district policy against staff making political endorsements at work or on school property.
The teacher, who has taught in the suburban Albany district for more than 20 years, made "negative" and "inappropriate" comments about the Republican president's policies before a group of up to 16 seniors in her homeroom, district officials said.
"I think it was extremely inappropriate," said school board president Karen Boiko.
Tony McCann, president of the Shenendehowa Teachers Association, said the teacher remains on the job. "It was a distinguished teacher who had a momentary lapse in judgment," he said.
"This teacher said she wasn't going to participate, even if Reagan was dead," McCann said. "She didn't think Reagan was the hero that everyone else thought he was."
The moment of silence for Reagan, who died Saturday, was announced by high school principal Robert Melia by loudspeaker Monday during morning announcements, DeFiciani said. He was acting on his own, she said.
A parent of one student alerted the district to the teacher's remarks, DeFiciani said. The teacher has since apologized to her homeroom class, she said.
A free speech advocate said the school district is at fault.
"The issue becomes: can any higher authority in the school system require people to act in lock step with their political views, and the answer is no," said Jeffrey Fogel, legal director for the Manhattan-based Center for Constitutional Rights. "It's a matter of free speech."
I'm glad that at least one of the Seniors in the class felt similarly.
Homeschool now!
Yet ANOTHER reason we home school our son!
I mean it's the President of the United States!!! Even for the impeached x42, I could stand and be quiet. For any president, I guess.
BS, I'd wager this idiot has been a butthole their entire adult life.
The sad reality is that she represents at least 90% of the so called teachers across America.
Conservatives in her town need to really put the pressure on this left wing lunatic. She should not be allowed to be near any student with her vile mouth.
I wonder if this person would have the same view of a teacher who expresses religious views in answer to a student's question.
There ya go! my thoughtd exactly
The issue becomes: can any higher authority in the school system require people to act in lock step with their political views, and the answer is no," said Jeffrey Fogel, legal director for the Manhattan-based Center for Constitutional Rights. "It's a matter of free speech."
The teacher can say what she wants, but she must be accountable for it. What if I were to go to my boss and tell her off? I would a) be stupid to do that because she's a good boss and b) be likely to lose my job because it's not my employer's responsibility to tolerate any bad or ill considered behavior on my part. She's not entitled to protection of her job if she displays no responsibility or discretion.
She couldn't help herself......She's a VICTIM........She is OPPRESSED........She is NOT RESPONSIBLE for her actions........blah,blah,blah.........
It just shows the true colors of the left, No manners, No respect, No gravitas, no nuthin' but HATE-BILE-VITRIOL......If the same thing were to happen during a moment of silence for a dumb-o-krat there would be OUTRAGE ad nauseum.........
We've all had many moments of speechless silence for x42.
It hasn't been since America had to endure eight years of Bill and Hillary Clinton.
"The issue becomes: can any higher authority in the school system require people to act in lock step with their political views...It's a matter of free speech."
No. The issue is: Should people be asked to show a moment of civility and respect for both the feelings of those who may be mourning and for a man who, like him or not, was the President.
She has all year to indictinate these kids to her POV, but she cannot keep her mouth shut for one minute?
They just cannot keep their mouths shut, can they?
As my father would say, she is transmitting but not receiving. :)
Bull!! As stated, it's political speech. And every liberal knows you can't do or say anything that might upset even one person!
So, one person complained (shows how brainwashed her students really are. They all should have complained) and it's a non-issue because of content favorable to lefty politics.
"Beam me up & outta here!!".
Sorry, it was an added thought, one added in haste.
The impact of those years on our youngsters cannot be underestimated. I heard Mario Cuomo say to Chris Matthews the other day: "Reagan made the lack of compassion 'acceptable,' and it last until this day." It's more true to say that Clinton made the lack of manners and personal responsibility acceptable, and it lasts until this day.
On the other hand, on Wednesday my husband, an administrator at one of our state's colleges, emailed me to tell me what that institution's president did: He talked about Friday being a "holiday" and referred to it as "a day of mourning...or a day of celebration". Coincidentally, the councilman used to teach at the same state college whose president demonostrated such poor taste. Go figure.
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