Posted on 04/26/2010 2:57:47 PM PDT by mdittmar
Jason Levin is teaching classes today, but school district investigation is ongoing
A controversial Beaverton middle school teacher is back at school today, after he was put on paid administrative leave earlier this month during an investigation into whether or not he used school time to update his hot-button political website.
Jason Levin was taken off of leave, said Maureen Wheeler, spokeswoman for the Beaverton School District, while the investigation continues because he posed no danger or threat to his students, and because there was no evidence that he tried to spread his political message to students in his classes.
"We have not found evidence that he shared his political views with students,” Wheeler said.
Levin teaches computer and technology classes at Conestoga Middle School. He became the focus of a firestorm of attention last week when it came to light that he was the founder an anti-Tea Party website, www.crashtheteaparty.org , and might have used school-district time to promote his political agenda.
He was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday, April 15 pending the outcome of an investigation by the Beaverton School District into whether or not he inappropriately used his paid time and school resources to work on his website. Another investigation into Levin’s actions is also being conducted by the statewide Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.
Both agencies received an avalanche of calls from across the country after conservative pundits called for Levin to be fired from his position. His website, now shut down, called for those who opposed the anti-tax Tea Party movement to infiltrate their ranks and pretend to be racists at their rallies, as well as try to collect their social security numbers and other private information.
"Whenever possible, we will act on behalf of the Tea Party in ways which exaggerate their least appealing qualities (misspelled protest signs, wild claims in TV interviews, etc.” the Web site said. “We will also use the inside information we have gained in order to disrupt and derail their plans.”
According to Wheeler, the decision to put Levin on leave came after the deluge of calls, and mounting evidence that he used district time to promote his political purposes, which is strictly against the guidelines set forth for teachers.
Wheeler said the investigation into Levin's actions will likely be concluded by the end of the week, and any disciplinary decisions will come shortly after.
In oter words they think its all blown over.
Is it ok to post to Free Republic on school time? If so, it’s ok to work on that website. If not, then fine. No double standards, please. I don’t want it to be ok to agree with me on school time but not ok to disagree. I support free speech for a reason.
That said, I think this guy is an idiot for being involved with the “crash the tea party” business. Still, as long as he’s not using his position as a teacher to influence the kids one way or another, I say let him do what he wants. They’re going to lose in the end anyway.
I am so sick of this!!!
keep us posted....
Is it ok to post to Free Republic on school time?”
I dunno, but if you did, you probaly wouldn’t be advocating for people to dress in Nazi uniforms and create riots.
As someone else pointed out, if it had been a conservative tea party advocate, we would know all of his ex wives, his tax history, his child support history, his parking fines etc....
Teachers would never do that;)
I’m aware that teachers do that all the time.
But if this is that one case where a teacher didn’t, I’m glad.
I am....glad.
I can’t think of a teacher ever pushing liberalism on me. The closest I came was a former Reagan staffer teaching a U.S. Government class and my failing to make him mad with my statements because he was a conservative.
The most liberal professor I have had yet actually tries very hard not to push agenda, and I really respect that about her. Especially because it’s a Sociology class. Heck, she encourages me to speak up!
“. But there is a BIG difference between “posting” or otherwise goofing off on company time and using paid time to advocate a movement that literally promotes racism and fraud.”
I personally don’t believe so. Regardless of the misuse it is a violation. At least.... if the question is simply advocating the movement.
When you get into things like ORGANIZING the movement, that’s where I start to agree with you. That is active participating in the movement, rather than simply speaking in favor of it.
Regardless, it’s ALL wrong. Of course, I’m the guy that wants liberalism banned in school.
“Teacher” huh?
My kid would be out of that class so fast.....
Jedi Jason was advocating BREAKING THE LAW on school time, using school computers. That’s not the same as posting “I totally agree!” with someone on FR.
He should be fired. Period. Over and done with. As it is, though, in liberal land he’s a hero. Idiots.
It occurs to me that good teachers teach by example, at least half of the little urchins that are exposed to him will come away with totally the wrong lesson for later life.
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