Teacher fired for racial remarks - Eastern Kentucky man sent e-mail to school staff

Courier-Journal ^ | March 8, 2003 | Alan Maimon

[Dog Gone]

A Harlan County high school teacher who had been suspended after he sent an e-mail saying in part that African Americans are responsible for ''about 90%'' of violent crimes and the main achievement of Martin Luther King Jr. was the ''introduction and promotion of communism'' has been fired.

[Commander8]

The thought police strikes again.

[hoosierskypilot]

Having been born in Jefferson county, Ky, I am amazed that anybody in Harlan would actually create a fuss. It has never been a "culturally diverse" community, if you know what I mean. I guess things have changed.

[jimkress]

Thefact is, what was said has a factual basis.

However, the school system has policies in place that forbid this use of their email system. Thus, the teacher violated those policies and can be legally fired.

"It costs money to be stupid." Perhaps next time the teacher will use the proper channels.

[WFTR]

However, the school system has policies in place that forbid this use of their email system. Thus, the teacher violated those policies and can be legally fired.

The facts in this article aren't clear enough to support your assertion. I'm sure that the school district has rules saying that the e-mail system is for school district business, but the subjects that are emphasized in education are school business. If the idea of the e-mail was that the school needs to change its emphasis and the e-mail system has been used previously for discussions of curriculum, then the e-mail didn't violate policies. In that case, the guy is just being fired for holding a view that is politically incorrect.

I don't know whether the guy's e-mail was within the guidelines and practices of the school's e-mail system. If the e-mail system was meant only to be a one-way communication from administration to teachers, then the e-mail violated proper guidelines. If the e-mail system was used for discussion of curriculum issues, then the guy's e-mail was proper. If the rules were written to silence points of view other than those of liberals, then the rules were wrong and should be changed with no penalty to the man who challenged them.

WFTR
Bill

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Personally, I think all white men should be forced to work for African-American women. All white men are racists, just because of their skin color. Phil Donahue is just as much of a racist as Robert Byrd, even more so in fact, because he denies his racism. All white men need to confess their racism daily to the first African-American they meet. This country would be much healthier if it were run by African-Americans. I envision a future golden age for America similar to Mugabe's Zimbabwe.

[tahiti]

Two things.

1---"Jeff Vessels, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, said the e-mail raises interesting free-speech questions.

It has to be determined, Vessels said, whether Crow committed a violation by using school resources to convey his message and whether his opinions create a bias against any students."

This is ACLU code for, we know it is a first amendment violation, but this type of confrontation does not fit our adjenda, so we are not interested.

2--"Saylor, in a letter to Crow, told the teacher that he had violated state board of education and county school district policies with his use of the school district's e-mail system."

First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law...abriding the freedom of speech."

Since the 14th amendment establishes the jurisdiction of the Bill of Rights within the boundaries of a state, the school system becomes "Congress."

The constitution was designed specifically to keep "governments" from abusing, denying, and disparaging rights.

Thus, the "school system shall make not law...abridging the freedom of speech."

This case is a no brainer in favor of the teacher to those who believe in the presumption of liberty.

[KaiserofKrunch]

I,m thinking closer to Uganda under Dr., Field Marshal, President for Life, Idi Amin Dada. Bon apetite!

[BIGZ]

The truth shall set thee Free.

[Dog Gone]

Thefact is, what was said has a factual basis.

Blacks really commit 90% of all violent crime?