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Rosen identifies "Not My President" Teacher (Martha Swisher)
Mike Rosen Radio Program ^ | 03/05/03 | Mike Rosen

Posted on 03/05/2003 8:58:27 AM PST by beaversmom

Mike Rosen, Denver radio talk show host, just identified the middle school teacher who wore the "Not My President" button on her coat during a class field trip. Martha Swisher is the teacher's name. Spokesman for Jefferson County Schools, Rick Kaufman, refused to be on Mike Rosen's show. News stories from the area contained all of the names involved, but failed to identify the teacher. Here are some recent articles about the subject:

Callers Would Expel Teacher's Button

By Nancy Mitchell, Rocky Mountain News February 28, 2003

A dispute over a button lit up the phones Thursday at Jefferson County School District offices.

Several dozen parents and community members called to weigh in on whether a West Jefferson Middle School teacher should have worn an anti-President Bush button during a class field trip, spokesman Rick Kaufman said. The overwhelming consensus: no.

"It is a huge issue," said Kaufman, who was preparing to speak on a national talk radio show this morning. "I think this could be just the tip of the iceberg."

Many callers mistakenly thought that Jeffco officials supported the teacher's decision to wear the button, but Kaufman said lawyers advised district officials that they can tell the teacher to take off the button anywhere she is acting as their employee.

"We believe it goes beyond just the classroom," he said. "We believe the district has the legitimate right to require teachers to refrain from expressing those personal beliefs when interacting with students."

Kaufman was a bit surprised by the response to the issue, which became public after parent Linda Fowler complained.

He sent an e-mail about the topic to his peers in school public relations across the country. By day's end, several had responded that they were facing similar situations.

"I think this is one of those issues that really touches the core of people's values, and whether an individual agrees with the president or not, seeing a statement that, 'He is not my president,' is a very difficult thing to swallow," Kaufman said. "Like him or not, he is the president of the United States. That's what we heard a lot."

Kaufman went head-to-head with Fowler on a local radio talk show Thursday. He disagreed with her contention that the same teacher should remove a lapel pin displaying a U.S. flag with a peace sign.

"Last time we checked, I don't think anyone was opposed to peace in general," he said.

Jeffco Schools Clarify Position on Staff Opinions

By Ann Schrader Denver Post Staff Writer

Friday, February 28, 2003 - GOLDEN - A parent's complaint about a teacher's "Not My President, Not My War" button has prompted the Jefferson County school district to tell staff members they cannot express personal views on controversial issues in the classroom or at school-sanctioned events.

A West Jefferson Middle School teacher wore the button on a recent field trip to the Fat City entertainment complex.

District policy states that teachers must provide a neutral atmosphere in the classroom.

"It's inappropriate to wear a political button (on a field trip), since it's an extension of a classroom," said Jefferson County Schools spokesman Rick Kaufman said.

School officials clarified the district's policy Thursday.

On Wednesday, the district and its teachers association issued a joint statement supporting the teacher, saying she does not wear the button in the classroom. Kaufman said there was a media mix-up about what the statement said.

The unidentified sixth-grade teacher, who will not be disciplined, does wear an American flag lapel pin with a peace sign on it in the classroom.

"There is a fine line to be walked here," Kaufman said. "Teachers have a right to freedom of expression, but not when that expression disrupts the learning process" by trying to convince students of a teacher's point of view.

Similar issues have arisen during election years, with teachers and staff cautioned not to endorse a candidate or an issue.

"Debate has grown over the past couple weeks as the possibility of war has grown," Kaufman said.

The Denver school district has a similar policy, but district spokeswoman Tanya Spasev said she is not aware of staff violations.

Students may participate in rallies if they are not disruptive to the classroom and the event is not on school property, Kaufman said.


TOPICS: Announcements; News/Current Events; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: jeffersoncounty; marthaswisher; notmypresident; teacher
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion
the parents understood that their children would be taught Democrat-think, there would in principle be no problem.

That's correct. She's free to start the "George W. Bush is Not President Academy".

21 posted on 03/05/2003 9:44:27 AM PST by beaversmom
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To: beaversmom
I am a teacher.. She should be fired!

Our job is to teach, not to indoctrinate.

22 posted on 03/05/2003 9:44:28 AM PST by pfflier
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To: SMEDLEYBUTLER
Thanks. I called, left a very polite message that I disagreed with her pushing her political views onto children...
23 posted on 03/05/2003 9:44:41 AM PST by mallardx
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To: Russ
I can remember when Dick Armey referred to Clinton as 'your president' to a bunch of Democrats and the stink that they made of it. And a few weeks back I saw Inhofe on Meet the Press where he was saying something about the Democrats and referred to Clinton as 'their president'. Russert pressed him on it and Inhofe refused to back down. I guess it's OK for members of Congress to do it but not teachers.
24 posted on 03/05/2003 9:50:47 AM PST by Non-Sequitur
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To: beaversmom
Isn't Columbine HS a part of Jefferson County's school system?
25 posted on 03/05/2003 9:52:20 AM PST by twigs
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To: beaversmom
A caller just told Mike Rosen that Martha Swisher used to teach at the elementary school his daughter attended also in the Jefferson County School District. She was transferred to the middle school a few months after an incident in which she tore an NRA bumber sticker off another teacher's truck. This story is uncorroborated but the gentleman did use the names of the other people involved in the incident.

Another caller just said that her daughter is currently in Ms. Swisher's class. She stated her daughter has told her that Ms. Swisher has gone on tirades against George Bush and the war on daily basis. She stated to the class, "Why doesn't he send his daughters to fight in the war."

26 posted on 03/05/2003 9:53:24 AM PST by beaversmom
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To: SMEDLEYBUTLER
The coward has finally been exposed. Bravo Zulu to Mike Rosen.

About darn time. The local media have plastered the student's and parent's name all over, but have been giving Ms. Martha cover.

27 posted on 03/05/2003 9:53:25 AM PST by colorado tanker (beware the Ides of March)
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To: twigs
Isn't Columbine HS a part of Jefferson County's school system?

Yes it is.

28 posted on 03/05/2003 9:54:02 AM PST by beaversmom
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To: beaversmom
I just left a VM w/Ms Swisher letting her know that Martin Sheen was not MY President.
29 posted on 03/05/2003 9:59:20 AM PST by Sam's Army
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To: beaversmom
Yesterday, on the Mike Gallagher show, he was so angry at this teacher, that he started a fund raiser for "Feed the Children", to brin in a semi-load of food/items for the military families in Colorado.

As of this morning his listeners had raised enough money to bring in SEVEN truckloads for "Feed the Children"

All becuase this panty-waisted "teacher" wants to shove her anti-american ideas into faces of school children.

The ball is rolling, and I think soon we shall all be heard in this country and the anti's will be drowned out.
30 posted on 03/05/2003 10:02:03 AM PST by Johnny Gage (God Bless President George W. Bush, God Bless our Military and God Bless America!)
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To: beaversmom
She can't scream in public either. Thats called air pollution and that type of problem is controlled by the EPA, or disordely conduct, which is handled by the local authorities. In fact, her opinions border somewhere along the lines of treason in my book which should be handled by the FBI. Seriously, these peacenick idiots get away with murder. Now if my son wore his "Nuke Iraq" pin to school, im sure he would be told he had no right to express his opinions in school. Why should a teacher be allowed to do so?
31 posted on 03/05/2003 10:02:38 AM PST by ChinaThreat (E)
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To: Non-Sequitur
I stand by my statement and always will: He was not my President! I didn't vote for him, I didn't support him, I didn't like him and had to put up with him day after day for eight long years. Sorry, but that's just me...
32 posted on 03/05/2003 10:02:51 AM PST by Russ
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To: Johnny Gage
Funny you should mention that--I just forwarded this information to Mike Gallagher.
33 posted on 03/05/2003 10:05:03 AM PST by beaversmom
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To: Johnny Gage
Oh.. forgot to mention.

Each truck is loaded up with preloaded boxes of food and household/hygiene items.

Each truck carries boxes to supply 400+ families.

7 X 400+ = 2800+ families to be helped by this group!
34 posted on 03/05/2003 10:05:10 AM PST by Johnny Gage (God Bless President George W. Bush, God Bless our Military and God Bless America!)
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To: Russ
Okay, that's fine. But are you a public school teacher with a classroom? Even though one of your teachers was a Goldwater fan, did he wear a "Johnson's Not My President" button? I think Swisher is wrong to expose her students to her total contempt of a duly elected POTUS. What does her attitude say to her students?
35 posted on 03/05/2003 10:19:07 AM PST by auboy
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To: Russ
Don't be sorry, Russ.
36 posted on 03/05/2003 10:24:16 AM PST by Redleg Duke (Stir the pot...don't let anything settle to the bottom where the lawyers can feed off of it!)
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To: beaversmom
Another caller said his son was in Martha Swisher's class last year. The story his son related was on the first day of school she said she didn't like boys because boys tended to be trouble makers. I betcha she's got the same hatred toward men. Now that the public knows her name, I think the stories about other incidents will be rolling in. A Colorado woman said she is making Martha Swisher is not my teacher buttons.
37 posted on 03/05/2003 10:28:25 AM PST by beaversmom
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To: Russ
Fifty years ago I had a teacher in my "Problems in Democracy" class. She warned us of World Federation. She explained it this way, and I remember the analogy . Why doesn't Virginia take over Rhode Island. Because the Federal Govt would stop it.

There are people who look at the world that way and think if there was a world Govt with troops available they could stop wars between countries just like the Fed Govt. can stop wars between the individual states. The drawback is if you are an advanced country you loose your soverignty to the world government which will be made up disproportionaly of failed countries.

So when I looked at the UN I recognized it as a threat, and I was opposed to it being in this country to allow every enemy we have to use it to bring in spies to work against this country.

The teacher was not giving us a political view just alerting us to the dangers this country faces. -Tom

38 posted on 03/05/2003 10:46:11 AM PST by Capt. Tom
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion
Democrat-think

Oxymoron alert !!!!

39 posted on 03/05/2003 10:48:54 AM PST by clamper1797 (Credo Quia Absurdum)
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To: South Dakota
This woman acting like a jackass

I don't think she was acting ....

40 posted on 03/05/2003 10:49:51 AM PST by clamper1797 (Credo Quia Absurdum)
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