Political Discrimination Against Teacher?

[JohnRich 4]

In the news:

Middle School Teacher In Trouble Over Presidential Photo?

Parents expressing outrage after a teacher is kicked out of her public school for hanging a picture of President Bush next to pictures of other presidents in her classroom.

You might say it is a symbol of the Great American Divide, a teacher putting up a picture of President Bush in the classroom. Some say it is partisanship while others say it is patriotism.

On Thursday, there was a back-to-school night for parents of students. Veteran English teacher Shiba Pillai-Diaz says she was shocked when three parents confronted her. The three, insisting the teacher either add John Kerry's photo to the montage of presidents or remove the Bush photo. When Pillai-Diaz refused, she says the school's vice-principal threatened her job which is an act that has parents here fuming.

Paula Sjolund, Parent: "She didn't do anything wrong, and I think that it should have stayed up there."

Rita Bianco, Parent: "Children should know their president and their first lady!"

Shiba Pillai-Diaz, Teacher: "It happened on a small bulletin board near the American flag and also with a poster of the Declaration of Independence."

Pillai-Diaz ultimately removed the entire bulletin board and says School Principal Jim Warfel told her she disrupted the school with her "inflammatory politics". She says he then ordered her out of the building...

Source: WABC News

[wmw999 2,589]

I sure hope there's more to this story.

If President Bush's picture is up there in a long line of presidents, that's exactly where it belongs. If Laura Bush's picture is up there in a long line of first ladies, that's exactly where it belongs.

If the bulletin board was about US government, with GWB et. al. as the current office holders, then that's where they belong.

But if she put it up during the election season, had material about the election, and didn't have anything about who was running against him, then it might be more partisan than she might have intended (or maybe not). Her perception might not be the most accurate. After all, there are folks here who think Rush Limbaugh is a little too liberal, too

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[jdhill 0]

Sad... Like it or not, the Bush is the current President, and there is no reason to not include his picture with past presidents... and there is certainly no reason to add Kerry's picture (and hopefully there won't be any time soon)... If anyone is diciplined, it should be the principal and vice principal.

J

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke

[wmw999 2,589]

Ready, fire, aim...

Now that I actually went to the website and read everything, well, it sounds even more like she's being victimized. And that's a pity.

Whether or not you disagree with him, GWB is the president, and belongs in a display with other presidents. Just as Bill Clinton was 4 years ago.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Shotgun 1]

The fact that she is a volunteer with the Bush campaign makes it look like there might be more to her motives than just "hanging up a picture of the President", but who knows... Not enough info in this story to know exactly what happened.

[jdhill 0]

Did you look at the picture in question? Lot's of political message in that one... not.

J

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke

[peregrinerose 0]

This is truly insane. A teacher is supposed to take Bush off of a montage of presidents simply because he is running for re-election??? STUPID!

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[kallend 2,150]

"no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people"
variously attributed to H.L. Mencken and P.T. Barnum.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Shotgun 1]

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Did you look at the picture in question? Lot's of political message in that one... not.

Yes, I looked at the picture. And I think she should be allowed to have a picture of the President hanging up... and that Kerry's picture does not belong with the other Presidents unless he is elected. I'm just saying there's not enough info in that story to know exactly what took place and what caused the problem with the parents - sounds like there might be more to it than just a picture hanging there. As we all know, the media will twist a story to cause whatever reaction they hope to get from it. The story that John posted a link to didn't mention anything about her being a volunteer for the Bush campaign - not that that necessarily has anything to do with it, but it's interesting that they chose to leave out that little bit of information.

[Jib 0]

No wonder kids don't know who the president is.

An elementary school girl looked at a bunch of empty beer cans in a college apartment, pointed horrified and said poison. She was reassured that it was part of a neighborhood recycling program which made it okay.

--------------------------------------------------
the depth of his depravity sickens me.
-- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt

[tunaplanet 0]

Just yet another incident of liberal morons (this time a bunch of idiotic parents) trying to bitch and moan about anything they can. These liberals really need to get a hold of themselves. They've never looked like jackasses more than they have this past year.

Forty-two

[DrunkMonkey 0]

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Just yet another incident of liberal morons (this time a bunch of idiotic parents) trying to bitch and moan about anything they can. These liberals really need to get a hold of themselves. They've never looked like jackasses more than they have this past year.

What if it were 1995, and it was a pic of Clinton, just before the 1996 election??? Do you really think Konservatives would do any different?

[pajarito 0]

That's the absurdity of it. Some of you guys are trying to make partisan out of apparently a non-partisan issue. Every president was on that wall. Not just GWB. Despite the fact that some don't like him or think he should not have been president is beside the point. Whether you're for Kerry and really just hate GWB is beside the point. He's President until November 04 unless he gets reelected. His past status as President of the US will not change and he deserves a place on the same wall as all the other Presidents. This is just another example of people thinking they have the God given right not to be offended and doing their part to perpetuate political correctness.

[mardigrasbob 0]

When I was in school; there was a calender with all the past presidents and the current president in the the middle. I know because I was kicked out of school for drawing a toothbrush mustache and swastika earrings on Nixon.( yes I used be a liberal wuss). I was required to write an essay on why you should respect the POTUS.
There has to be more to this story, maybe her ancestry or the fact that english teachers are all bitties. I know Rush is all fired up.



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[jimbarry 0]

Hey, why stop there? Those parents are being discriminatory and partisan by excluding the 5 dozen or so other candidates for president.

Maybe the teacher can do an arts and crafts project where the kids bury a picture of Kerry in with those others running, "Where's Waldo"-style.

Here's a list.

[turtlespeed 226]

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Every president was on that wall. Not just GWB.

If that is indeed true, then this would also show the intelligence of the left leaning people that are causing such a stirr.

Why would they demand that Kerry be put in the line-up as well?

Don't they know that he actually has to be inaugurated to be president? (No - not president - elect either!)

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[kelel01 1]

Not all liberals think this is cool. And if something isn't missing from the story like Wendy suggested, then this is retarded. A montage of presidents, past and present, should only include presidents. Don't think that because some people are morons that it means all libs are. I don't know why myself and others have to explain this time and time again.

[PhillyKev 0]

So they're jumping the gun by a couple months

Yeah, this is an example of stupidity. Comes in all shapes, sizes, and political persuasions.

[tunaplanet 0]

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And if something isn't missing from the story like Wendy suggested, then this is retarded.

Wouldn't expect anything else from a bunch of whacko, liberal parents.

Forty-two

[pajarito 0]

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And if something isn't missing from the story like Wendy suggested, then this is retarded.

Wouldn't expect anything else from a bunch of whacko, liberal parents.

It's ridiculous to try and turn this into a partisan argument on who's got the most idiots on their side. I think both sides are quite plentiful in this aspect.

[wmw999 2,589]

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It's ridiculous to try and turn this into a partisan argument on who's got the most idiots on their side. I think both sides are quite plentiful in this aspect

Yeah, but namecalling is so much fun, and it really makes you look smart and witty among your peers

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[pajarito 0]

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It's ridiculous to try and turn this into a partisan argument on who's got the most idiots on their side. I think both sides are quite plentiful in this aspect

Yeah, but namecalling is so much fun, and it really makes you look smart and witty among your peers

Wendy W.

Ok...I'll jump back in. Yeah...just shows what a bunch of idiots Democrats are. They're all a bunch of morons. Every one of em'.

[rehmwa 2]

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it really makes you look smart and witty among your peers

Wendy W.

makes them look smart and witty among their peers

They know who they are, or maybe they don't.....

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[JohnRich 4]

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Why would they demand that Kerry be put in the line-up as well?

Especially since the children in that classroom can't vote anyway, and it does not exert any unfair influence on any voter...

If they want to have an "election" theme bulletin board, then they could add Kerry's photo, and Nader's, et al.

However, since the theme was U.S. history, Bush certainly deserved to be there.

P.S. It's interesting comparing the comments here with the "Gun Discrimination" thread.

In the gun discrimination thread, we saw the story of a young adult who wasn't allowed to pose with his sport shotgun in his senior schoolbook photo, while others were allowed to customize their photos in many other ways. Many folks thought that was okay for the school to suppress, just because someone in authority said so, and that the student should have no recourse for appeal.

Well, here we see another discriminatory school decision, just because someone said so. And yet some of the same people who supported the school decision in the gun-photo case, are here all up in arms against the school authority in this Bush-photo case.

It's curious, and seems to be contradictory on their part...

So I would have expected a few responses, consistent with the gun discrimination thread, something like this: "Well, the school made a decision, and everyone should just quit whining about it and just comply."

Or maybe Kallend could have chimed in with his standard response to such things: "It's the public's fault! They elected the school board, which hired the principals, which included the one who made the decision." (Hey, I haven't picked on Kallend for a while... )

[Rebecca 0]

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Ok...I'll jump back in. Yeah...just shows what a bunch of idiots Democrats are. They're all a bunch of morons. Every one of em'.

Shouldn't that be, [Kenny]"Meah...aah oww mhat a mun o imimi Memomat rr. Err aa a munn a moaa. Erree aa aa e."[/Kenny]

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?