Illinois teacher fired for stepping on U.S. flag

[Lone Clone]

I'm betting the teacher gets his job back if he wants it.

Using the best example of free speech -- and a constitutionally protected one at that -- to teach the issue of free speech. Horrors!

And the complaining kid (assuming it was a high school kid) is a complete tool although I respect his First Amendment right to complain.

There are three issues here. First, is what the teacher did legal? Yup. Second, is what the teacher did something a teacher should do? Highly debatable. Third, can a teacher can be fired for using atrocious judgment in the classroom? Probably depends upon the union.

Could a government teacher be fired for referring to our president by the "n" word? He certainly has the right to do it.

Could a science teacher be fired for claiming global warming is a communist scam? Again, he has the right.

Some things are correct but they ain't right.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Im sorry but as a teacher you have to act respectively in front of your students. It amazes me how some of these teachers get hired and then they step on the American Flag, Show up drunk, have sex with their students, beat their students, and so on. I mean seriously they are children and young adults. You have to hold your self to a higher standard than most people because these are people who look up to you.

Im sorry but even if you disagree with something, you hold your opinion to yourself and talk to your union representative before doing anything. If you can't do that, then you should deserve to get fired. I don't care about what rights you have, if you are a teacher you have to act like a normal human being and don't do anything stupid while students are present. If you want to go after school hours and stomp on the flag or get drunk, by all means do it. Don't subject the kids to that behavior.

I can't believe all these teachers who have relations with their students. That is just disgusting beyond belief and can't believe anyone would do that.

I guess what I am saying is don't act out in front of your students. Wait until after school to do that if needed. Also don't do anything until you talk to your union rep. I have heard a of several teachers getting into trouble because they didn't discuss or consult their union rep.

 

[theIowaHawk]

Im sorry but as a teacher you have to act respectively in front of your students. It amazes me how some of these teachers get hired and then they step on the American Flag, Show up drunk, have sex with their students, beat their students, and so on. I mean seriously they are children and young adults. You have to hold your self to a higher standard than most people because these are people who look up to you.

Im sorry but even if you disagree with something, you hold your opinion to yourself and talk to your union representative before doing anything. If you can't do that, then you should deserve to get fired. I don't care about what rights you have, if you are a teacher you have to act like a normal human being and don't do anything stupid while students are present. If you want to go after school hours and stomp on the flag or get drunk, by all means do it. Don't subject the kids to that behavior.

I can't believe all these teachers who have relations with their students. That is just disgusting beyond belief and can't believe anyone would do that.

I guess what I am saying is don't act out in front of your students. Wait until after school to do that if needed. Also don't do anything until you talk to your union rep. I have heard a of several teachers getting into trouble because they didn't discuss or consult their union rep.

For once, I'm not the confused one, you are.

You are saying that this teacher disagreed with something...what are you thinking that was?

 

[TennesseeWaltz1]

Did this teacher have tenure? If so I would think the reason(s) for firing him would need to be more definitive...if he didn't they don't need a reason to fire him.

 

[theIowaHawk]

There are three issues here. First, is what the teacher did legal? Yup. Second, is what the teacher did something a teacher should do? Highly debatable. Third, can a teacher can be fired for using atrocious judgment in the classroom? Probably depends upon the union.

Could a government teacher be fired for referring to our president by the "n" word? He certainly has the right to do it.

Could a science teacher be fired for claiming global warming is a communist scam? Again, he has the right.

Some things are correct but they ain't right.

Your premise may be correct, but your analogies are terrible.

Caveat: The article in the OP was extremely basic and didn't provide great context, so what I'm saying could be factually wrong. IF the teacher was explaining the First Amendment and free speech, discussing a seminal precedent that stepping on the flag is, in fact, free speech shouldn't be considered "ain't right." It certainly seems more productive than calling the POTUS an "n word", unless one is pointing to some important historical decision on that basis, which there isn't. The second one seems that it would be in direct contradiction to the material being taught. Presuming that the material on global warming is part of some required syllabus, it would certainly seem counter-intuitive that a teacher could decry it a "communist scam". Even then, it isn't an apt comparison. The proper comparison for your analogy would be the teacher discussing the First Amendment and then saying that the Constitution was a sham document sent by the Bilderbergs, cuing OiT.

But, this all comes down to simple beliefs, as always: Is stepping on the flag an atrocious act that should be summarily punished? If yes, you get Vroom, if no, you get the SCOTUS.

I mean, seriously, what would our founders have thought about desecrating governmental emblems/symbols?

 

[aflachawk]

I'm betting the teacher gets his job back if he wants it.

Using the best example of free speech -- and a constitutionally protected one at that -- to teach the issue of free speech. Horrors!

And the complaining kid (assuming it was a high school kid) is a complete tool although I respect his First Amendment right to complain.

This is one example of an abridgement of free speech from the right, to be certain but it pales to all the violations of free speech from the left

 

[moral_victory]

I bet most of you flag defending holier than thou types on here wear American flag shirts, American flag underwear and have American flag bumper stickers. Talk about disgracing the flag. But you know, 'Merica.

What could possibly be more patriotic than and entire Murrican flag outfit featuring eagles made in China and sold in Walmart. USAUSAUSA

 

[Lone Clone]

Your premise may be correct, but your analogies are terrible.

Caveat: The article in the OP was extremely basic and didn't provide great context, so what I'm saying could be factually wrong. IF the teacher was explaining the First Amendment and free speech, discussing a seminal precedent that stepping on the flag is, in fact, free speech shouldn't be considered "ain't right." It certainly seems more productive than calling the POTUS an "n word", unless one is pointing to some important historical decision on that basis, which there isn't. The second one seems that it would be in direct contradiction to the material being taught. Presuming that the material on global warming is part of some required syllabus, it would certainly seem counter-intuitive that a teacher could decry it a "communist scam". Even then, it isn't an apt comparison. The proper comparison for your analogy would be the teacher discussing the First Amendment and then saying that the Constitution was a sham document sent by the Bilderbergs, cuing OiT.

But, this all comes down to simple beliefs, as always: Is stepping on the flag an atrocious act that should be summarily punished? If yes, you get Vroom, if no, you get the SCOTUS.

I mean, seriously, what would our founders have thought about desecrating governmental emblems/symbols?

Caveat, indeed: I assume there is more to this story than we know; at least, we have to remain open to that possibility. I think our discussion here is predicated on the assumption we know all the relevant facts.

Your view of my analogies is due to the fact you think using the "n" word is worse than stepping on the flag, and you think there is only one scientific theory that should be shared with students. The point of the First Amendment is to protect speech that pisses people off. Especially political speech.

But there are all kinds of analogies. Suppose a science teacher threw a Bible into the trash during an indoctrination session on evolution. Legal, but would that be reason for disciplinary action?

What about a social sciences teacher telling students they should have sex as often as they want, with whomever they wish?

Hell, let's stay with flags.....why shouldn't a history teacher have a Confederate battle flag on the wall of her classroom?

 

[moral_victory]

Caveat, indeed: I assume there is more to this story than we know; at least, we have to remain open to that possibility. I think our discussion here is predicated on the assumption we know all the relevant facts.

Your view of my analogies is due to the fact you think using the "n" word is worse than stepping on the flag, and you think there is only one scientific theory that should be shared with students. The point of the First Amendment is to protect speech that pisses people off. Especially political speech.

But there are all kinds of analogies. Suppose a science teacher threw a Bible into the trash during an indoctrination session on evolution. Legal, but would that be reason for disciplinary action?

What about a social sciences teacher telling students they should have sex as often as they want, with whomever they wish?

Hell, let's stay with flags.....why shouldn't a history teacher have a Confederate battle flag on the wall of her classroom?

Hello welcome to 5th grade history.