--- Steve Sears <steve at psyduck.com> wrote:
> Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2002 08:46:42 -0800
> To: socunmod <SocialistsUnmoderated at pinko.net>
> From: Steve Sears <steve at psyduck.com>
> Subject: [SOCUNMOD] Anti War Teacher punished in
> Florida
>
>
> Anti-war teacher loses classroom assignment
>
> By DAVID E. PLAZAS, dplazas at news-press.com
>
> Ian Harvey will not be in his classroom today and
> may never return.
>
> The Collier County teacher who says he offered his
> own anti-war views when
> discussing U.S. action against terrorists in
> Afghanistan, was punished
> Thursday.
>
> Still, the discipline did not blunt Harvey’s
> criticism of the district. He
> questioned whether he got a fair hearing.
>
> Harvey insisted the report on the investigation into
> his classroom actions
> is “full of lies.” He said district officials
> already made up their minds
> because of community pressure.
>
> “This is so crude,” he said. “They already decided.
> Life goes on.”
>
> Collier Superintendent Dan White handed down a
> three-day suspension without
> pay to the 46-year-old Lely High School teacher.
>
> White also reassigned him to an “alternate position”
> where he won’t have
> any contact with children, pending a possible state
> investigation.
>
> The district’s only comment on Harvey came in a
> prepared statement and his
> reassignment was not specified.
>
> Harvey will also receive a letter of reprimand.
>
> Harvey said he expected the suspension — because of
> a letter from the
> district attached to his report — but not the job
> shift.
>
> “This came out of the blue,” he said. “They pulled a
> fast one on me.
> Wherever I go, I’m going to be a controversial
> teacher.”
>
> Harvey came under fire after he helped organized a
> peace protest Dec. 9.
> The district received complaints from residents and
> started an
> investigation Dec. 17.
>
> The investigation ended in January. Harvey received
> the final report Feb.
> 6, and it was made public Monday.
>
> In the report, school investigator Peter DeBaun
> concluded Harvey:
>
> Used his classes to promote his anti-war views to
> the detriment of learning;
>
> Isn’t protected by the First Amendment for his
> classroom comments;
>
> Presented materials in class that inhibited the free
> flow of ideas and
> violated school board policy; and
>
> Disrupted school operations with his views.
>
> “I feel these disciplinary steps are ... appropriate
> and fair to Mr.
> Harvey, given the magnitude of the findings,” White
> said in a prepared
> statement Thursday.
>
> Harvey, who earns $44,808 per year for a variety of
> teaching assignments,
> said he’s talked with ACLU of Florida officials
> about his case and they’ve
> asked for more information.
>
> The report now goes to the state Department of
> Education.
>
> Officials there say they can dismiss the complaint
> against Harvey or, if
> there’s cause, revoke his teaching license.
>
> Under district regulations, White can enforce up to
> a three-day suspension.
>
> Anything more than that would have to be decided by
> the school board and
> that could lead to a contentious public hearing,
> something the district
> appears eager to avoid.
>
> Some school board members didn’t see eye-to-eye on
> the punishment.
>
> “I’m sure he (White) has done what he has to do,”
> said board Chairwoman
> Anne Goodnight.
>
> Board member Linda Abbott disagreed. “It’s nothing
> but a slap on the
> wrist,” she said.
>
> Michel Bernier, executive director of the teachers’
> union, the Collier
> County Education Association, said he thinks the
> punishment was wrong and
> believes Harvey.
>
> “I think it is an unfortunate waste of talent,” he
> said.
>
>
> Support Florida
> Farmworkers
> Boycott Taco
> Bell
>
> www.ciw-online.org
>
> --
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===== Kevin Dean Buffalo, NY ICQ: 8616001 Buffalo Activist Network http://www.buffaloactivist.net
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