There's an interesting story in this morning's Boston Herald. It concerns one Jeffrey Herman, a longtime substitute teacher. He is a bit miffed because he's been blackballed by the headmaster of English High School. He says he is being punished for his political beliefs, and he just might be right.
Mr. Herman is apparently no fan of the military and the present administration. Last year, he had his students write letters to President Bush discussing his performance as president (no word on whether they were steered towards criticizing him). Also, at a public meeting last month, Herman urged the school to discontinue its JROTC program.
The problem is that the headmaster of the school, Jose Duarte, is an Army Reservist who said at that meeting that critics of the JROTC program should "just get a life." Also, Mr. Duarte opens each school day with reveille played over the PA system.
It's a tough call. I think thatMr. Herman is wrong in his political beliefs, and a bit of an asshat to boot. But his statements were made at a public forum, and everyone should have the right to speak freely at such events.
However, if he let his politics stray over into the classroom, and was proseltyzing the students into bashing Bush for credit, then Mr. Duarte is fully within his rights to ban him from teaching at the school. In fact, he would be remiss in his duties if he did not.
The story doesn't give enough details for me to decide.
I think the most refreshing element of this story is that the idea of a conservative Army reservist serving as a school administrator. I was convinced that nearly every one of those were liberals, wimps, droning bureaucrats, or some combination of all three.
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Comments (4)
Have you seen this yet? <br... (Below threshold)1. Posted by LissaKay | April 15, 2006 12:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Have you seen this yet?
http://tinyurl.com/gqnsv
Blogger Bill Hobbs canned by his employer, Belmont University, for drawing a Mohammed cartoon.
Oy ...
1. Posted by LissaKay | April 15, 2006 12:17 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 15, 2006 12:17
2. Posted by Henry | April 15, 2006 7:44 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Hah, cute.
2. Posted by Henry | April 15, 2006 7:44 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 15, 2006 19:44
3. Posted by "Candy" | April 21, 2006 7:57 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I read the title of this one so fast I thought it said "retard". I guess that works.
3. Posted by "Candy" | April 21, 2006 7:57 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 21, 2006 19:57
4. Posted by anon | April 22, 2006 12:55 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I had the misfortune of working for this headmaster for four long years at English High. Although the substitute in question is as crazy as the day is long and should not be allowed anywhere near children, this is typical behavior by the headmaster. His strength is bullying people in order to get what he wants. Headmaster Duarte is a vile human being and borders on clinically insane.
4. Posted by anon | April 22, 2006 12:55 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 22, 2006 12:55