New York teachers sue over ban on campaign buttons

[Suji to Seoul]

Source: Yahoo News

NEW YORK - The teachers' union for the nation's largest public school system accused the city on Friday of banning political campaign buttons and sued to reverse the policy, declaring that free speech rights were violated.

United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten announced at a news conference that a lawsuit had been filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to challenge the enforcement of the policy.

"We couldn't believe it," said Weingarten, who wore a Barack Obama lapel button. The American Federation of Teachers, including its UFT delegates, voted over the summer to endorse Obama's presidential candidacy.

Weingarten said schools Chancellor Joel Klein urged principals more than two weeks ago to enforce a Department of Education policy requiring complete political neutrality.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081010/ap_on_re_us/teachers_political_candidates

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Two things:

1: I wonder if it would be the same if the AFT and NEA voted to endorse John McCain.

2: How can liberal states like New York have so many Freepers in positions of power? The city's lawyer on this case sounds horrible.

I guess being an educator invalidates your right to an opinion. . .even on a college campus. What has happened to my country? When will these Freeptards go away and go back to the rocks they live under?

[MNDemNY]

1. Sorry, I do not think it is appropriate for public school ...

teachers to wear political buttons in the classroom.:hide:

[amdezurik]

2. how about students?

[MNDemNY]

3. No problem there.

But those in leadership with a "captive" audience should not wear campaign paraphernalia.

[bean fidhleir]

4. Students should be able to - teacher, not

There's a big power gradient there.

[Realityhack]

7. No problem with students.

But teachers are not the same as students.

[Realityhack]

6. I agree. This ban seems reasonable.

You can question the timing and motives but in the end IMO it is the right decision as long as it remains consistent in the long run. The school is a workplace with students who are lead by the teachers. I say keep personal politics out.

[Piewhacket]

18. concur.... but

Point well made MNDemNY, no need to duck.

From the article I can't figure out exactly what the policy is that the
teachers are objecting to. Usually teacher organizations have sensible claims.
Therefore, jumping in with an opinion on the merits is not really proper.

But I can say what I think is probably reasonable, and lawful.
Not even a close call, I think.

1) Teachers should not be promoting political (or religious) or other causes
unrelated to their duties as teachers (case by case) with or without the approval
of the administration DURING SCHOOL.
2) the admin not only CAN but SHOULD ban political campaigning by teachers
at highschool and below level DURING SCHOOL.
3) students may and should be likewise prohibited from political displays DURING SCHOOL.
that has long been common. its legal. its a good idea.
4) outside of school... its not the school admin's business, and any "discipline" of a
teacher or student for (lawful) political displays or participation
would be improper (illegal).


so the question here is... what exactly is the school admin prohibiting? is it
during school? or after school? one is proper, the other improper.
but that is the critical point left out of the article.
interesting omission.

[Sgent]

20. Item 3 is wrong

Students not only can, but have a constitutional right to make political statements / displays in classrooms as long as its not disruptive, this has been settled law for over 60 years.

This first came up (and was decided by the Supreme Court) in the case of required recitation of the pledge, then wearing black armbands during Vietnam, then more recently during the Iraq conflict.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. Politics should be kept out of public schools

I agree that the teachers and administrators should park their politics at the door. The students, on the other hand, should be free to express their political beliefs.

[SAXMAR]

8. Professors at Private Universities?

My wife is a Professor at a Private Arts oriented university. Although her major is Arts related she wears an Obama button and takes time to tell students the importance of voting and that Contributions to the National Endowment for the Arts, PBS and arts in general are more fairly given in relation to the National Budget under Democratic Administrations.

In other words you have a better chance of getting a job in your chosen field with a Democratic Party President.

[MNDemNY]

9. IMO colleges and universities are a different story.

One is not "compelled" to attend.

[Realityhack]

10. College is a diffrent story.

I have no problem with staff at a college wearing campaign buttons etc. including at a public college.
I think high school and under it should be left out of the classroom.

[Smarmie Doofus]

11. Bloomberg.

>>>>How can liberal states like New York have so many Freepers in positions of power? The city's lawyer on this case sounds horrible.>>>>>

He runs the schools system here. We have a conservative republican billionaire mayor who is antiunion but pretends to be progressive and is aided and abetted in this masquerade by his minions in the $$$media.

That said, I'm in agreement with their general position on this specific matter. I believe it's wrong for teachers to do political advocacy in class. One should attach an Obama button or whatever and display it ( e.g. backpack, trenchcoat, purse,) on the commute to and from school but not in class.

[Lucky Luciano]

13. I think Bloomberg is ok actually...

...and he left the thug party and is now independent. I will most likely vote for him.

He really seems pretty reasonable.

[Smarmie Doofus]

14. Yada, yada, yada. Read the fine print.

>>>http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=169x8029>>>

"Independent"!? Hah.

[VPStoltz]

12. I'm a treacher....

and I know for a fact that I can wear a cross or star of whatever. Our lunch-line cashier, who is pathologically Republican, has her cash registered festooned with Bush crap. She's been admonished but informs us that he IS the president. But teachers are not allowed to "campaign." You even have to cover your bumper stickers on election day.

[primavera]

15. A dual standard is definitely not okay

I can see the merits of a policy prohibiting educational professionals from engaging in activism in their workplace because, as much as I would like them to educate their students on the evils of Republicanism, I then wouldn't be able to complain when some right-wing fundie tries to brainwash our children. With that in mind, I would support a ban on campaign buttons, but, if that underlying justification is to hold water, it has to cut both ways. If you're not going to restrict teachers from engaging in proselytizing activities, including wearing religious symbols, or advancing conservative ideals, then you can't constraint them from representing the alternative side of the coin. That's got to stop and, had I a child in that school, that principal would definitely be receiving a very angry letter from me for such hypocrisy, with a cc to the school board.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. As a teacher I don't think we should wear political buttons at school

And AFT and NEA DID endorse Obama. But that doesn't mean we have the right to impose our political choices upon our students. Our job is to teach kids how to think, not what to believe.

[Suji to Seoul]

17. As a teacher and a certified school adminstrator

with two Master's Degrees (one in Educational Leadership), I find this repugnant. Parents force their beliefs down our throats repeatedly. If a teacher wants to wear a button, let them. What harm will it do?

It might even become a civics lesson and a teachable moment with critical thinking. Sadly, state BOEs don't want that. They want good little worker bees that are just smart enough to work the machines and just dumb enough not to question anything.

"No official, no matter how high or petty, can dictate what is orthodox in matters of religion, politics, nationalism or other matters of opinion," as quoted by Justice Robert Jackson in Barnette v. West Virginia.

People "don't lose their rights at the schoolhouse gate," as Abe Fortas said in Tinker V. Des Moines.

These are still the law of the land. No one should be denied their right to speak due to occupation. I said that as a student, as a Graduate Student, as a teacher and as a Lead Teacher/Assistant Principal. I say that now as an ex-pat.

Buttons, shirts, whatever. . .I see no problem and would run my school as a school administrator that way. Let the students (and teachers) wear whatever buttons they want, so long as it's not "R" rated nor overly disruptive to the educational process.

It's time for a test case of this restrictive policy.

Finally. . .to attack your "teach, not believe" point: Wearing a button supporting a candidate is not dictating to a student what to believe. Again. . .it could become (and usually does) become a teachable moment.

If there are typos I apology. It's 5:48 AM here in Suwon, South Korea.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. I teach elementary school

and if I wore my Obama button to school, my kids would want to support him just because I support him. Wearing campaign buttons and t-shirts isn't how you teach critical thinking to kids. And yes, wearing a button is indeed dictating to young impressionable kids what to believe.

When my students ask me who I am voting for, I ask them who they think I should vote for. That's called teaching critical thinking. :)

If I taught high school I would not wear a button either. This election has been so nasty and I really wouldn't want to bring that into my classroom.