High school teacher's comments investigated by district ( Bush Hitler?)

[DearAbby]

High school teacher's comments investigated by district


AURORA - A 16-year-old boy at Overland High School doesn't want to hear what he calls his teacher's left-wing political rants.

Sean Allen frequently recorded his teachers to back up his notes. Allen recorded Jay Bennish, his 10th grade World Geography teacher, making comments about President Bush's State of the Union Address. Allen's father claims the comments made in the recording are biased and inappropriate for a geography class. "I'm not saying Bush and Hitler are exactly the same, obviously they're not. OK? But there are some eerie similarities to the tones that they use," says Bennish in his critique of U.S. economic and foreign policy.

>snip<



The school district says at first glance it does appear the teacher acted inappropriately at the very least.

A spokesperson for the Cherry Creek School District said they have placed Bennish on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. This is not a disciplinary action; the school district wants to remove him while they sort through the rest of the investigation.




http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJEC...


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What I am hearing on the radio here is that several students have walked out of class in protest, this teacher was quite popular. It is breaking news here in the Denver area.

[marmar]

1. I don't think H.S. teachers should push their views...

like my pro-Repug H.S. teachers did, but this 16-year-old sounds like a little Tucker Carlson in the making.

[DearAbby]

3. High School Kids are calling the local talk show

here on KOA, and stating why they walked out of class. What I gathered from the above link. They had placed the teacher on suspension pending an investigation.

[bliss_eternal]

6. What are the kids' saying?

Why are they saying they walked out? Was it in support of the kid or the teacher...?

[Yupster]

30. I taught high school history

and I was very careful not to try to push my views onto the kids.

If they asked what I thought of a cntroversial issue, I would give them my opinion, but add that there was another side too and I would try to give the other side's argument too. This was duribf the Reagan years so there was plenty in the news.

I don't know what this guy said, but if he was pushing his views without giving the other side of the argumnent too, then I'll have little sympathy for him.

The kids are a captive audience after all.

[atreides1]

2. Looks Like.....

....Sean Allen is well on his way to membership in the Hitler..I mean Young Republicans.

[bliss_eternal]

4. Are the student's protesting the teacher's suspension?

I'm hoping that's the case and not them supporting the little idiot that started the whole mess.

Speaking of the little idiot--it's a good teacher's job to teach you to question authority and to evaluate information that you get from the govt. for yourself, you little pinhead! Filter out the crap you don't want to hear about your furher and appreciate the fact that you have an instructor that is encouraging you to f**** think for yourself, as opposed to teaching you to just regurgitate whatever he says you should think!

It scares me to no end that this kind of kid is our future... :scared:

[DearAbby]

5. Yes, they are protesting his suspension.

are quite angry. I dont know as yet how many have walked out. But they are calling in to the local radio station here.

[elehhhhna]

9. oh thank god

[bliss_eternal]

10. That's FREAKIN' awesome!

There's still hope...!

:woohoo:

Thanks for the update, DearAbby!

[elehhhhna]

7. NO SHIT! I've dona a class walkout ONCE:

In middle achool in the freaking 60's. Teach accused the wrong person of throwing a test-tube despite our protests (& narcing out the perp) but when teach sent Darrryl to the Principals office, we went WITH him.


I could record some shocking stuff right here in TOmmy DeLay's hometown. Shall I get some elementary & middle school teachers announcing that the "Minute of Silence" is for PRAYER? That's an easy one.

[acmejack]

11. A 16 year old 10th grader?

Isn't that old? Maybe he is a little idiot in actuality.

[bliss_eternal]

16. LOL--Yeah!

What's up with THAT?! Little idiot... :rofl:

[Craig3410]

18. No, sounds about right...

I was born 2/13, and was 18 my senior year, 17 my junior year, 16 in my sophomore year.

[bliss_eternal]

19. True--

but I like thinking of him as a little idiot. ;) Forgive me... (tee hee)

[cali]

20. No.

Age spread is generally from 15 to 16 depending on when your bday is. My son, for instance, was born the end of Sept. He entered 10th grade when he was 15 but actually was 16 most of the academic year. Can't speak for this kid, but mine (though I sometimes wondered about him socially) is a bright guy.

[SmokingJacket]

8. Can you imagine a teacher being investigated for anti-Clinton

remarks? I can't.

I do think teachers should keep their politics to themselves as much as possible through about 9th grade -- it's unfair on children who are too young to have an educated opinion.

However, kids are voting at 18, so by the time high school ends they should be exposed to as many perspectives as possible. How can they make up their minds unless they've been challenged by dissenting opinions?

[bliss_eternal]

12. I totally agree!

The teacher's I respected the most were the one's that presented their opinions as that--their views, opinions, ideals, etc. and told us WE had to evaluate situations and decide for ourselves what we thought.

After watching a news magazine report about the children of the boomers being less open to questioning authority and developing their own ideas--frankly, I was frightened. I thought that was just a part of growing up, learning to think for yourself and not necessarily going along with popular thought. :scared:

It gives me great hope that kids in COLORADO are calling a rw station defending this teacher! :thumbsup:
Whaddaya' know--the whole world isn't black and heartless...

[Kansas Wyatt]

13. I'd be demanding a thorough investigation on a national level,

On any similarities between Bush and Hitler to exonerate myself.

Want to question the statement, well then let's just lay all the facts on the table to see what the evidence proves.

[DearAbby]

14. The station these kids are calling

is the Mike Rosen Show, very reich wing, they are arguing with him, these kids are awesome!

Rosen is spitting, actually spitting....Had a young man talking about Bush being a cokehead and a alcoholic, that capitalism is detrimental to basic human rights...I am so proud of our youth here calling.

[bliss_eternal]

15. Excuse my language--

but that FUCKIN' Rocks! Those kids totally deserve this:

:yourock: Right ON! You kids' GO...! :applause:

Just when I think the youth of today is in the crapper, something like this happens and restores my soul! Hooray!

[DearAbby]

17. 85KOA...may be able to stream

I dont know how long this show will be on...I normally dont listen to this bilge, its right before Flush limpball...

[bliss_eternal]

24. I was able to stream some of it--

unfortunately by the time I found it, he seemed to be taking all the callers that agree with his warped world view. :puke: Sounds like a big asshat!

I don't know if you ever visit their site, but if you should see they make this show available later, let me know. I'd love to listen to the parts when the kids were talking!

:hi:

[DearAbby]

25. Will do...I am sure the local TV stations

will cover this...Will update

[bliss_eternal]

28. Thank you--

you've been great! This was cool! :)

[DearAbby]

21. An Agreement was reached

between the students and the principal, there will be no punishment for this protest, it continues as far as I can gain from the radio. Still listening to the Rosen show on KOA

[emulatorloo]

26. thanks for the play by play EOM

[noonwitch]

22. I didn't really want to hear my biology teacher's opinion of women

But I survived it. He was actually funny about it ("the sleek, cunning sperm finds the fat egg"-it is funny when you are 16). At the high school level, kids should be able to listen to political opinions they disagree with and not throw a fit because they disagree.

[DearAbby]

23. I don't believe Young Sean would

be harmed listening to another point of view, may even help him...seeing how his family are totally reich wing.

The show has ended now, it is going to go to Rush's program..will update when I can

Go Kids!

:)

So proud of them!

[bliss_eternal]

27. The problem with this administration

from where I sit is that they routinely erase and/or downplay anything and everything that doesn't line up perfectly with their spin. Because of it, by and large there isn't much evidence in msm that it's part of life to scrutinize the govt. and federal authority. They've created a world where what the republican's say is the truth, don't you dare disagree--because you will be punished, lampooned on o'reilly or rush, etc.

This kid thinks it's wrong for his teacher to express views that make it clear he's not a fan of shrub's.

In any other administration at any other time, there would be criticism of the WH available in the world, and this kid would see that is life--that's it's normal, healthy and appropriate. Unfortunately with Rove and his hench mob of media cronies they are able to create a world that looks a lot like it's criminal to criticize fuckstick mcawol and company.

[DearAbby]

29. Some photos from KUSA TV Station

>snip<
Most of the students who walked out of classes had returned by 9 a.m. Thursday, but a few dozen remained outside shortly before 11 a.m.

"I'm not saying Bush and Hitler are exactly the same, obviously they're not. OK? But there are some eerie similarities to the tones that they use," says Bennish in his critique of U.S. economic and foreign policy.





Also video clips at
Also can hear the tape recording of the teacher here

http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=b8298706-0abe-421a-0116-75e16c449518&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf

[sinkingfeeling]

31. Somewhere, there's an earlier thread on this with a link to audio

of what the teacher actually said. One statement was along the lines, "This is my opinion and you don't have to agree with me. What I want you to do is to think about things in different ways." (This is not a direct quote)

Sure sounds like education to me.