Take A Knee

The big news about town is that two teachers at our local high school took a knee last Friday morning during the Pledge of Allegiance, this being on the morn of #45's inauguration. The rumor of the alleged incident spread quickly on social media and at times viciously, with some community members calling for "their heads", wishing them ill will, and/or that they should lose their jobs.Very few thought this to be a good idea or teaching tool.

I thought about the incident long and hard. The quandary was, Why would two respected  history teachers get together and "protest" #45 by taking a knee in front of students? Was it there attempt to make a political statement? OR Might it have been a teaching moment to display to their students that they, the students, have Freedom of Speech according to the First Amendment?

One would need to ask: What was their motivation? Was it in their lesson plans? How would this lesson be evaluated? And if it was to be a teaching experience AKA a lesson, Who approved this?

Then it was discovered that these two "history" did NOT do this as a teaching experience. Nor did they do this in their own classroom in the presence of their own students. Rather then pulling this stunt in the safety and comfort of their own classroom with their students who understand them they choose the classroom of a "non-tenured" teacher, a possible future colleague, in unfamiliar grounds with students basically unknown to them and they to them.

The TWO, as I will refer to them, did not have a class scheduled at that time and as a matter of fact it was determined by reviewing their teaching assignments both have a rather cushy schedule of Advanced Placement classes. The best of the best. To make this situation even stranger, one of the TWO is CHAIRPERSON of the department, that is, a supervisor of the other member of the TWO, and potential boss of the non tenured teacher.

Investigation has shown that the TWO have been previously quite outspoken in opposition to the election of #45 while praising the graces and accomplishments of President #44. They also had planned to attend the inauguration if their chosen candidate had won. It was also learned that during the last two inaugurations these TWO hosted students in classrooms and the cafeteria to view #44 taking the Oath of Office. However, on Friday these same TV's were nowhere to be found for #45. Confusing? You bet. It gets better.

My thought are with the principal, blindsided by all this, as he must sift through what actually occurred and with the aid of Central Office, The Board of Education, as well as The Constitution of The United States, determine his next step as well as making a statement to the community. Being thrust into an ill light is never taught in Administration 101.

Legally there is little he/they can do as the First Amendment guarantees FREE SPEECH, even in the work place. I say little legally can be done however...payback can be a bitch. You might be able to slip a few days suspension with pay out but...ACLU will be on that in a second.So what to do?

A "counseling memo" could be offered, instructing the TWO about your respecting their rights to protest but your utter disappointment on "where" they did it (not their classroom) and their jeopardizing the non-tenured teachers reputation in the community by choosing to do it in his classroom. Also that their place of protest (not their room, not their students, why not the main hallway, faculty room,outside in the rain) could have (did) jeopardize those student who might have been conflicted. "Should I continue to stand or join in?" These TWO put the students, again NOT theirs, in a precarious situation. Their otherwise good judgement displayed in years past was today clouded by their desire to make a political statement.Or was it?

Geez, that poor principal probably spent his weekend on the phone or in the school working with the powers that be sorting through this situation, determining their response, and preparing for the Board of Education meeting scheduled (regularly) for Monday night, but I am sure by that time a few more questions will be asked by the community who are expected to pack said meeting.

Due to a N'easter the meeting was postponed until the following Friday. The brouhaha in the community calmed a bit yet those who started to post in the latter days leading up to the rescheduled meeting came out in favor of the teachers and their RIGHT to freedom of speech. The teachers were named by some and more jumped on the bandwagon defending The Two, restating over and over again as to their teaching abilities and love for there students and subject matter. An apology was offered to the community and Board of Education by the Two during the interim to the meeting.

I did not attend the meeting but from the TV coverage and my conversations with those there cooler heads prevailed. As with all personnel matters nothing was or could be revealed to the community to the dismay of some. But life goes on.

And it will as more information was revealed as to "how" the two were brought to notoriety. Could it have been another teacher? One who proudly states "LET'S MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN"? Could it be the same teacher in the same department as the two, who has a huge TRUMP/PENCE banner hanging over his desk?

Think it's time for a change....