Teacher on leave for stomping on American flag in front of class (Obama, speech)

[All American NYC]

A high school teacher in South Carolina is under investigation and has been placed on long-term administrative leave after he allegedly threw an American flag on the floor and stomped on it in front of his students....“He drew a couple of symbols, like one of them was a cross, and he said, ‘What does this represent,’ and everybody said, ‘Christianity,’” Copeland explained to WIS. “Then he proceeds to take down the American flag, and said, ‘This is a symbol, but it’s only a piece of cloth. It doesn’t mean anything,’ and then he throws it down on the floor and then stomps on it, repeatedly,”

I wonder if this was the Koran would the reaction be different?

[AV8n]

Not sure what his point was, but he apparently didn't do a good job of getting it across.

If he was trying to make the point that you can destroy the symbol but not the ideal behind it, he could have done it in a less dramatic fashion, but maybe he wanted to be offensive. Some folks just get off on stuff like that.

Had it been a Koran, he'd be in hiding about now.

[Oldhag1]

Teachers are not entitled to the same level of freedom of speech when in the classroom as the rest of society enjoys. I assume he's not tenured. No teacher's unions in South Carolina.

[jwm1964]

Originally Posted by Oldhag1

Teachers are not entitled to the same level of freedom of speech when in the classroom as the rest of society enjoys. I assume he's not tenured. No teacher's unions in South Carolina.

Well in the classroom they are at their place of business and subject to the rules of their employer.

[HappyTexan]

Well he's finding now that he was wrong...there ARE consequences for stomping on the flag in front of impressionable students.

[KUchief25]

I'm sure the kids are glad this nutbag is on suspension. I doubt stomping on a flag in front of class is the first kooky thing this nutjob has done.

[Oldhag1]

Originally Posted by jwm1964

Well in the classroom they are at their place of business and subject to the rules of their employer.

Don't disagree but I think a half year administrative leave is excessive unless this is a pattern of his and they have already counseled him about it.

[claudhopper]

Originally Posted by KUchief25

I'm sure the kids are glad this nutbag is on suspension. I doubt stomping on a flag in front of class is the first kooky thing this nutjob has done.

What is suspension going to do? Fire the windbag.

[I'm Kickinit]

Originally Posted by KUchief25

I'm sure the kids are glad this nutbag is on suspension. I doubt stomping on a flag in front of class is the first kooky thing this nutjob has done.

Speaking of so called nutjobs, wasn't there a member here who took their American flag down and threw it in a trash or garbage can after Obama won re-election? My point is, why is exercising freedom of speech considered being a nutjob? Or is desecretion of the American flag not considered freedom of speech, but more unpatriotic?

[Oldhag1]

Originally Posted by claudhopper

What is suspension going to do? Fire the windbag.

Most teachers are under contracts, even untenured ones. Getting rid of a teacher mid-year is not easy or cheap, for that matter.