Teacher Fired Over Anti-Bullying Video

[marmar]

Published on Nov 8, 2015

A middle school teacher in Kansas showed his students an anti-bullying video. The short film depicted a world where homosexuality was normal but heterosexuality was discriminated against. The community protested the video being shown and the teacher has been dismissed. Ana Kasparian (The Point) and John Iadarola (Think Tank) hosts of The Young Turks discuss.

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/freaked-out-conservative-parents-force-kansas-teacher-out-of-his-job-for-showing-students-anti-bullying-video/

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Teacher was unaware of the political climate in Kansas? n/t

[dickthegrouch]

6. What's that got to do with anything?

He did the right thing and was bullied for it by morans who haven't seen the video.
He's a hero and a martyr to the cause.
I yearn for the days when this kind of crap doesn't happen any more anywhere.
None of us is free until ALL of us are free.

[ryan_cats]

8. Very noble

None of us is free until ALL of us are free.
Very noble sentiment.

What does the slave dream of?

[Egnever]

11. Sorry have to disagree

The video suggests at the end that suicide is the answer and that unfortunately ruins the whole video. The message is a good one and the video is well done IMHO right up until the ending. Remove that ending and I wouldn't have a problem with it.

Kansas has a lot to do with it also he likely would have gotten away with it in a more progressive state. Although with the ending of that video he might not.

[ljm2002]

12. The video most certainly does not...

..."suggest (...) that suicide is the answer". That is utter nonsense!

It DOES suggest that suicide is a possible RESULT of this kind of bullying.

I wonder why you felt the need to misrepresent the video like that. Or is that really the message you got? If so, that's... twisted.

[Egnever]

14. I dissagree

the girl in the video uses suicide to escape the bullying and that is the end of the video. The rest of the video did a good job of showing the pain the bullying caused there was no need for the suicide scene and in my opinion it leaves the impression it is an acceptable solution as that ends the video and the bullying in the video.

Your mileage may vary but I would be pissed if it was shown to my 11 year old with that ending without my permission.

I wouldn't want the guy fired over it but I would not be pleased.

[ljm2002]

15. Not sure that is the end of the video...

...since TYT only showed an excerpt. But still, if you actually think it promoted suicide as an "answer" then I think your views are twisted.

If you had just said it would concern you, as a parent, to see a simulated suicide, then sure I can understand that. But you are reading something into it that is just not there.

[Egnever]

16. So wait you havent even seen the whole video?

WTF?

How can you even comment?

Watch it and get back to me...

[trumad]

17. Just watched the video---

You do know that Bully victims actually do commit suicide... you do know that right?

[Egnever]

19. What a dumb question

It is a huge problem and not one that should be shown as a way to end bullying to young children.

The rest of the video is well done but the ending is not suitable for young children without parents permission.

You may think it's fine and that is certainly your prerogative but I don't and I completely understand parents complaining about it. If they showed that to my 11 year old without my permission I would be bent.

[trumad]

25. How old does she have to be that bullying can lead to suicide?

12, 13...14?

[ljm2002]

28. WTF? indeed...

...I commented on the video posted in the OP. Standard operating procedure on a discussion forum in my experience. For you to ask "How can you even comment?" is ridiculous.

TTFN

[LostOne4Ever]

2. Teacher was too good for that school nt

[catrose]

3. That video is powerful

And upsetting. Which it should be. I hope the teacher finds a place worthy of him.

[KansDem]

26. He was planning on retiring at the end of the school year...

According to Murphy, the school board will be meeting Nov. 9 and is expected to accept Leahy’s resignation. Murphy noted that Leahy has intended to retire following the conclusion of the school year.

Maybe a blessing in disguise! However, I'm sure he'd receive offers from more-enlightened school districts if he wanted to continue. I could see him retiring and going "part time" at a school that valued his keen insight and awareness.

[catrose]

27. I hope being fired doesn't affect his retirement benefits eom

[KansDem]

29. I don't believe he'll lose his retirement benefits

As a teacher, he's probably vested in a public retirement system that represents several schools, unlike a private system that can be meddled with by corporate executives. And he wasn't accused and convicted of a crime, which I believe could affect one's retirement benefits--but I'm not certain.

I would say that his retirement is secure. Perhaps a more knowledgeable DUer could weigh in on this topic.

[lpbk2713]

4. Kill the messenger.

The people in this community obviously are not ready for this sort of awakening.

[Jefferson23]

5. He tried, a fantastic effort and tremendous considering that states political climate. K&R

[Half-Century Man]

7. In order to get the point across, teens need to sympathize with the protagonist.

The Teacher found a video that most Kansas teens can find common ground with the protagonist. In other words; something that teaches.
Kansas parents apparently aren't in favor of that.

[Iggo]

9. He taught.

@ Tom Leahy.

[Egnever]

10. Yea not really surprising

First it's Kansas not the most receptive of climates for that video in the first place. Secondly the ending of the film seems to suggest suicide is the answer to bullying.

While I agree with the overall message I would not want my middle school kid to watch that mostly because of the ending.

I think firing is a bit harsh but I totally understand parents being upset over it's showing.

Remove the suicide scene at the end at I doubt I would have a problem with it but with that scene in I find it highly inappropriate for middle school kids.

[trumad]

18. Why remove the suicide scene?

It is a reality that bullied kids commit suicide. Why do you want to hide that fact?

[Goblinmonger]

20. That's like saying that the movie Trainspotting encouraged heroine use.

Or Pulp Fiction told people they should kill other people.

If one watches that movie and doesn't feel horrible that people kill themselves over this (which they do), they one is either a robot or just doesn't get things very easily.

[Egnever]

21. Are either of those appropriate to show to young children without their parents permission?

[Goblinmonger]

23. Stay on point.

And that isn't it.

That video is NOT encouraging suicide.

[Act_of_Reparation]

24. Yes, that is EXACTLY the point he's making.

[Eleanors38]

13. Bullies & bully culture will not be bullied!

[Fumesucker]

22. Bullying is a family value in many if not most parts of America

In many schools it's not just winked at, it's encouraged.