Teacher removed from classroom after video in Trump costume

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Oct 31, 7:09 PM EDT

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) -- A New Hampshire high school teacher is in hot water after a video surfaced showing her in a classroom dressed as Donald Trump and dancing to a song that included an expletive.

Superintendent Stephen Zadravec tells the Portsmouth Herald (http://bit.ly/2f6sSV2 ) that he can't comment about specifics because it's a personnel matter, but Portsmouth High School teacher Kara Kelley "is not presently in the classroom."

Zadravec says there's no place for offensive language in the school "nor is it our practice in school to support or discredit political candidates."

The video was posted on some parents' Facebook pages on Monday. Some commented that the teacher's actions were "out of bounds" and "inappropriate."






Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TEACHER_SUSPENDED_TRUMP_COSTUME?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-10-31-19-09-44

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[chillfactor]

1. what an idiot...

that teacher is.....what in the hell was she thinking?

[HassleCat]

2. What first amendment?

I guess teachers are not entitled to opinions.

[adigal]

3. It depends on whether she did it in front of kids

I'm a teacher and I have very strong opinions outside of class. Try and throw me out of the classroom for them!

[Feeling the Bern]

5. I had more academic freedom to give my opinions in Communist China teaching humanities than in

"Waaa. . .I have butthurt because I am offended" land of the free.

Too many people want to silence too many people on both sides of the spectrum. I guarantee the butthurt parents were Deplorables.

[pennylane100]

11. If you cannot see how unprofessional her behavior was,

I can see why you have butthurt. You do not seem to understand how importance it is for teachers to behave in a responsible manner when in the classroom. Apart from the free speech issue, which is inconsequential, do you really want the young minds of our future generation exposed to a degenerate, child abusing, misogynistic, psychopath as a significant figure in their lives.

[HassleCat]

16. My impression was it was outside school

And it showed up on social media. The story does not make it very clear.

[pennylane100]

27. Well, that maybe.

In that case, I am sorry I came on do strong.

[HassleCat]

19. Ok I see it was in the classroom. Not good.

[Feeling the Bern]

23. I was a teacher for 15 years. I have butthurt? As long as my kid isn't being targeted for

Educational bullies by the teachers, administrators, system and district like I was as a kid, I don't really care. My kid and I will discuss it and I have always taught my children to consider the source, not the comment. If they didn't like it, be an adult and go directly to the teacher to complain respectfully. . .don't go behind the teacher's back.

Do I want young minds. . .yadda yadda yadda? Okay, Helen Lovejoy.

do you really want the young minds of our future generation exposed to a degenerate, child abusing, misogynistic, psychopath as a significant figure in their lives.

I gave up that fight as a teacher a long time ago when I was a teacher. Their parents, family, role models, etc. are all this way. This is the American way. I just taught my material, divorced myself emotionally from my students completely and went home. Some students I had in either the US, Korea, China or Malaysia attached themselves to me like clinging vines, but I always kept that emotional wall up.

If you think you can do a better job, get your certification and put your money where your mouth is.

[7962]

21. How long you been on DU? Its rampant right here nt

[LanternWaste]

31. I believe the teacher's job is to educate rather than advertise a political endorsement.

I believe the teacher's job is to educate rather than advertise a political endorsement. Though tough for many minds to conceive, one may do the former while avoiding the latter, regardless of these mythical tender loins you reference.

[Feeling the Bern]

32. Put your money where your mouth is and get your certification

And see if your "theory" holds water.

[titaniumsalute]

7. It reads as if she dressed like this and danced

O a song with expletives in the classroom. And who knows what kind of dancing she might have been doing. My wife is also a teacher very strong opinions but she doesn't take them into the classroom.

[dixiegrrrrl]

17. showing her in a classroom dressed as Donald Trump and dancing to a song that included an expletive

says the news story

which also explains how she got caught on video.

[adigal]

20. Well, that's just stupid. Mt

[WillParkinson]

6. She is, but...

What about the kids in the class? She has them as a captive audience.

Freedom of speech means the government can't punish you for it. Says nothing about your job.

[pennylane100]

8. They are expected to live up to the standards outlined in their contracts.

If they cannot do that, they should not expect to remain employed. Free speech might be an issue if she went to a private party, OFF SCHOOL GROUNDS, dressed however she wanted and spouting any garbage she cared to repeat.

[rpannier]

15. Not partisan political ones

Can't wear political buttons, can't advocate for or against a candidate, they are expected to remain neutral in the classroom and on school grounds
The story also says the song had expletives in it
That's also likely a no-no

[Sgent]

24. Not when they are a government actor

when attendance is mandated by the state -- ie K-12 teacher in the classroom.

If she goes to a Halloween party tonight dressed like trump, no problem.

[MosheFeingold]

30. Not on the job, no

Stick to teaching the subject at hand.

Not that I don't have some sympathy here, but I always think of "what if the other side did it?"

Would you be OK with a teacher dressed in an orange jumpsuit, handcuffs, and a Hillary mask? No, of course not. Neither would I.

I'm a political addict, but certain areas need to be as free of politics as possible.

[ronnie624]

33. You do not have freedom of speech when you're on the clock.

It's just that simple.

[Feeling the Bern]

9. "Students and teachers do not leave their first amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate"

Tinker V. Des Moines (1968)

However, Bethel V. Fraser (1986) gives school district the right to curb what it considers obscenity in students. This is just an extension for teachers in this case.

Poor taste in front of idiot students and their idiot parents. . .but no worse than cops beating up students in school for not listening to them (and the cops get passes for that).

[bluedigger]

10. She played to an inappropriate audience.

Funny gig, though.

[Egnever]

13. Well from the local paper

Someone who identified himself as a PHS student emailed the Portsmouth Herald to describe Kelley as "one of the most incredible, kind hearted, funniest people in our school."

"She's dressed up every year that I can remember, and this year she dressed up as Trump," according to the self-identified student. "Another student played the song, not her. Yes, she danced to it, but she did in no way intentionally play the song."

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20161031/portsmouth-teacher-dances-to-f----donald-trump

If that is true I think this becomes a tough call. If she chose the song then it is a no brainer but if she just started dancing to a song a student played I think it is a much tougher call. Did she know there would be swearing in the song? If it was a song with no swearing would it have been ok?

[rpannier]

18. Likely no

Since in most states teachers are prevented from expressing partisan political positions in the classroom and on school grounds while school is in session
Which they should be prevented from doing

[Feeling the Bern]

22. Again. . .I guarantee the parents are Trump supporting Deplorables who are just as sociopathic

as the orange haired, cheeto faced, small handed shitgibbon they worship as a God.

[Indydem]

26. And if she had dressed up as Clinton?

What is the song was "Fuck Hillary"?

Is it ok because it's the "other guy"?

Is that how we went teachers to act in front of students?

You hate Trump, great. Get on the train. But that is not how a teacher should act in front of students about any political figure. Their job is NOT to be partisan, even if it is the cheeto-faced asshole running for president.

[Feeling the Bern]

28. Why not? Our elected officials do. Our parents do.

I hate this self-righteous indignation. I am so glad I retired from teaching and, even if I didn't retire, I would never teach in the States EVER again.

[Upin]

29. Captive audience...

They have to be there by law...

Politicians are partisan by definition...

Parents are free citizens on their own time...

[bucolic_frolic]

14. There are various approaches to our beliefs

subconscious and unintentional
conscious and subtle, hoping to shape minds and the future
deliberate and explicit, light indoctrination
authoritarian, deliberately controlling and indoctrinaire
coercive, with punishments for non-compliance

Then there is just plain stupid
This sounds like #3, and she should have known better
Not the brightest bulb to not realize this wouldn't fly well

[kimbutgar]

25. I am a substitute teacher and kids want to talk about cheeto

I make the effort to stay neutral and say "it is up to the American people what direction they want this country to go" That said, my Asian and Hispanic students are filled with anxiety over the election of Cheeto.