I think we ALL need to support this teacher, as he's really getting hit from the other side

[hyphenate]

This article comes from Faux, so I'm not sure of the real details, but it does seem that he could use some positive vibes at any rate.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/16/teacher-sought-demolish-tea-party-placed-leave-school/

Teacher Who Sought to 'Demolish' Tea Party Placed on Leave From School
By Jana Winter - FOXNews.com

An Oregon teacher who announced his intention to "dismantle and demolish the Tea Party" has been placed on administrative leave until his school district finishes its investigation into whether his political activity crossed the line


Teacher Jason Levin is under investigation after his "Crash the Tea Party" Web site called on supporters to infiltrate anti government protests. (KATU)

An Oregon teacher who announced his intention to "dismantle and demolish the Tea Party" has been placed on administrative leave until his school district finishes its investigation into whether his political activity crossed the line. The state's Teacher Standards & Practices Commission is also conducting an investigation into Jason Levin, a media teacher at Conestoga Middle School in Beaverton.

"Jason is on paid administrative leave," Maureen Wheeler, the school district's spokeswoman, told FoxNews.com. She described the suspension as "standard practice during an internal investigation."

Levin has come under fire for saying he'd do anything short of throwing rocks to bring down the Tea Party. In the last two days, the Beaverton School District has received thousands of e-mails and phone calls from people across the country who said they were outraged at his behavior.

The school district is defending Levin's right to free speech, but it's investigating whether he used district computers to spread his political message or worked on his "Crash the Tea Party" Web site during school hours.

Levin has said he would seek to embarrass Tea Partiers by attending their rallies dressed as Adolf Hitler, carrying signs bearing racist, sexist and anti-gay epithets and acting as offensively as possible -- anything short of throwing punches.

A source within the district said parents at Conestoga did not initially appear upset at Levin's anti-Tea Party activism -- but that changed in recent days as controversial statements continued to emerge.

[pinboy3niner]

1. There's a lot of suspicion that this guy is a wingnut 'plant'

The job issue is a question of whether or not, and to what extent, he used school time/equipment for personal political activity. That's a factual issue, not a political one, and should be fairly easy to resolve. Not a bandwagon I need to jump on.

[CurtEastPoint]

5. My first thought no matter which side he's on is that you CAN NOT use...

your work computer like you do your own. The school district should be able to determine "... whether he used district computers to spread his political message or worked on his "Crash the Tea Party" Web site during school hours."

[pdxmom]

2. I don't think his "leave" even has to do with misuse of computers. He has

said to the press he's getting death threats, and whether he actually is or isn't doesn't matter. Moms and dads around here still remember Kip Kinkel and Thurston High School and don't want their kids in class with the words "death threats" being out there. Safer for everyone to put him on leave for a few days and wait for it all to die down.

[Wickerman]

3. I don't agree with his methods

"Levin has said he would seek to embarrass Tea Partiers by attending their rallies dressed as Adolf Hitler, carrying signs bearing racist, sexist and anti-gay epithets and acting as offensively as possible -- anything short of throwing punches."

[TransitJohn]

4. 'Crossed the Line'....WTF does that even mean???

I hate the bad, bad writing that passes for news nowadays.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. If he did this during school hours I have no sympathy

That's idiotic.