My activist friend needs support. In trouble for antiwar message at grad assembly

[PuraVidaDreamin]

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100615/NEWS/6150306

My friend Beth is passionate about her anti- recruiting efforts. Many people in town are calling for her firing. Apparently at the same assembly the vice principal who is in the national guard wore his military uniform. Someone informed Fox News and they've been playing it up on their so called news channel. Please read the article for more info. And please think about dropping the principal of the school a letter in support of Beth and her friend.

>SOUTH YARMOUTH — Some students are calling for the firing of two Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School teachers who held an anti-war sign during a school assembly Friday.

History teacher Marybeth Verani and English teacher Adeline Koscher made their silent protest during the part of the assembly in which school officials recognized graduating seniors who are entering the military.

"They not only imposed their political will, they imposed it at the wrong time," said D-Y junior Andrew Bowles Jr., who organized an after-school protest yesterday that drew about 30 students.

Parents and other community members have flooded the high school principal's office with about 40 e-mails and phone calls criticizing the teachers' actions.

"I honestly feel (the protest) was misplaced," said D-Y parent Joanne Schuman of Yarmouth. "I think they should have been removed from that event."

Some individuals have voiced support for the two teachers, who were put on paid leave until at least tomorrow, Verani said.

She said she and Koscher were not trying to undermine the students but "to address the expansion of military recruitment of children in our schools.

"I think we're supposed to open the door for differences of opinion," said Verani, a longtime peace activist. "We're not all in lock-step agreement on everything."

The protest unfolded during the senior last assembly, when the high school gathers to recognize graduates for a variety of achievements. For the last five years the recognition ceremony has included the awarding of plaques to students entering military service, said Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School principal Kenneth Jenks.<

[DURHAM D]

1. Oh gheez - I already lived through the 60s once.

The person who should be fired is the V-Prin. who came in uniform to try and recruit those kids.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

11. That is bothersome

And if the two women are reprimanded harshly so should the v-principal.

[Riftaxe]

14. Fired for wearing his uniform?

I am sure the military has protocols as to when and where a dress uniform is appropriate, maybe someone can expand on that for us.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Here's a thread I started

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8564592

[Brickbat]

3. I don't support her action, but I don't think she should be fired.

[bbinacan]

4. Not much sympathy here.

It was the wrong venue.

[lonestarnot]

5. Oh really? What is the right venue? Funerals?

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. You know where I stand on this war

I'm also a teacher. And I think these teachers were wrong. They were on the clock as district employees. If they were there in a different role, I'd applaud them.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

9. Totally know where you stand.

Its crazy- These kids who are graduating from high school today were 8 years old when 9/11 happened.
They grew up listening to the fear from their TV's and parents. They have only known war. How warped it that?

Now its easier than ever to recruit- The military can stand in the lunch room with a table of propaganda-
Many kids today have no money to go to college, there are no jobs available- The military will never
again need a draft after what Bush et al did to this economy.

These kids are old enough to know that there is another side - another way. I applaud these two teachers.

For the last 10 years I have done peace and social justice activities with Beth, her passion rivals yours P2B
You'd adore her.

Sorry didn't see your post.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. I honestly respect her passion

I just don't agree that a school function was the appropriate place for this action by school district employees.

I know I wouldn't have done it. I would most likely help sneak in a couple friends who aren't district employees to do this though. :)

[midnight]

36. Here is what I don't understand. Why do we have to be sneaky?

[TommyO]

43. If a school function was the right place to announce kids going into the military

it was the right place to protest recruitment on campus as well.

[proud2BlibKansan]

46. The focus of this particular function was the achievement of the kids

The teachers, as district employees, should support that achievement rather than politicize it.

[TommyO]

49. Announcing kids going into the military had already politicized it

A vice-principal wearing a uniform politicized it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

50. Two wrongs don't make a right

[lonestarnot]

60. Tired.

[lonestarnot]

59. Damn fucking straight!

[lonestarnot]

58. Then you approve of in uniform recruitment actions at "school functions." You either do or you

don't. Can't have it both ways. Like leeches in the creek they.

[rgbecker]

7. Dover.

[midnight]

34. Good response.

[Odin2005]

24. Why?

[JVS]

35. That venue should never have happened. If the signs are a policization, the entire ceremony is ...

an even more egregious politicization.

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. I'd say the school is making a pro-military statement.....

... with the awards ( and perhaps a covert pro-war statement) and the teachers are acting responsibly by disassociating themselves from said statement.

Silence, under the circumstance, could legitimately be interpreted as consent.




>>>>History teacher Marybeth Verani and English teacher Adeline Koscher made their silent protest during the part of the assembly in which school officials recognized graduating seniors who are entering the military.>>>>>

[apocalypsehow]

12. Nonsense - it's simply honoring kids who've made life choices heading out into the world. Have you

never attended a high school assembly? They stage these things for all sorts of life choices kids make on the threshold of entering the real world - scholarships to colleges earned, academic and sports letters won, etc.

"Silence, under the circumstance, could legitimately be interpreted as consent"

Then they could have respectfully requested to be excused from the assembly altogether, rather than make the situation unpleasant for the young people entering the military and their parents. I guarantee you if these two teachers had held up signs that stated, say "Choose Life: Outlaw Abortion" or "Global Warming is a Hoax" you'd be in this same thread screaming for them both to be fired, kicked off campus, teaching credentials revoked, tar & feathers. And I'd be saying the same thing I said above: there is a time and a place for such protests. A school assembly is not one of them.

[Smarmie Doofus]

25. But if everybody who objected to the military awards "respectfully"...

>>>>Then they could have respectfully requested to be excused from the assembly altogether, rather than make the situation unpleasant for the young people entering the military and their parents.>>>>

... asked to be excused,the military kids and their folks might have encountered an even more "unpleasant" situation.

Nah...I'd say holding signs was about right. Interferes with no one and makes the point; and graphically. If the military kids and /or parents and or school admin find it unbearable, then they can scuttle the military awards, or hold them separately. ( But they won't, because the reason the military awards are there is a *political* reason to begin with.

>>>>I guarantee you if these two teachers had held up signs that stated, say "Choose Life: Outlaw Abortion" or "Global Warming is a Hoax" you'd be in this same thread screaming for them both to be fired, kicked off campus, teaching credentials revoked, tar & feathers. And I'd be saying the same thing I said above: there is a time and a place for such protests. A school assembly is not one of them.>>>

Not really. I once went to a church service.... boy this really *was* a long time ago.... with some relatives , one of whom wore a t-shirt with huge letters spelling out: "MIKE DUKAKIS IS PRO ABORTION". ( I was... am... more or less "pro-choice", and also supported Dukakis.)

What should I have done? Go home and put my head in the oven? Come on.

[apocalypsehow]

27. There is a time and a place for such protests - a school assembly is not one of them. All the rest

is just obfuscation and special pleading.

"asked to be excused,the military kids and their folks might have encountered an even more "unpleasant" situation"

You have not a shred of proof for that. I, on the other hand, have definitive proof that only two people objected (and made assess of themselves), and the vast majority of people in the school district want those two fired for their unwarranted and boorish actions.

"What should I have done? Go home and put my head in the oven? Come on"

If you can't distinguish between a school assembly held to honor graduating students and a church service, there's really not much I can do to help you.

[Cid_B]

61. Thought the same thing...

What if one of the graduating kids was attending college and had been given a scholarship from a GLBT organization? A few teachers in the back with some anti-gay signs would go over like a lead balloon here.

It wasn't the time or place and certainly not their role as govt employees.

[apocalypsehow]

10. There is a time and place for such protests. A school assembly is not one of them.

That said, something less drastic than firing them should be considered. A reprimand, written warning, something other than terminating their employment is the appropriate punishment.

[stray cat]

13. Activism if you break the rules requires acceptance in advance of consequences

Your friend knew the rules and decided it was worth the penalties to perform the act - cause and effect is even known in advance! Real activism is a decision to act based on knowledge and acceptance of consequences.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

15. And wow does that take guts.

She's joined some fine company in my opinion.

Ghandi, Martin Luther King...

She is a hero to me.

[EFerrari]

16. Good for them. Too bad there aren't teachers like that in every school

that tries to indoctrinate cannon fodder for the MIC. :applause:

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. We went to our school board and lobbied to get recruiters out of our high schools

There are teachers all across my district who oppose the war. We just chose a different way to communicate our opposition. :)

[EFerrari]

22. Good going!

:hi:

[readmoreoften]

29. Did the lobbying efforts work?

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. Somewhat

The recruiters were restricted but we still have ROTC.

[Cid_B]

62. Do us a favor and leave it alone...

ROTC was a source of stability and growth in HS. I would say that includes those of us who joined up and those who ended up staying civilians.

[Dystopian]

17. KandR.

I agree with your friends. Their actions were honorable.
I will write a letter in support.
Promise.


peace~

[Earth_First]

20. So the high school principle is free and clear to voice HIS (pro military) opinion and conscious

yet his staff is forbidden to voice THEIRS?

+1 to Verani and Koscher.

[readmoreoften]

32. It is always the right time to support right-wing militarism, but rarely the right time to protest.

Teachers often care about watching their students be lied to by military recruiters and send off to kill.

[Dorian Gray]

55. So kids planning on

entering the military upon graduation under a democratic commander in chief counts as right-wing militarism?

Their recruitment is what's being protested.

[mistertrickster]

21. If they aren't in the union, heaven help them. nt

[Odin2005]

23. K&R for your friend.

[hack89]

26. She won't get my support - she was wrong. nt

[kiapolo]

28. no kidding...

talk about horrible timing. Talk about proper time and place.

She should be fired for being that dumb as a teacher.

[readmoreoften]

30. So it is ALWAYS the right place and the right time to be FOR military recruiting in high schools

and RARELY the right place and the right time to be AGAINST military recruiting in high schools.

[hack89]

33. There is always a wrong time to ruin a kid's special moment

it was a big deal for those kids and their families. I know you think that the kids are simply mindless drones easily manipulated into joining Uncle Sam's killing club, but to many it was an informed choice motivated in part by patriotism and service to country.

Do you really think she advanced the cause by her actions?

[midnight]

37. I'm sure she did advance the cause. Look how many people are talking about

it.

[G_j]

40. motivated in part by patriotism and service to country.....

I think you left out the jobless economy
:think:

[AngryAmish]

38. The cool thing about being an activist is taking the consequences of your actions

Ghandi, Mandela, et al.

Your friend will soon learn the consequences now.

If she does not start a hunger strike now - no food, no water for thirty day at least - then she is not committed to the anti-war movement.

[unhappycamper]

39. My email to the principal of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District:

Dear Mr. Jenks:

I am a veteran who served two tours of duty in Vietnam. I saw Tet of '68 up close and personal and I was in the invasion of Cambodia in 1970. I have two Bronze Stars, two Army Commendation medals, two Vietnam Service medals and three Good Conduct Medals. I served for a total of nine years, nine months and six days from 1963 to 1973, 26 months of that in a combat zone.

When I was in the United States Army I had thought I was fighting for the United States Constitution and our freedoms, which happens to include the right of free speech. I put my life on the line twice to support those ideals. And I have continued to do so over the years.

I have seen my fellow Vietnam veterans die; I have seen my fellow Vietnam veterans commit suicide; I have seen my fellow Vietnam veterans in prison and I have seen my fellow Vietnam veterans homeless. There is a common thread here, Mr. Jenks: Vietnam. War may be good for business but it is not good for people.

My generation was lost in Vietnam. Another generation will be lost in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since 9/11, the Bush Administration and much of America, has accepted the use of 'Free Speech Zones' to suppress the people's right to speak. The 'My way or the highway' mentality is completely and totally abhorrent to me.

I have watched the recruiting of our children to support the All Volunteer Army. Since a draft is not wanted, the military has used the No Child Left Behind Act to gather information from students for recruiting purposes. Students can opt out from having their information directly handed to recruiters but few know that.

Military recruiters troll schools looking for children to influence. They set up tables in the cafeteria showing all the glitzy pamphlets to show our children the 'fun' you can have in the military. Join the Army and see the world! Join the Army and earn enough for a college education! Be one of the Few, the Proud, the Marines!

Patriots come in many shapes and sizes, Mr. Jenks. As the principal of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District, you should know that Mr. Jenks.

War is used to promote political ideas. The Gulf of Tonkin incident has been proven to be bogus. Our reasons for invading Irag have proven to be bogus. And yet the United States spent 14 years in Vietnam and 7 years so far in Iraq and 9 years so far in Afghanistan.

Do we, as a nation, have the right to kill others for oil and natural resources? Are we, as a nation, God's chosen people? I think not.

Glorification of war and the people who fight needless wars is a mistake. Especially from those who are supposed to give our children the ability to think clearly.

History is a great teacher. Have you ever heard of Smedley Darlington Butler? Every Marine knows of this man.

He was a Marine Corps Major General who participated in military actions in the Philippines, China, in Central America during the Banana Wars, the Caribbean and during World War I, he served in France. By the end of his career he had received 16 medals, five of which were for heroism. He is one of 19 people to be twice awarded the Medal of Honor, one of three to be awarded both the Marine Corps Brevet Medal and the Medal of Honor, and the only person to be awarded the Brevet Medal and two Medals of Honor, all for separate actions.

He was instrumental in preventing a fascist takeover of the United States in 1934. In 1935 he wrote a pamphlet entitled 'War is a Racket'. 'War is a Racket' is short, sweet and online if you would like to read it. I doubt it would take more than a sandwich to read.

Another bit of history I would recommend is Howard Zinn's book, 'A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present '. It contains the history of America that has been intentionally suppressed.

Based on your actions to suspend Marybeth Verani and Adeline Koscher, I am greatly saddened to learn that your educational institution is nothing more than a military recruiting facility.

These children will come home from the military broken in ways you cannot fathom, damaged, or in caskets.


Sincerely,

unhappycamper

[G_j]

41. +1000000.....

wonderful letter

:yourock:

[EXneoCON]

44. Very cogent...

...wonderful letter.

[Smarmie Doofus]

48. All that's OK. But god forbid someone should "ruin their special ....

>>>>These children will come home from the military broken in ways you cannot fathom, damaged, or in caskets>>>>

... moment" by holding up an antiwar sign. Some DUers' indignant self-righteousness goes off the charts.

Thanks for the perspective.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

52. Thanks UHC!

I believe you've met Beth!

She was at Arlington East.

xo

[unhappycamper]

53. Yes, I remember her well.

Please pass along my email to Mr. Jenks.

xo :hi:

[Agony]

57. IOW Marybeth and Adeline are doing EXACTLY what is necessary.

Thanks for taking the time to write this down.

[AngryOldDem]

42. Has she been protesting military recruitment on campus during the school year?

To me, that would make more of a statement than making a grandstand play during a school assembly.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

54. yes she has

She works tirelessly against military recruitment at school properties, not just
this one school.

I was with her a few years back when we sat in at a recruitment office.

[unhappycamper]

45. Kicking to get off page 2.

:kick:

[SoxFan]

47. Douchebags

All of them.

The graduation ceremony is supposed to be about the students, their accomplishments, and their future goals. It's not about your political agenda. Grow the fuck up and save the grandstanding for a more appropriate time and place.

That goes for the guy in the uniform, too. The military places very strict limits on when and where a reserve component soldier can wear the uniform, and unless this guy is a JROTC instructor, this does not sound like it meets the criteria.

[USArmyParatrooper]

51. Good

I think firing is excessive but they were in the wrong. Teachers in a public school should leave their politics at home, and the students' life decisions are between them and their parents, not school officials.

[rucky]

56. Right message, wrong venue.

But firing them would send the wrong message.