Students protest teacher's suspension Hundreds of students walked out of Overland High School this morning in protest after a controversy involving a geography teacher and his statements about President Bush. Many of the students supported the teacher, Jay Bennish, who was placed on paid leave pending an investigation into his comments by the Cherry Creek School District. "Freedom of speech — Let him teach," students chanted after they streamed out of the school, located at 12400 E. Jewell Ave., and crossed a pedestrian bridge to a park. Bennish's talk about Bush's State of the Union speech was recorded by a student, Sean Allen, who took it to KOA talk show host Mike Rosen. In the recording, Bennish made a number of comments about Bush, including one in which he said he could be compared to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. But a large number of students who walked out of the Aurora school this morning supported Allen with chants of their own. "Teach, don't preach," they chanted. The demonstration was peaceful, and the vast majority of students returned to class without incident. A small group of Bennish supporters stayed in the park, chanting and waving, before eventually heading back to school. School district officials have said that Bennish's comments were inappropriate and did not include opposing points of view. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/education/article/0,1299,DRMN_957_4508688,00.html ---------------------------------------------- Bush goes on 'trial' in Morris Parsippany students confront issues of terrorism and war PARSIPPANY -- President Bush is being tried for "crimes against civilian populations" and "inhumane treatment of prisoners" at Parsippany High School, with students arguing both sides before a five-teacher "international court of justice." The panel's verdict could come as soon as Friday. Teacher Joseph Kyle said the "hearing"-- he preferred that term to trial -- opened on Monday in a senior advanced placement government class. The school's principal said he signed off in advance on the subject matter. "I knew it was a sensitive topic. Morris County is a conservative county. Parsippany is a conservative district," Kyle, 37, a teacher at the high school since 1998, said on Wednesday evening. Alumnus disturbed Former county Sheriff John Fox of Parsippany denounced the weeklong hearing -- where students debated whether Bush is a war criminal and questioned classmates playing administration officials and the Army general who oversaw Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq -- as "terrible"and "disturbing." "Those are young, impressionable minds those people have control over. We don't need those liberal academics doing what they're doing. I find that offensive," said Fox, a Republican who graduated from Parsippany High School. Kyle declined to discuss his opinion of Bush, the war in Iraq or the U.S. response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He said he isn't trying to show up the president. "President Bush is often tried in absentia all around the world," Kyle said. "All we hear in the papers is, war crimes this, war crimes that -- without even hearing a defense. It would be irresponsible for a teacher to pretend that isn't happening," Kyle said. Defense begins At the high school, prosecutors rested on Wednesday following testimony from nine "witnesses," Kyle said. The prosecution list included Khaled El-Masri, a German citizen allegedly tortured by U.S. forces; international human rights attorney Michael Ratner; Larry Wilkerson, chief of staff for former Secretary of State Colin Powell; retired CIA foreign policy analyst Ray McGovern; and U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were called by the defense before the seventh-period class concluded, Kyle said. The defense will resume its case today with eight additional witnesses and, possibly, a verdict -- decided by two English teachers, one history teacher, a guidance counselor and someone from the school's media department, Kyle said. Morris County Freeholder Jack Schrier, a Republican, said he was "truly outraged" by the war crimes hearing. "It's not un-American. We do have freedom of thought and freedom of speech. But we're a nation at war. Not only this teacher, but so many others in the nation, have lost sight of that," Schrier said. Principal supportive High school Principal Anthony Sciaino defended Kyle. "I think that the way he's doing it, in that it's more of a debate, makes it ideal and connects perfectly with the AP government curriculum," Sciaino said. Kyle is no stranger to controversial topics. Starting on Tuesday, his sophomore class will put former President Andrew Jackson on trial for alleged abuses against Native Americans. Kyle insisted that he doesn't have a partisan agenda. While teaching at Montclair High School, he conducted an impeachment trial of President Clinton while he was in office. "There's nothing bad with exploring evidence on both sides," Kyle said. Kyle said he received several letters from parents who were "all complimentary" of the war crimes hearing. One thing that Kyle said he would like to keep private is the verdict. "That decision is going to be sealed," he said, explaining that students will be told the outcome but asked not to tell others. http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/NEWS01/603020327/1005
The Teachers, and their Union, in 1930's Germany indoctrinated the children to who would be a great leader, and chastised those in charge. I guess it's is OK, for teachers to preach to their captive audiences.
I would have no problem with freedom of speech in a public school setting if the children were allowed to walk out of the classroom in protest of what their teacher is saying. And it goes both for people that are in favor of bush and those who are not... you can't just throw a child into a cage and feed him one sided crap... otherwise you would be a pastor. Sure the war isn't popular, but rather than children basing it on what a teacher says who has absolutely nothing to do with the war... they should find out their information from primary sources in the war... such as a soldier and if they did, I'm sure they would find out a completely different story than what is reported by the liberal news. I have served several tours of duty in Iraq... and while I don't totally agree with our entire envolvement, everytime I have been there, I have left with a feeling of fulfillment and pride... knowing that I put my the lives of others above my own for an overall good that so many people truly want... freedom. Sure Bush isn't popular, but that is based virtually entirely on his handling of the war... which to a soldier it has been fair... sure there have been atrocities, but it's war, we're not selling ice cream cones to kids... it just seems so much worse than past wars because of how deeply bedded journalists have become. They are able to report things that were never reported before... you can't blame a President for those types of things... you must blame those in charge of those commands and punish them by all means necessary according to the UCMJ (uniform Code of Military Justice)... so that others will fear the same fate. As for my beliefs, I'm not a supporter of Bush so much as I am a supporter of this nation. And I think that it is in the best interest of the nation to stand unified rather than constantly fighting over stupid politics. If you want change, then elect a new government... that's the joy of democracy. But that's just from the mouth of a soldier with quite a lot of free time hanging out in Iraq in the last few years.
Just the handling of the war? How about the guys next to you out there with no body armor or body armor mommy had to send? Sorry, let me say, I think what you do is beyond commendable. But how you can bow to a chief that is compromising you and the guy next to you that are supposed to be the best prepared soldiers in the world, yet mommy had to send ya body armor, if you got it at all, is something I can't comprehend! Your loyalty is necessary, but I'm ashamed that soldiers are going through this.
It wasn't that body armor wasn't available... the money was there, in fact more than enough money was available. The biggest problem seemed to be that the people in charge of purchasing this armor (unit commanders) couldn't figure out where they wanted to buy it from... most commanders didn't want to spend their entire budget on a war they thought would be much shorter... they were trying to avoid the expenditure.
I'd be thankful if I was the one given that paid leave. Well, kidding aside, it's everyone's right to express what they feel about the government and curtailing that is a violation to their eminent freedom of expression.
It might help by informing more people about our corrupt government so that perhaps in the future we may be able to stand up to them. But I guess that isn't important, right?
More proof that that the liberal left is in control of our educational system and exactly why, when nutjobs go crying about how youth don't have opportunities in our country. Get the nutjob liberals who preach, instead of teach, out of our educational system.
Has anyone ever argued against that [type of] statement? Ha- like "more proof" was needed. Left wing weirdos control the education system*. And the right wing loonies control the rest of the country. In other words, "Stop your bitchin', mon!" * And "The Media" depending on who you ask.
us repulicans have evolved passed grammer Its to bad we can not elect Bush for 4 more years =( GW - SAVING YOUR ASS WETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT
I wouldn't call what this teacher is doing, teaching. He's in a position of influential power over impressionable teen students who have college on their mind. Go against his "preaching," and expect a lower grade. Go with his "preaching" to get a good grade. That's not teaching, it's mental extortion, but then how else would treasonous liberals expect to force their positions down the throats of others, if it wasn't through extorting impressionable teenagers whose thoughts are on getting good grades in preparation for college? See signature.
Have you read the news lately. more like causing thousands of deaths, and creating a war that will never end. Iraq has pretty much fallen to shit, and become a bigger terrorist training ground the afganistan ever was, except in iraq it cost a billions fo dollars and thousands of US lives, at least in afganistan the ruskies got to pay the bill. There was thing today on the radio about the social conservatives, one of the few groups that continue to support bush. It was hilarious, these strawberry farmers saying stuff like "George Bush is a christian and good man, so I faith in him." holy cow what a bunch of dumb asses But that teacher should still just do his job, and not preach thur class The reason right wing people don't go into teaching is because it is low paying and it involves helping people, and other other intangilbe benefits
Yes, it's too bad fake patriots and traitors can't just take over everything and make bush a dictator Really? Maybe you missed those 2,000+ funerals? Maybe you missed helping bury the 30,000 dead iraqis all the while bush sits around making oil deals with the Bin Laden family? I used to think people who made a lot of money had to be somewhat intelligent - but you just busted that one
Those some teenagers that militarty recruiters are trying to send the iraq what grade did he teach? When do they try to start recruiting 12th grade?
Gtech doesn't mind having 18 and 19 year old kids dying in Iraq for him, he just minds when the most educated people (professors and teachers) teach them the truth... good thing they still have church brainwashing to fall back on!
That's true...and they're also the exact same reasons I would never be a teacher. And I don't think I ever had a teacher express his or her political views in class. Although I personally don't have a problem with a teacher occasionally letting his high school students know which side of the fence he's on. Recruiters are out of control! I know an 18 year old who was all ready to join the Army. You should have heard some of the utter bullshit the recruiter was feeding this kid. And according to thie kid, the recruiter did some immoral (IMO) things.