IL Teacher Suspended For Assigning Article On Homosexuality In Animals
By Logan Murphy Saturday Oct 31, 2009 4:00pm
Bigotry is not a natural instinct, it is taught. Homosexuality is as natural as the sun in the sky, but ignorant, hateful people will never accept that fact. The suspension of this high school teacher in Piasa, Illinois is a perfect example of how this hatred and ignorance infests the minds of our children:
Yesterday, Mr. Delong, a 10th and 12th grade Honors English teacher in Piasa, IL was suspended for assigning an article about homosexuality in the animal kingdom to his students. Should teachers ask their students to read about controversial topics? Should we allow parents veto power over the curriculum
Mr. Delong is reportedly a married, heterosexual teacher who identifies as an ally of the GLBTQ community and clearly has the respect and admiration of his students. This is just one of many examples of how teachers are taught to be conservative and non-controversial and why GLBTQ youth don't feel safe in schools. If a school district considers teaching with a scientific article written by a professor at Stanford University and published in a popular science magazine as controversial and worthy of suspension - then how can we convince other educators to stand up and teach critically? In order to help students learn to become critical thinkers and active citizens in a participatory democracy, it is essential to have teachers encourage students to question normative thinking and learn to critically evaluate information for themselves -- particulary with respect to sex, gender, and sexuality.
I applaud Mr. Delong for attempting to teach his students the art of critical thinking and to open their minds to facts. There is a Facebook page supporting Mr. Delong, stop by and show your support if you like.
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Better warn the kids not to pick up those damn National Geographic at the pediatricians offices etc...
We wouldn't want them to "figure it all out..."
Right??!
Right??!!
P.S. That's what I loved about being in college. The professors actually tried to teach us the TRUTH.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/...
better yet, we should not let our students
read anything......what a bunch of homophobes.
homosexuality is as much a part of sexuality
of all sexual beings human(part of the animal
philum) and animals as planets are to the galaxy.
but you can't teach people who are dumber than
ground rocks.
with my mother one night when I was exposed to her friend's male dog Snoopy having a gay tryst with a neighborhood dog.
I asked her how could it be that Snoopy was taking the "female position" and she just told me he was gay, and I understood. Simple as that. The sky didn't fall.
I can't understand the hyperventilating homophobia of some people. Why be so terrified of simple reality? At least my mother was a sensible parent who wasn't hopelessly fighting against reality to keep me ignorant of nature!
Abbywood
Yes, we can thank our lucky stars that some teachers teach the truth, even if it causes them trouble or costs their lives. Thus it's been since the beginning, with a long list of those who rebelled against small mindedness.
Wait till the right-wing discovers THIS! [Holy fellatio, Batman! Fruit bats use oral sex to prolong actual sex]
They'll soon declare that it's an act that is bestial and that Christians would NEVER participate in.
We need to get ALL politics out of education, starting with the travesty known as "no child left behind."
They oughta be suspending politicians for their idiotic ludicrous "standardized tests and curriculums."
Do we want an entire country where everyone thinks the same? Takes the same test?
This fixation on testing is freaking insane! What if the all knowing assholes who write "the ten commandments test of tests," turn out to be as incompetent as the idiots who ran Wall Street and destroyed our economy? We will be dooming an entire generation of school children to the same fate.
The "all knowing assholes who write......." wouldn't be ABLE to pass the tests! lol
the beginning of it as I was finishing K-12, which ended for me 10 years ago. Now it's so bad locally that certain parents are paying individuals for art and music lessons for their children that they could have gotten at school but no so much any more.
A friend of mine has been able to bring in a decent amount of grocery money through teaching little ones painting and piano...
The travesty that is No Child Left Behind is the biggest load of crap that ever was foisted onto public education. It's not about teachers teaching and allowing students to garner knowledge, it's about teachers being under the gun from their principals, school boards, state, fed, etc. to be told what to teach and when to teach it, how long it should take to teach it, giving "practice" tests so the students will know how to take the tests, and the bar that is set by the powers that be is always a moving target. So if a school has a class of 5th grade students who pass the test with flying colors, the school is deemed "excellent", so the next group of incoming 5th graders are supposed to reach that same goal the following year. They are a different group, so its comparing apples to oranges. And if those new 5th graders don't reach the level of "excellent" then the teachers are shamed by the administrators for not getting to the previous level. Then all of this grade card crap for all school districts is published in the local papers so that neighboring schools are pitted against each other. It is horrible. Then it becomes difficult to pass any tax levies because these scores are used against school districts who aren't meeting these arbitrary scores. Throw the parents of homeschooled kids or charter school kids into the mix who believe public schools are indoctrination centers, and teachers are liberal Obamanites who are spreading the Godless liberal agenda, and we've got one hell of mess in education. We are going to have at least one generation of kids who do not really know how to learn because they've only been given the information necessary to fill in bubbles on a standardized test. May those who came up with this bs to dismantle public education all rot in hell!
Sex Kills
then don't eat it........
your mother told you not to put
foreign objects in you mouth.
from jacking off. That's what my Grandmother said.
I couldn't see it clearly.
My grandmother was nuts!
Masturbation would make you go blind.
LOL!
That old tale has been around since, well, masturbation.
But I wonder, what did they say about females masturbating?
They don't even go to the bathroom except to touch up their makeup. LOL
don't dip in the well too
often or it will go dry?
On how deep the well is.:)
that rocked "normality". Despite this she was a generous and kind woman.
Mine was the same way. Funny how the women are more tolerant of their own .
My Grandfather on the other hand was quite the stern man. Not so tolerant. But that taught my dad some serious lessons. My Dad was very tolerant.
And for being a boxer. He was very patient with people. Unless they crossed the line.
My Dad never laid a hand on me or my brother. Not once.
There was plenty of times when my Mom wanted him to. But he wouldn't do it. My Dad taught me a lot. He was a very nice man.
My brother thought he was some big guy once.
He raised his hand to him. When he came to, he didn't know what happened. That makes me smile.
Because, see, "good" girls wouldn't masturbate, because good girls have no interest in sex anyway. "Bad" girls might be interested in masturbating, but since they're bad anyway, it doesn't matter.
Once more "dumbing down" rears its ugly head. After 23 years as a HS teach, this crap just shouldn't upset me anymore! It's just TOO COMMON.
How bad is it to create a "thinking/reasoning" populace? I guess too dangerous for some! lol
:(
I disagree. At least to the extent that bigotry is a negative emotional reaction to perceived differences. That's probably hardwired into us, and probably had evolutionary advantages in the past.
The precise criteria that defines those differences, however, are learned.
Sure, but who cares whether it's natural? Natural does not necessarily equal good.
Very simply, homosexuality is not morally wrong. Period.
Homosexuality is as natural as the sun in the sky? Come on. So is killing but we don't celebrate it.
I work with several gay men and I like all of them but they don't get in my face about it just like I don't talk about how long and in what manner I banged my wife last night.
I don't give a damn about what you do in your bedroom but please keep it there.
Gays need to start showing a little more class and quite talking about sex all the damn time. It's so boorish.
Yeah, heterosexuals never brag about their sexual exploits. Perish the thought.
homosexuality is more than sex......
we don't talk about our sex anymore than
"straight assholes" do.
you don't see homosexuals going into
"straight bars" beating people up.....get a grip
and not on yourself......lol
Could you please try to beat up on some "sissies" one day yourself? You'll get the ass-kicking you deserve.
you are so right!!
some guys came in one of the local
gay bars to harass the patrons and
impress their buddies they were with, but
they were beaten badly then thrown out in the
street. they never came back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icIwKaci3MI
are one bigotted ignorant f*ck.
I know drag queens that are probably butcher than you are. And could kick your worthless ass.
He can't help it. He was raised that way. But I have to agree. I'm sure he wouldn't stand a chance if he had too.
is not an excuse. Lots of people were raised to believe black people are inferior to whites. So, if one is still a racist in the 21st century, it's not okay anymore. Times have changed and most people evolve. This CC person has not (user name says it all), and needs to be swept out with evolution's other rejects.
I was reaching. Can't reach anymore Liberalicious.
You're 100% right. Some people will never get it.
he's just a CrazyChristian...from God's country.. at least that's what it say if you click on his name/account.
Goes a long way toward explaining his ignorance - far as I know, gawd may gays, too.
rough and strange in that "arena".
go away I don't care!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGVhVShmfu8
you just compared homosexuality to murder.
Come on, Logan, Crazy Christian is crazy, but s/he's not equating teh gay and murder.
The point is that the mere fact that homosexuality is natural is not sufficient reason to extol it as virtuous or even excuse it if it's wrong. A lot of things are natural. Tornadoes, germs, waterfalls, rainbows and kleptomania. So what? Natural is natural and good is good. The mere fact that something is natural does not make it good.
Are you saying homosexuality is bad? That is all I can conclude.
She's saying that because something is natural isn't the only reason to judge it as a 'good' thing. Being natural doesn't make a thing good or bad. 'Natural' is just part of the equation.
or above, as the case may be. You can easily substitute race in there. "Black is natural, but it doesn't mean that it's a good thing." See what I'm saying here. VERY poorly expressed.
Rainbows and flowers and trees are natural...wait those are all good things. The point is natural doesn't make it good or bad, and good and bad are judgment calls anyway.
What makes homosexuality good are the exact same things that make heterosexuality good. Fill in your own blanks. Same with any ethnicity...pick any two and run with it. It wasn't poorly expressed; it was poorly understood...See how that works?
BTW Lurve ya loads Liberalicious...happy halloween!
:D
Karen is a smart and insightful person.
I dunno. maybe she just didn't word it right.
You must remember her from a long time ago. This doesn't sound quite right coming from her.
at anyrate, I'll see ya later. I have personal stuff to do.
But do try to cut her some slack Liberalicious . I think she's not on target here tonight. that's all. Happy Halloween.
IT'S POORLY UNDERSTOOD.
I didn't have to think twice, or scratch my head for one nanosecond over what Karen, whom we all miss BTW, said above...
Jeezus...
.
Muddy! I hope all goes well with you over the next few weeks...
True. The mere fact that someone is black has NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER S/HE IS A GOOD PERSON!
doing on here during the Highest of Holy days anywayz?
;)
Me...I have no life....
I know quite a few gay people, the world could do without.
;)
That's exactly right.
Frankly, the kinds of knee-jerk, unthinking responses coming from the likes of Logan Murphy or other progressives here is why I rarely come here anymore. It's become the kind of place where to defend a racist's right to free speech means one is a racist, or where to note that the naturalness of homosexuality is irrelevant to its moral status means one is against homosexuality.
I've always thought you were a smart and insightful person. I do hope you come back. I enjoy your insight on things. Happy Halloween. Be Well.
Seriously, Logan, if that's what you think I mean, you're just not very bright. I'm sorry to be so bluntly insulting, but I cannot fathom how you actually reached that conclusion.
First, I'm bisexual, and my current, long-term (hopefully life-long) relationship is a lesbian one, so let's just get that out of the way.
More importantly, you said that homosexuality was natural. You appear to be implying that because it is natural, it is either not morally wrong or even a positive good. I do not believe that the argument makes sense. The mere fact that something is natural does not mean that it is good.
When Crazy Christian said that killing people is also natural, s/he was trying to make that point (albeit s/he probably thinks homosexuality is immoral). But to say that s/he was "comparing homosexuality and murder" is a spectacular hyperextension of the analogy.
No, s/he is not saying that there is a comparison between murder and homosexuality except that neither can be judged good or bad merely by asking whether one or the other is "natural."
For instance, kleptomania is a natural phenomenon, but that doesn't make it a good thing. The fact that it is a natural phenomenon does not mean it should be praised or encouraged. Certainly, it relieves the kleptomaniac of culpability for stealing, but it does not make stealing an honorable behavior.
The same could be said of homosexuality if homosexuality were actually immoral. But it's not. Consensual sex between two people of the same sex is an expression of affection or love between those consenting people. Stealing harms non-consenting other people. That's the normative difference.
If this post appears to be a long-winded exposition on something you find trivial or odd, all I can say is I really despise when a debater hyper-extends his opponents analogies.
Nice to see you back.
when you think about it. One can say that a hurricane is a good thing...it helps cleanse the atmosphere. Gay tends to hold down the general population numbers. Mutated genes can help or hurt a species. Lightning can cause wildfires that clear dried brush. Earthquakes relieve stress in the earth's crust...etc....etc... It's only a matter of how you look at things.
I was thinking the same thing.
As far as nature is concerned, that's true.
But I fail to see what harm homosexuality causes.
Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes...yes. They cause harm
But being gay certainly doesn't.
some people will never get it Lib. And they're the ones who will fuck up this planet.
They're the same type of people who marry off their daughters before they're 13. I know that's not a very good comparison. But when you think about it, it's not far off the mark.
I was reading an article about very young females being married off against their will in Afghanistan.
To protest this, they drench themselves in gasoline and set themselves on fire. To avoid the beatings.
I'm probably losing track here. But I think you understand.
It's all about understanding and tolerance.
Some people have it, and some people don't want it.
Those that don't have it or don't want it, I say fuckem.
even though you express it very badly.
Sexuality is more akin to left/right handedness than anything. Just a part of the human makeup. Nautral, not taught, but not comparable to disease or disaster.
So watch the way you express about a person's being, because it's coming out badly. You could easily substitute race for "teh gay" as you so quaintly put it.
Heh, I used "teh gay" to poke a little fun at Crazy Christian. As though s/he, and ignorant people like her/him, would use the term. ;)
I forgive...I'm not familiar enough with you to know whether or not to go apeshit. :)
But I see the point you are making.
Now that we've got that sorted out.
I'll see all of you fine folks later.
Goddammit?
:P
So it's not necessaily a bad thing!
;)
Since one of the most common attacks on homosexuality by people trying not to look like monsters is that it's 'unnatural', the fact that it's been observed in every vertebrate we've got a sufficiently good look at is entirely relevant.
I understand what you're saying. To the extent that the other side vilifies the LGBT community by calling its members "unnatural," a response is required. One response is that the other side is just factually wrong.
But it's not a very good response. Partly because the other side doesn't really give a damn about facts, and won't be swayed by them. More importantly, though, they're always ready to switch their argument to, "Yeah, well, kleptomania is natural, but that doesn't mean we should celebrate it." (And if you don't believe me, just look at Crazy Christian's post that started this thread.)
In my opinion, the proper response to charges of "unnatural" is, "Natural has nothing to do with it!" That is, the correct retort is itself that being unnatural doesn't make it bad. The concept of "natural" is irrelevant.
I remember attending an LGBT support group meeting wherein one poor soul spoke of the shame she feels because her mother keeps harping on how her lifestyle is "unnatural." My response was, "If we didn't go against nature, there would still be plenty of gay people, and we'd still be having this support group. It's just that we'd be holding the meeting in a cave, and we'd all be naked."
It was a laugh line, but had the desired rhetorical effect. The point was that nature was irrelevant. Not only is homosexuality as much a part of nature as breathing, but that nature has nothing to do with whether something is morally good or bad.
Trust me, when the natural tornado is heading for your artificial habitat (your bricks and mortar house), you won't be rooting for nature. Likewise, when your all-natural terminal disease can be cured with an artificial chemical, you'll not be debating with yourself about whether to swallow the pill.
Nature can be beautiful. Nature can be horrific. It all depends on human perception, to which nature is utterly indifferent. Whether homosexuality is the result of genetic evolution or some mad scientist's experiment in 1805 has no bearing on my current relationship. My current lesbian relationship is one of love and commitment, and that's that.
:)
I completely misread and misunderstood your intent, please accept my apology. If you're the same Karen who used to comment here at C&L, I invite you to return and continue to be a valuable member of the community.
stop shoving your hetero crap down my throat then we'll talk.
Gueess what? You NEVER will...so STF you whiny asswipe.
breeder brethren. And sistren too. More by guys though. They definitely make the biggest deal out of it. But you know, it's the self-proclaimed 'He-men' heteros who freak out at a bit of tumescence in their slacks when they see a really hot guy go by. It freaks them out.
You really think we don't celebrate killing? And please note, I am differentiating between killing and murder. Murder is not 'natural,' it is a man-made construct.
But my original point - killing isn't celebrated? We pin medals on soldiers as heroes for killing. Or for a closer to home example - there's an entire capable channel devoted to 'outdoor sports,' which is essentially hunting and fishing. One of the biggest retailers in the country is BASS Pro Shops - lots of killing going on there. Our culture actually takes killing very much for granted, and accept it as part of the natural course of things. As any vegan activist can tell you, it's the people who protest that state of affairs that are marginalized.
what halcyon straight world do you reside where breeder males dont talk about their sex life???
I never discuss it with anyone in my office and I happen to work in an insurance agency, where dogmatic right wing thinking is celebrated.
nearly every male is cheating on their spouse.....and its common knowledge. speaking with friends i know my story is not unique.
youre right though us "classless" gay dudes should be working harder to meet your approval....
is I've yet to see two female animals, like say two female cows or two female squirrels getting it on with each other. LOL
Seems to be a male anomaly. Not my business though what get's people off.
try working on a farm or in an animal shelter.
or something?
LOL
some are rather horny.
it's called the mating instinct.
with primates.
http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/the_g...
. .
interestingly...
LOL . . get him snipped already!
over! :D
Nah...they just break out their cell phones to upload to Youtube later.
all! ;)
The essence of the complaint registered by Know Knothing Knation, in this case, is that even the fact that homosexuality exists in other species cannot be taught, lest our children be corrupted. This complaint is dangerous beyond words, and not just for the LGBT community.
The complaint is that FACTS should not be taught if they are uncomfortable or disagreeable. That attitude is the antithesis of education altogether.
and this is why bush should never have been president,
neither of them.
don't you wonder how cheney reconciles his
daughter's sexuality with his
moralbullshit?Nah. Cheney strikes me as fundamentally amoral. Sociopathic. The moral dissonance does not bother him, and he sees nothing to reconcile.
another rule for the Dick(head) family.
universe, a la la land where reality can be pushed aside.
No wait, I got it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBSreugMmgY
In many different States and places.
East Coast, West Coast, Hawaii, the Midwest.
Suburbia, rural, city and inner-city.
The worst schools I attended, by far, were in Illinois.
The Superintendent of Schools for the Southwestern Community Unit School District No. 9 is Larry Elsea, he can be reached at lelsea@piasabirds.net.
Be polite and let him know how you feel about punishing teachers for presenting science.
So, the way you see it, examining how homosexuality manifests in different species, including how it affects the population at large, is of the same educational value as examining precisely how your dog grabs onto you?
I don't think I see the comparison. Other than both concern, in some small way, sex -- which makes Crazy Christians crazy.
the only action you're getting?
What is wrong with a teacher presenting peer-reviewed, scientific material to a class? Just because some crazy Xtian thinks it's "immoral"?
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. Public funded schools do not have to toe the religious line. The teacher should be reinstated.
I doubt that they'd be able to figure out why it turns you on.
really...STFU......
when you grow up and live in the real world, then maybe you can offer something, however small, of value.
Til then, either come out, or STFU.
{ He's done. SM}
Site Monitor.
I hate flagging this kind of crapola, but I'm not tolerating it anymore.
Thanks again.
Sorry I missed the conversation,
But homosexuality is natural in that it is not a choice. Otherwise it's not really necessary to go into whether everything "natural" is good for you like the cereal boxes would have you believe. Turds are natural too, but I wouldn't eat one. I'm not in a John Waters movie.
About the only "unnatural" choice I can think of is a lifetime of celibacy.
However, a Christian could respond with, 1 Corinthians 2:14 (King James Version):
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
But that would be taking on both sides of the issue of naturalness at once, and since God is neither provable nor disprovable by the Scientific Method, nor for that matter spirits in general, what is left for the behavior to harm? What possible purpose could a law have that does not advance this particular religious view in violation of the Establishment Clause?
decide what they want to "do it with" or do it to?
Where's the adventure of self discovery in an authority telling or suggesting to one what they are supposed to be? Subtle or otherwise?
As a retired school principal, I wouldn't have suspended but I would have asked him not to do that. I agree with the intent, which was to help erase ignorance. Unfortunately, the topic is so topic, in the school is not the place.
Yes, the last things we want in school is for children to be exposed to highly topic topics.
??
Saying that a school isn't the place to erase ignorance?
That's a sad thing indeed.
People like you are what's wrong with education in this country.
Why would someone want to have a study in animal sexuality in high school? Lets make sure they can count and spell first. CTFD.
This wasn't a lesson on sexuality, it was a lesson on English, which means critical analysis, not only of language, but of ideas.
It was an Honors course, which in the real world would indicate that there is a little something more expected of the students that just being able to count and spell.
The frightening part is that apparently it doesn't occur to the 'don't mention this in school' crowd that this assignment would have been an ideal moment for a student who wanted to make the argument that what occurs in nature does not necessarily translate to what is acceptable in human society. Instead of making their point rationally or supporting their view with facts, they prefer to eliminate the discussion entirely.
That our kids can't count and spell in HIGH SCHOOL means we have far bigger problems than we'll ever surmount.
Once our kids are at the high school level, they absolutely should be studying various advanced aspects of evolution, biology and sexuality.
If you check out the comments on the Facebook page, the ones from his students, current and past, are all quite readable. But god (small g) forbid we should keep a teacher who knows how to teach, if he offfends someon'e Victorian sensibilities.
How is this even a 'controversial topic'? Homosexuality
existsis common in the animal kingdom.That's not a subject of controversy. That's an easily-verified empirical fact. Heck, it's something every other dog-owner knows about.
This isn't just bigotry.. this is another symptom of something even worse; The whole new level the Conservatives in this country have taken their insanity to, where they're actively constructing themselves an alternate, fictional, reality and going after anyone who dares utter anything that might conflict with or even call into question that fictional version of the world.
What next? Biology teachers being forced to say animals don't have sex before marriage?
a biology teacher would never claim that animals don't have before marriage, everyone knows how slutty animals are!
That's why they go to hell.
Duh.
Actually according to standard medieval theology neither animals nor women have souls to go to heaven, and the latter depends on her husband to get there.
population 3,054, damn it's no wonder this guy is getting tarred and feathered.
An English teacher in a public school assigning an article about homosexuality in the animal kingdom to his students ? Why ? Subtly pushing his views in regards to homosexuality ? Why else ? Given the political climate he should have known this would be controversial and wouldn't go over too good with some people .
Like it's not a part of the known animal world? Like it's not a part of the known biological world?
A known part of the human world?
You need not pose it as a rhetorical question, and then answer it yourself. The answer is in the article:
English teachers don't merely teach grammar, and should certainly be beyond that in high school. They assign readings of wide varieties of discourse in the English language, including scientific papers, literature and newspapers. And they require students to use the English language to write about those readings, to express their own arguments and viewpoints. To learn to use the English language effectively.
Does this teacher believe that homosexuals should have freedom and equality in the United States? Undoubtedly. But merely having children read a factual, scientific piece, and writing about it is not necessarily a means to further his political goals.
If the teacher were somehow punishing children who expressed opposing viewpoints (e.g. bad grades, denial of extra credit projects), that would be a different story, and I'd be completely against it. But assigning reading? If reading were assigned on the basis of whether it might offend someone, no reading would be assigned at all.
And that's how you want our educational curriculum decided? Based on the political climate? How terrifying. (I'm about to click a button labeled "Submit." I'm thinking of the word in a whole new context now.
"And that's how you want our educational curriculum decided?" No it isn't and that is not what I wrote now is it ? So don't be " terrified " .I stated a fact , that "given the political climate he should have known this would be controversial and wouldn't go over too good with some people " , get a grip .
than you could ever know. Like (and it's just an observation here) you became 'ungripped' when your statement was expertly teased apart.
Expertly teased apart ? Ahhhhuh . Ohhhhhhhhhhhh-K.
So, when you basically said that this teacher (whom you accused of subtly pushing a political agenda) should have known better, you were not implying that he should have made a different decision about what to teach?
You were saying, "He should have known better! Not that he should have done anything differently. It's just that he should have known what would happen." Sounds like a strange thing to say, but what do I know?
I don't know about assigning such a project
But would back accepting one when turned in for grading.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCKsEdaEvNY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A8U6aUPW48
it is all about Dumbing down America and quietly pushing the Hateful Right agenda and conservatism as they see it, this is about complete control and a Conservative and religious agenda.
One more time my grand daughter went back to school a teacher that use to be a man was changed to a woman, naturally the child was asking questions my daughter and I explained this to her, apparently it was okay she accepted it kept the friendship with the teacher, now her religious right girl friend totally freaked out threw a tantrum from hell that the police and para medics were called, the only thing this child could quote was the hate and bible thumping verses that she was taught no explanation was acceptable, oh that child is in psychiatric care duh! do you think.
I do know if the right and the conservatives and the religious right are involved it is totally evil.
What can you expect from a group that want their children dumber then a door knob and question nothing.
I can't believe he hasn't been fired yet. Honestly, asking your students to research, think and then create an original piece of work?!? How shocking. When will they have time to play video games and twitter?
n/t
It's a crime against hate!
As teachers, it is part of our job to teach students to think. It is tragic that such narrow minded people are so araid of the truth, so afraid that their children may not restrict their thinking to the same narrow paths they themselves tread upon, that they have seen fit to attack this man who, it sounds to me, is doing a great job teaching his students to think about controversial issues. Let's remember that there was a time when Galileo was almost burned at the stake for teaching that the Earth (gasp!) revolves around the sun and not vice-versa. Apparently there are still some people out there who believe in geocentricity. Shall we not teach astronomy for fear of offending them with the truth?!
As to why an English teacher would present an article on this particular topic, it arises in literature quite frequently and may have come up in class in response to some reading assignment. Let's also recall that the subject of English is not limited to literature and grammmar but also encompasses journalism in which students often encounter controversial subjects in their reading. It is also important to remember that sometimes students express interest in something and one departs from one's lesson plan to respond to the students' desire to know/understand something. It's called a "teachable moment" and not passing it by is one of the things that makes a teacher great not to mention one of the things that makes students WANT to learn.
Thank you Mr. DeLong for having the courage to challenge your students to consider scientific facts that might be inconvenient to some ideological viewpoints, but which are still the facts. You are doing your job whether others understand that or not. It's a big world out there and you are helping to prepare your students to meet it intelligently. I hope you are an NEA member so that your defense will be provided for you. Best of luck.
Should teachers ask their students to read about controversial topics?
No. We should only teach students that the US is the "greatest" ever and that Columbus slaughtered zero indigenous peoples and that slavery was good for the black man and that the consumption of oil is always worth the killing millions of brown-skinned people and that Iraq was for a noble cause and a victory for the US despite the facts on the ground, so to speak, and that we should always salute the flag and blindly follow what all presidents say, unless they're African American or non-Hispanic. Only if they're white and believe in the big man in the sky, if not they are not to be believed, they are to be considered an enemy to the US of A. We should never teach students to think for themselves, it is the greatest danger to the Republic.
as they don't get married.
Please do no harm in the classroom by limiting the education of your students.
I do not know all of the facts concerning the suspension of Mr Delong; however, I am concerned that the children may be deprived of much needed education. By not allowing facts or truth to be spoken in the classroom, children are hurt. Your students will likely score lower on college entrance exams (when deprived of the facts) and will statistically achieve and earn less.
I know, I know...you must keep the peace. Unhappy parents can be difficult; however, you should try to do your job - educate the students. Let the bigots brew hate all on their own. By contributing to bigotry (limiting your student's education to standards in the 14th century), you do great harm.
Please reinstate Mr. Delong with a sincere apology. You do want the best for your students, don't you?
This is the next level up from the "Creation Science(?)" vogue. These people will not be happy until they have banned the teaching of any science of any kind from any school. We must debunk Copernicus and return to the Earth-centric solar system and magic and dragons and dungeons for the heretics who 'rock the boat'.
This is truly frightening when you think that they have gained enough credibility with their voodoo science of 'creationism' that they can get state boards of education to demand that it be included in curricula.
Leave me out, please. PLEASE!
when i read the post under the above heading by Annaleigh who said "I asked [my mother] how could it be that Snoopy was taking the "female position" and she just told me he was gay, and I understood."
i had to respond. YOUR MOTHER IS WRONG! Annaleigh, this has nothing to do with the dog being "gay". It's a power relationship between the dogs for one to let the other know that he/she is the top dog. It's establishing an order of status, it's not about sex.
Why didn't my comment post?
I was looking at the old posts first --though I had chosen the option of seeing the new posts at the top.
If he had assigned an article on animals eating scat, or animals engaging in cannibalism, he wouldn't have been suspended.
**Note: -Monday’s special board meeting, November 2
**This information was sent by former students of Mr. DeLong.
The more people that take action the better!
To those who would like to support Mr. Delong: Please call the SW school board members to let them know what you think of Mr. Delong as a teacher before Monday’s special board meeting, November 2. Please be positive and ONLY comment on what you know about him as a teacher. Negative comments about the school will only hurt his case.
If you would like to be present and comment at the board meeting Monday night you will need to call the District Office at 618-729-3221 and ask to speak to Mr. Elsea. You need to ask to be on the agenda and then inquire about the rules for public comment before a closed session. If Mr. Elsea should say that you are too late to be on the agenda or that you are not allowed to speak because this is a closed, executive session, then you should let him know that you are aware that all board meetings are open at the beginning in order for the members to vote to go into closed session and that you would like to exercise your right to make a public comment prior to the closed, executive session.
If Mr. Elsea gives anyone any trouble over this request they should again call their board members and let them know that the superintendent is not following proper procedure.
Board Members:
Steve Reed – 618-836-7487
Jim Wickenhauser – 618-372-4142
Marty Johnson – 618-729-4354
Steve Ritzhaupt – 618-372-8805
Rodney Bailey – 618-729-2136
Mike Wegener – 618-729-3229
Tim Baker in Brighton.
**NOTE: I spent about 25-minutes on the phone with a board member (Steve Reed); we had an interesting conversation and it sounds like their getting a lot of pressure from some religious parents, and he said the concern is the “age level of the students” -who are high school freshman 14 and 15. I talked about my background in teaching, my support for Mr. DeLong… *After hearing this, Mr. Reed proudly told me of his daughter (now at Il State) who was inspired to go into teaching specifically because of Mr. DeLong, and that he’d talked to her about it… I kept saying, I felt students can handle this information, often better than other generations (which he agreed with) and said I'd support his daughter and her rights as a teacher... the place of the public school to share information...
Overall he was nice and listened, and I was nice.
He said they’re expecting an “interesting” meeting tomorrow...
Dan DeLong Reinstated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MawGdBWU_8M
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