Teacher Throws Bush Tantrum In Class

[Nbadan]

This story has been all over the right-wing radio shows today, so although its of minimal significance to anyone but hard-core wingnuts, well, here it is...

An Overland High School teacher who criticized President Bush, capitalism and U.S. foreign policy during his geography class was placed on administrative leave Wednesday afternoon after a student who recorded the session went public with the tape.

In the 20-minute recording, made on an MP3 player, teacher Jay Bennish described capitalism as a system "at odds with human rights." He also said there were "eerie similarities" between what Bush said during his Jan. 28 State of the Union address and "things that Adolf Hitler used to say."

The United States was "probably the single most violent nation on planet Earth," Bennish also said on the tape.

Bennish, who has been part of Overland's social studies faculty since 2000, did not return calls seeking comment Wednesday. Cherry Creek School District officials are investigating the incident, but no disciplinary action has been taken, district spokeswoman Tustin Amole said.

Denver Post

Having a student tape the class and report the teacher Is an eerie similarity to Hitler on its own.

The whole thing is available of the link in the OP.

The student who is recording, doesn't just sit idly while the teacher goes off, the student engages and pushes the teacher further. Another thing the news article seems to miss is that the teacher also speaks of Clinton's foreign policy (and earlier ones as well) as the probable catalyst for 9-11.

I just don't get this and I wouldn't get it if it were a wingnut standing up before a class on offering his opinions on world affairs. There are so few teachers who actually attempt to reach students and get them thinking outside of their own box. I wish my local public high school had teachers who cared so much about developing critical thinking skills.

[Nbadan]

Of course, there always more to the story than wing-nut radio is telling you...

Allen's father claims the comments made in the recording are biased and inappropriate for a geography class.

"I'm not saying Bush and Hitler are exactly the same, obviously they're not. OK? But there are some eerie similarities to the tones that they use," says Bennish in his critique of U.S. economic and foreign policy.

Towards the end of the class, Bennish goes on to say, "I'm not in anyway implying that you should agree with me, I don't even know if I'm necessarily taking a position. But what I'm trying to get you to do is to think about these issues more in depth and not to just take thinks from the surface."

......
A spokesperson for the Cherry Creek School District said they have placed Bennish on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. This is not a disciplinary action; the school district wants to remove him while they sort through the rest of the investigation.

9 NEWS

[Mr. Peabody]

I don't think the teacher's actions were appropriate for a high school class. At that age, most kids are not informed enough to counter the teacher's arguments or even feel that they are in a position to do so. A comment every now and then may not be a reason for suspension or termination, but it appears that this teacher routinely made these types of comments.

[Nbadan]

The Republican Youth was just on Hannity's radio show. He said his teacher has "teached" for about 6 years, and he hoped his teacher got a severe "reprimandation." Hannity was totally stoked and said, "Do you know what you have done for education? You have put a chill up the spine of every educator who may speak out against Bush? You have made education better today."

[Mr. Peabody]

"I'm not saying Bush and Hitler are exactly the same, obviously they're not. OK? But there are some eerie similarities to the tones that they use," says Bennish in his critique of U.S. economic and foreign policy.

I still don't think these comments are appropriate for a high school class. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I don't think high school minds are mature enough to handle these types of comments.

[Mr. Peabody]

The Republican Youth was just on Hannity's radio show. He said his teacher has "teached" for about 6 years, and he hoped his teacher got a severe "reprimandation." Hannity was totally stoked and said, "Do you know what you have done for education? You have put a chill up the spine of every educator who may speak out against Bush? You have made education better today."

Exactly my point.

[Oh, Gee!!]

Sounds like the teacher watched "Dead Poet's Society" and "Dangerous Minds" too many times

[Spurminator]

Yeah he went overboard, but is this really all that newsworthy? Or, rather, "newsnecessary"? I'm sure the Sean Hannity's of the world would love to proclaim this is undeniable evidence of a Liberal conspiracy to brainwash our children but it's really nothing more than an irresponsibly opinionated teacher. Is this any worse than a teacher espousing religious beliefs? Is it any worse than just being an altogether unintelligent teacher? How many thousands of THOSE do we have in this country?

They should have gone to the principal with complaints, not the Media. These kids weren't in any danger here.

[Mr. Peabody]

Sounds like the teacher watched "Dead Poet's Society" and "Dangerous Minds" too many times

Well, we know what happened to the teacher in "Dead Poet's Society."

[Mr. Peabody]

Yeah he went overboard, but is this really all that newsworthy? Or, rather, "newsnecessary"? I'm sure the Sean Hannity's of the world would love to proclaim this is undeniable evidence of a Liberal conspiracy to brainwash our children but it's really nothing more than an irresponsibly opinionated teacher. Is this any worse than a teacher espousing religious beliefs? Is it any worse than just being an altogether unintelligent teacher? How many thousands of THOSE do we have in this country?

They should have gone to the principal with complaints, not the Media. These kids weren't in any danger here.

I agree. It's not newsworthy. But it will get the conservatives all fired up.

[boutons_]

What if the teacher had run his mouth in favor of dubya/ head, Iraq war, Repugs, Katrina response, etc. Would the story be all over Repug/hate/pissed-off radio and TV?

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Sounds like the teacher watched "Dead Poet's Society" and "Dangerous Minds" too many times

You have a point, but it also sounds like the kids are so brainwashed by their conservative parents that Orwell's little tattle tails (as described in 1984 ) are going to be here faster than we originally thought...

[Peter]

So every HS teacher should be allowed to use a classroom as their own personal forum provided they are a left wingnut?

[Cant_Be_Faded]

So every HS teacher should be allowed to use a classroom as their own personal forum provided they are a left wingnut?

It'll be interesting to see if he gets fired or not. Disciplinary action should be taken, cuz we don't want teachers blabbering . On the other hand, we don't want someone fired from their job for speaking out against the current regime (provided he has a decent previous history and most kids say he's good at his job)

"I'm not in anyway implying that you should agree with me, I don't even know if I'm necessarily taking a position. But what I'm trying to get you to do is to think about these issues more in depth and not to just take thinks from the surface."

He did a decent job covering his tracks if he was just preaching the entire class. It seems just as plausible that he really was trying to get them to think outside of the box.

Why is he a raving left-wing nut if he just points out the parallels between nazism and this current regime (a jr high student of normal mental faculties with internet access could point these out), then tells them to think for themselves?

[Oh, Gee!!]

Just teach Geography, that's what you're getting paid to do.

[Peter]

Because he's advancing a certain political viewpoint to a captive audience on the taxpayer's dime.

[boutons_]

So the red-state right-wingers are all against political dissent by teachers in the classroom, but public schools teaching fringe, nut-case "science" like creationism and ID is appropriate?

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Because he's advancing a certain political viewpoint to a captive audience on the taxpayer's dime.

yeah
i keep forgetting he was a geography teacher

definite punishment
but if his record is clean, he shouldn't be fired

[Cant_Be_Faded]

So the red-state right-wingers are all against political dissent by teachers in the classroom, but public schools teaching fringe, nut-case "science" like creationism and ID is appropriate?

good one

[JoeChalupa]

"Good morning, eager young minds."

[Yonivore]

I didn't know Nbadan taught school.

[SA210]

^^

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I heart Gitmo.

[Nbadan]

Because he's advancing a certain political viewpoint to a captive audience on the taxpayer's dime.

Blah, he's merely giving the kids an opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills. Something that is severely missing in our school system. It's not like he's flunking anyone or throwing them out of his class for disagreeing with his argument, , even he admits that he hasn't staked out a concrete position on the topics he discussed.

I think it's more disturbing that instead of going to the Principal or the school board with his concerns, this student being egged on by his wing-nut parents, went to the local media instead.

[Peter]

Blah, he's merely giving the kids an opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills. Something that is severely missing in our school system. It's not like he's flunking anyone or throwing them out of his class for disagreeing with his argument, , even he admits that he hasn't staked out a concrete position on the topics he discussed.

Let's see, a kid is sent to a state run school that his parents are forced to pay for. Yeah, no problem there. I'm sure you'd have the same reaction if the teacher was just, for the formation of the students' critical thinking skills, pontificating on how the current president's leadership was akin to, oh, say a Winston Churchill that you'd so readily defend it?

I think it's more disturbing that instead of going to the Principal or the school board with his concerns, this student being egged on by his wing-nut parents, went to the local media instead.

So he's utilizing his 1st amendment rights. What's your problem with that?