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Do you agree or disagree that this teacher should have been suspended?

How much freedom should a teacher have when expressing opinions to 15 & 16 year olds?



BTW, he is already back in class. Latest story.



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Teacher on leave after comments

District cites policy requiring balanced views in classroom



By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News

March 2, 2006



An Overland High School geography teacher was put on leave Wednesday while Cherry Creek Schools investigates whether he violated district policy that requires balanced viewpoints in the classroom.



Jay Bennish, who teaches 10th grade world geography, is being investigated for making biased, anti-President Bush comments in class during a discussion of the State of the Union speech last month.



"These are serious allegations and we're very concerned about it," said Tustin Amole, spokeswoman for Cherry Creek Schools. "This does not reflect the type of teaching that we want to see in Cherry Creek school district."



Bennish could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.



On Feb. 1, Bennish, who has been at Overland High School since the fall of 2000, had a discussion in his class about the State of the Union address.

Sean Allen, a student in the class, taped the discussion, in which Bennish made a number of unfavorable comments about Bush that upset Allen's father.



"He said that some people may compare (Bush) to Hitler," Amole said.



The school district did not learn about Bennish's lecture until last Wednesday, when it received an e-mail about it from an out-of-state person who had seen an online column on it written by Walter Williams on www.townhall.com, Amole said. That same day, Allen's father also called the principal of Overland High School to complain about the teacher, and the complaint was forwarded to the district, which began its investigation.



"After listening to the tape, it's evident the comments in the class were inappropriate," Amole said. "There were not adequate opportunities for opposing points of view."



Allen's father apparently gave a copy of the taped discussion to KOA radio host Mike Rosen, who did a show on the subject Wednesday.

Since then, a number of parents have called the school about Bennish's remarks, both in support and in opposition.



Amole said that Bennish told school officials he had received threats as a result of the controversy.



Amole said that the ensuing brouhaha over Bennish's lecture has become disruptive to the school, which led to Bennish's being put on leave Wednesday.



"We felt it was better for all concerned if he was out of class," she said. "This is not a punishment at this point."



In the meantime, the district is investigating whether Bennish violated its policy on teaching about controversial and sensitive subjects, and has reminded teachers about the policy. "We do want teachers to express their opinions, but to put that in context and to provide opposing points of view," Amole said. "All discussion must be fair and balanced."



District officials have been talking to Bennish and his students as part of the investigation.



"We want to find out all the facts, what other students have to say about it, whether there have been other incidents," Amole said.



Amole said the district hopes to complete its investigation of Bennish this week.



Apparently, this is not the first time he has been in hot water over comments made in class, according to Amole.



A few years ago, another student complained about remarks Bennish made in class. In that case, Bennish met with the parent and the school principal, and the issue was resolved without district intervention.



Amole could not provide details Wednesday of the earlier incident, but said the district encourages students and parents to voice their concerns.

Accountable wrote: Do you agree or disagree that this teacher should have been suspended?

How much freedom should a teacher have when expressing opinions to 15 & 16 year olds?



BTW, he is already back in class. Latest story.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Teacher on leave after comments

District cites policy requiring balanced views in classroom



By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News

March 2, 2006



An Overland High School geography teacher was put on leave Wednesday while Cherry Creek Schools investigates whether he violated district policy that requires balanced viewpoints in the classroom.



Jay Bennish, who teaches 10th grade world geography, is being investigated for making biased, anti-President Bush comments in class during a discussion of the State of the Union speech last month.



"These are serious allegations and we're very concerned about it," said Tustin Amole, spokeswoman for Cherry Creek Schools. "This does not reflect the type of teaching that we want to see in Cherry Creek school district."



Bennish could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.



On Feb. 1, Bennish, who has been at Overland High School since the fall of 2000, had a discussion in his class about the State of the Union address.

Sean Allen, a student in the class, taped the discussion, in which Bennish made a number of unfavorable comments about Bush that upset Allen's father.



"He said that some people may compare (Bush) to Hitler," Amole said.



The school district did not learn about Bennish's lecture until last Wednesday, when it received an e-mail about it from an out-of-state person who had seen an online column on it written by Walter Williams on www.townhall.com, Amole said. That same day, Allen's father also called the principal of Overland High School to complain about the teacher, and the complaint was forwarded to the district, which began its investigation.



"After listening to the tape, it's evident the comments in the class were inappropriate," Amole said. "There were not adequate opportunities for opposing points of view."



Allen's father apparently gave a copy of the taped discussion to KOA radio host Mike Rosen, who did a show on the subject Wednesday.

Since then, a number of parents have called the school about Bennish's remarks, both in support and in opposition.



Amole said that Bennish told school officials he had received threats as a result of the controversy.



Amole said that the ensuing brouhaha over Bennish's lecture has become disruptive to the school, which led to Bennish's being put on leave Wednesday.



"We felt it was better for all concerned if he was out of class," she said. "This is not a punishment at this point."



In the meantime, the district is investigating whether Bennish violated its policy on teaching about controversial and sensitive subjects, and has reminded teachers about the policy. "We do want teachers to express their opinions, but to put that in context and to provide opposing points of view," Amole said. "All discussion must be fair and balanced."



District officials have been talking to Bennish and his students as part of the investigation.



"We want to find out all the facts, what other students have to say about it, whether there have been other incidents," Amole said.



Amole said the district hopes to complete its investigation of Bennish this week.



Apparently, this is not the first time he has been in hot water over comments made in class, according to Amole.



A few years ago, another student complained about remarks Bennish made in class. In that case, Bennish met with the parent and the school principal, and the issue was resolved without district intervention.



Amole could not provide details Wednesday of the earlier incident, but said the district encourages students and parents to voice their concerns.






So was he having a discussion or was he teaching? Gosh if it was a discussion it sounds like freedom of speech is not all that free after all.

Well although we don't know what exactly is was he said during this conversation, it does seem somewhat harse to me to for this man to get all these threats over his own opinions. I'm guessing though that it was amplified because he was talking to younger children about this, and might therefore have some kind of bad influence on them.

chrisb84uk wrote: Well although we don't know what exactly is was he said during this conversation, it does seem somewhat harse to me to for this man to get all these threats over his own opinions. I'm guessing though that it was amplified because he was talking to younger children about this, and might therefore have some kind of bad influence on them.


15 & 16 year olds not all that young in my opinion.

minks wrote: 15 & 16 year olds not all that young in my opinion.


Ah you are right, I hadn't noticed that AC had mentioned how old the pupils involved were, my mistake.



Still is very harsh though isn't it.

Here's the audio. LINK



This isn't a college class. The lecture is most definitely one-sided. He characterises the World Trade Center as a military target and our actions against Cuba in the 60's as terrorist attacks.



It was an interesting lecture for me, but I'm a touch over 15. Also, I'm clueless about what world geography is supposed to encompass, but it seemed more a geopolitics class.

SnoozeControl wrote: Was he aware he was being taped and he'd later be broadcast on the radio? Did he give his permission?



And he got threats against his person? This country's going to hell in a handbasket.:-5
What relevance is it whether he was aware of being taped? He's a public school teacher. He shouldn't be saying anything that can't go out on public airwaves.



As for threats, both received them. The student changed schools; the teacher's back in the same classroom.

I listened to the audio...I think he needs to focus on teaching and save his ranting for his personal time.

Darn I am at work anc can't listen ok so he was carrying on about his opinions hmmm tsk tsk tsk, bad on him, those ages are of kids are impressionable, but not so much so that they will take a firm stand one way or another. (haveing a 15 year old myself) But I think if it was one sided, his side, he is in the wrong.

Hey why not get our teachers in here Jives, Mrs K, Hotsauce and Chonsi and see what they may think. I believe teachers have to teach the facts, and keep their opinions to themselves. (within reason)

I’m still not sure how I feel about this. I guess one way to look at it is, how would you describe the Bush administration if he were doing these things as the leader of another country? Would it then be acceptable to compare his political style to that of Hitler?

A lot of the criticism of the teacher was that he only gave one point of view. Apparently, the student had cut out the actual “discussion” where students offered other points of view and those points of view were welcomed and discussed by Bennish, without making those students feel threatened. Bennish also told the students that he was just trying to get them to think about what was going on and not just take things at face value.

What exactly are the opposing points of view critics wanted Bennish to present? That we should just follow blindly? The facts show that the war in Iraq is not going well and is actually making the world less stable.

As teachers both Chonsi, Mrs. K, and I can tell you this guy violated a cardinal rule...

"Don't take your personal agenda into the classroom."

In the classroom, it's often effective to introduce topics that students find interestesting and controversial, especially if you want to get them to write a lot for you .

But you can never take sides, or express your own personal opinion. It's just like in the military, you can have an opinion, but you can't express it while in uniform.

Most districts have a policy on this kind of behavior in their Teacher Code of Ethics. You can bet this guy's contract will not be renewed next year. And you can also bet that his administrator is right now writing the documentation necessary to release him without a chance of a lawsuit. He'll just have to quietly fade away. But he'll show up in another district.



The teacher saying that covers this is : "He was preaching, not teaching."

Teaching is such a tricky business, it's a freakin' wonder anyone at all goes into it! I heard lately that the average career expectancy for a new teacher is one year.

Here's some examples, two teachers in Albuquerque were fired for putting up anti-war posters in their room.

Another school in my district was disciplined and had a terrible backlash against it from the parents of the community. Their crime?

During the Christmas season, they put "Peace on Earth" as their marquee sign. People took it as an anti-war protest.

all you teachers are amazing, you have to deal with kids and their parents some days I am sure it is a toss up as to who is more mature.

I admire you all you should get awards for every year you are a teacher.

Benjamin wrote: I’m still not sure how I feel about this. I guess one way to look at it is, how would you describe the Bush administration if he were doing these things as the leader of another country? Would it then be acceptable to compare his political style to that of Hitler?



A lot of the criticism of the teacher was that he only gave one point of view. Apparently, the student had cut out the actual “discussion” where students offered other points of view and those points of view were welcomed and discussed by Bennish, without making those students feel threatened. Bennish also told the students that he was just trying to get them to think about what was going on and not just take things at face value.



What exactly are the opposing points of view critics wanted Bennish to present? That we should just follow blindly? The facts show that the war in Iraq is not going well and is actually making the world less stable.Listen to the audio. I don't think the student cut anything. It's the last 20 minutes of the class. The student that recorded the class asked questions. It was apparent from the teacher's reaction that it was common practice.



The news stories I heard naturally exaggerated the situation to help ratings, so my first reaction was "this isn't as bad as all that". But I don't know where the line is. Is it the geography teacher's job to teach politics or critical thinking?

Accountable wrote: But I don't know where the line is. Is it the geography teacher's job to teach politics or critical thinking?
Both. He probably went over the line with the length of his rant and his comparing Bush to Hitler, though. Comparisons to Hitler should be banned. There's what's called "Godwin's Law," in regards to online discussion, but applies to political discussions in general. It states: "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1." There are so many comparisons to Hitler that it trivializes the evil actually perpetrated by Hitler. If Bennish hadn’t compared Bush to Hitler, this thing probably would have just blown over.