Obama T-shirt earns middle school teacher a trip to principal's office

[sabra]

Source: Palm Beach Post

A local middle school history teacher who wore a Barack Obama T-shirt to school after the election has been cited by his principal for engaging in unethical political activity.

Dennis Yuzenas, an American history teacher at Bak Middle School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, has refused to sign a memorandum that his principal, Elizabeth Kennedy, handed him last week, in what has become a showdown between one of the school's most popular teachers and its relatively new principal.

Kennedy saw Yuzenas on the school's TV news show on the Friday after the election. While wearing an Obama T-shirt, Yuzenas said, "It's a good day to be an American," or words to that effect.

A few days later, Kennedy asked him to sign a memo for his file.

...

His remark on the news, he said, was one of patriotism in support of the new president-elect. Another teacher had jokingly referred to the school as the "Barack Middle School of the Arts" on the same broadcast.

As for the T-shirt, Yuzenas said it was part of his lesson plan that day.

Read more: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/local_news/epaper/2008/11/18/a1b_bino_1119.html

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Bak Middle School of the Arts American history teacher Dennis Yuzenas wore this Obama T-shirt to school after the election.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. The principal is technically in the right. Teachers aren't supposed to voice political opinion in

the classroom. I can't remember the reason why, but it was one of the first things I was told when I was hired to teach high school English.

[kay1864]

6. How is supporting the President "political opinion"?

If it were an anti-Bush or anti-Obama T-shirt, well that's voicing political opinion.

Supporting the President (or soon-to-be), well that's just patriotism.

Is posting a photo of the President in your classroom "political opinion" now?

[OwnedByFerrets]

8. I agree with YOU!!

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

13. Read the article.

The principal's memo:

"Last Friday, November 7, you wore a T-shirt that clearly showed which candidate you supported during the recent Presidential Election and appeared with students on the in-school news broadcast sharing your positive view regarding the outcome of the election," the memo read.

"As per the Code of Ethics and the above state School Board policy, students may not know your political view," it continued. "This could be construed as using your position to influence others. It is my expectation, that in the future as you teach students to clarify and express their own political views, you will remain neutral."

Now I recall... the rule he's referencing was adopted to protect students from being intimidating from expressing their own political views. The incorporation of the shirt into a lesson plan puts that on dicey grounds; he and the union can say it was part of the lesson, administration can fire back with "then why were you wearing the shirt?" He could come back with "to demonstrate the integration of history into culture" or something like that. Same thing almost happened to me when I had my kids do a journal writing exercise about the primaries.

The rule's not always fair, but there's not much grounds for interpretation. Administration tends to be very black and white (no pun intended) on these matters, at least in my experience.

Anyway, if the guy has a halfway-decent union rep, nothing will come of this.

[kay1864]

17. Uh, already did

And the part of your post below the quotes would be...your interpretation, correct?

And the memo is wrong...wearing a shirt with a picture of the newly-elected President does not necessarily "show which candidate you supported".

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

19. Is what my interpretation? Why the rule exists?

Not really. That was its intended use.

Last year, the system I worked in had a major budge crunch and the schools (as always) were hit hard. The town was debating whether or not to pass an override that would give the schools (and a couple of other social services) much needed money so we could make improvements to keep accreditation. Every teacher I knew was logically for the override. However, we could never, ever express that opinion in the classroom. Teachers who did let their position on the matter slip had a chat with our principal who was none to pleased (although she was also in favor over the override). She felt she had the ethical obligation to come down on an opinion that she agreed with because it broke that particular, and while I disagreed with her a number of things, I respected her for that. And to be honest, I was glad. As one of the few progressives teaching at that school, I was happy to know that no one was pushing Republicans down the kids throats.

Now, is the Floridian principal's application of said rule kind of douche-baggy? It's suspect especially since it's in Florida. But he has grounds to stand on whether we like it or not. Besides, as I said, the teacher will beat it if he has a half-decent union rep, especially since this is getting press now.

[kay1864]

23. *sigh*

From your post:

Now I recall... the rule he's referencing was adopted to protect students from being intimidating from expressing their own political views. The incorporation of the shirt into a lesson plan puts that on dicey grounds

That would be interpretation of a rule that you said "wasn't open to interpretation". As is any talk about its "intended use".

Were you a teacher in Florida? If not, what makes you an expert on the rules in Florida?

(English teacher, huh? I think you meant "to protect students from being intimidated...")

[Lautremont]

25. This part is important:

Yuzenas said he didn't sign the principal's memo because he's not in violation of the ethics policy.

School Board Policy 2.59 allows teachers to express their own "political, social and religious values" if the "total presentations is essentially balanced and fair."

Teachers are expressly prohibited from allowing their interaction with students to further their own "political aims or views."


Obviously there's room for interpretation there, and perhaps facts we don't know, but unless the teacher is totally misrepresenting himself in the article, a balanced fair presentation in the classroom is important to him. Plus the election was over, so his political aims with regard to it were moot when he wore the shirt. I think the odds are good that he didn't violate the policy.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

33. I keep forgeting... If he had a Bush shirt on nothing would be said about it.

[reggie the dog]

45. "This could be construed as using your position to influence others."

That is exactly the reason I chose to become a history teacher, TO USE MY POSITION TO INFLUENCE OTHERS. What the hell fun is teaching history if you do not use the position to influence others? What is the point of being a teacher if you do not influence your students?

[hughee99]

27. Is posting a photo of the president "political opinion"? Depends who you ask...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1775876#1776032

[kay1864]

30. Actually it depends on when

A month before an election?

[hughee99]

32. Not according to some DUers in that thread

Hanging the picture seems to be considered "political discussion". As I said, it depends who you ask. You're right, though, it also depends when you ask. 6 months after an election, no one gives an "F".

[jennied]

28. I agree. I wonder if he would have gotten in trouble if he were wearing a Bush t-shirt. Or one that

said just "President" on it.

[harmonicon]

43. ding ding!

Yep. This is very different than if he'd worn the shirt before the election.

[Donnachaidh]

9. oh please! My son's school is awash in political nonsense

the vast majority of it coming from RW nutbag TEACHERS *AND* Administrators. When asked about it they cite their freedom of speech.

They only stop this sort of shite when threatened with a parent going to the school board to have it answered officially.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

14. Then your school is breaking ethical regulations.

Hey, I'm just saying what the rule is. How (and if) it's practiced around the country is up for grabs.

[kay1864]

20. This is a nationwide rule?

The rule you were told about applies in every state?

[Catch22Dem]

60. our whole district had mock elections

I think the poster is incorrect about these "regulations"

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. But he has already been elected

The campaign is OVER.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

36. You are sooo dead wrong and so is the idiot principal

Overt expression during a campaign? Yes, that is political statement, and while an infringement upon the teacher's rights, perhaps justified, perhaps not. As long as teachers equally present multiple sides to issues, their personal preference should not be questioned.

But after-the-fact? NO WAY is that a violation of even the most wing-nut school board policies. If both John McCain and Sarah Palin can call this an historic and game-changing election after-the-fact, then so can any school teacher. Period. No debate.

I remember a basketball coach whose team got creamed in the state playoffs. The next day he led his players into the finals game carrying a pennant of the team which beat him. That man was a "Class Act."

There many prominent Republican leaders praising President-elect Obama now that the election is over. We can be pretty sure they didn't vote for him.

For this idiot principal to state "The kids could go home and say, 'We know who Mr. Y voted for,' '' demonstrates her total ignorance and total lack of class. For her to complain that "49 percent of the people voted for the other side" (when actually it is more like 45.9%) demonstrates her lack of understanding of the American system, and evidently yours as well.

[movonne]

37. Can't they have pictures of our president in the school or is that too

political??? after all he is our president...does it make you political when you support our president?? I would really like to know because when I was in school (a very long time ago) it seems we had pictures of our current president....maybe I'm wrong it was a very long time ago.

[kestrel91316]

53. Wearing a picture of the President-elect AFTER THE ELECTION

is not political. It is patriotic.

[stray cat]

2. Principal is right

[AlexDeLarge]

12. So if he wore a T-shirt with

a picture of George Washington, he would be in trouble as well?

[kay1864]

3. "unethical political activity"?!?

He's the freaking 44th President, you idiot!

:eyes:
:eyes:
:eyes:
:eyes:
:eyes:
:eyes:
:eyes:

[Sanity Claws]

4. This was after the election

After the election, Obama was everyone's President Elect and soon to be Everyone's President. Acknowledging that we come together after an election is not politicking. It's supposed to be what America is about.

[countingbluecars]

5. Good for him.

There is no way I would sign that memo either. He was wearing a picture of the president elect-not a candidate for president.
It seems to me that the principal is the one showing her political views.

[coffeenap]

7. It was AFTER the election, so not an opinion, just support

for our next president. Well done, sir.

[stray cat]

10. So teachers showing up with pro-Bush tshirts is ok since he is president

[kay1864]

11. Part of the memo this idiot wanted him to sign...

"This could be construed as using your position to influence others"

Yes, you could make some kid have his parent vote for Obama...uh, three days in the past.

[kay1864]

15. Here's the school's website

http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/PublicAffairs/Schools/Bak.htm

with a picture of the smiling Ms. Kennedy right on the front.

[Politicalboi]

21. She kinda looks folksy

Kinda like someone who was in a campaign not too long ago. Oh I can't remember her name. Arm candy, Moose, Diva, Caribou Barbie.

[classysassy]

47. The school mascot

a star,it means shrub is spaced out.

[louis-t]

16. It's Florida.

I've never heard of anyone being questioned about a bush t-shirt. This is all about intimidation. The principal is saying he could influence a vote? Election is over!

[kay1864]

18. He's a history teacher

Maybe he's got a secret time machine.

OMG, he's already influenced the election! :silly:

[pilgrimm]

22. The principal is right

Support for a president is political not patriotic as we should have learned over the past 7 or so years.

And don't forget there is another election in 2012

[Coexist]

24. 2012. Are you serious?

[pilgrimm]

31. Yes

everything he does from then till now will weigh on his election. Even more important though is that supporting a president is pretty much the same as supporting his agenda, which he needs political support for.

[EFerrari]

50. No Support for the President elect is a celebration of democracy.

This is bullshit.

[pilgrimm]

63. What's your rational..."This is bullshit"?

What about the support of Bush who stole the election would that be a celebration of democracy as well?

[Catch22Dem]

61. So what do you call all those pictures of the 43 presidents in classrooms across the country?

Political? Bullshit.

[pilgrimm]

64. They are not political campaign images

a Shepard Fairey print is.

[Catch22Dem]

70. That makes no sense whatsoever

He wore it after the election. What if the guy wore an "I Like Ike" t-shirt. Official campaign slogan, right?

The principal doesn't have a leg to stand on.

[pilgrimm]

71. You're taking what I said out of context.

Eisenhower is dead, he does not have a relevant political agenda, he can not run for office again, he is history.

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. I took my YES WE CAN sign out of my yard and put it up in my classroom

No one has said a thing except a few kids. They like it. I told them it means they can do anything they put their minds to.

[hughee99]

34. I'm sure somewhere in America

some repuke teacher has done the same thing with his Bush/Cheney "Git 'R Done" yard sign. :)

[ksimons]

35. can no one show pictures of existing Senators then? if any one is in a race for anything?

just curious

[peruban]

38. HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!!!

That's my middle school gifted arts teacher!!!!! One of the two best teachers I've ever had.

He tried to get the class involved politically back then by trying to change Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill to Frederick Douglass. We were interviewed by CNN and local media sources back then but the movement never got anywhere after the school year ended. I suppose he was just trying to show us that it is possible to make changes for the better. And, yes, we can!

I'm in no way surprised that he's the most popular teacher at the school, he was a natural educator and treated everyone like his own children. He was a favorite teacher at Seminole Middle where I went.

The article goes on further to say "I was talking about the role of art in society," he said, "and tying in this T-shirt to Picasso's Guernica." That's just the kind of out of the box thinking that made us look up to him so much.

Yo go Mr.Y!!!!

[MelissaB]

41. He sounds like a great teacher.

:hi:

[peruban]

44. The article quoted him as saying:

"I don't want students to think like I do," he said. "I want them to think."

You don't get better role models than that.

[JerseygirlCT]

49. He does sound like an awesome teacher

but I also think he stepped over the line a bit on this one.

His job is to make his students think - not to offer them HIS thoughts - especially on things political.

But I love what you describe as his out of the box teaching - it would be inspiring, I'm sure.

[VPStoltz]

39. As of Jan. 20th he can walk around in an Obama disguise and the principal can't do anything.

How many times have I had to put up with the over the top display our lunch cashier had attached to her computer: flags, pictures of the Shrub, etc. She claims, and nobody chanllenged her, that he was the president and his image could be displayed anywhere anyhow.

[The Backlash Cometh]

40. I have about a dozen Obama t-shirts and I'm careful about where I wear them.

I'm thinking to myself, this is crazy. This is the president of the United States and I'm afraid that if I go out in public wearing the shirt, I'll get my car key-jobbed.

[southernyankeebelle]

42. Wow

Whatever happen to free speech? My dad alway said "I fought to give that man the right to do what he wants even if I don't agree with him." He was right. I would have bet she wouldn't have said a word had it been a republican. I want to know who died and left the republican party in charge. They have managed to screw things up pretty bad the last 12 yrs and 8 yrs of Bush years.

[Ian David]

46. If he were wearing a Bush t-shirt on November 19. 2001 and the pricipal did this...

... the Freepers would have burned the place to the ground by now.

[Qanisqineq]

66. and DU would be cheering the principal n/t

[Ian David]

69. No, they wouldn't. If you know so little about DU by now, perhaps you should leave? n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

48. The principal is right.

Much as I agree with the teacher and his elation, that doesn't belong in the classroom.

[EFerrari]

51. There is no legitimate reason to keep Obama images out of the classroom

once he is the president elect.

[JerseygirlCT]

56. I think it's all about context

Photos, news stories - all that is one thing. A campaign t-shirt is sort of another.

Just reverse things. After 2004, had a teacher shown up wearing a Bush T, would you have felt the same way?

[angrycarpenter]

52. His students will learn a valuable lesson from this

That the boss will always be petty. They will always put rules ahead of common sense. That some will put rules above people. Some will even fire you just to win an argument. They will learn that the boss can be a dick just because they can.

Him wearing the shirt was a small thing. Not anything a reasonable person would even notice. Real story- A jealous school Principal uses rule book to try to make Mr popular kiss her ass and then take a reprimand.

[depakid]

55. Add to that:

Get the hell out of Florida!

[bertman]

54. Sign me up as one who is opposed to teachers displaying any political affiliations or

preferences while at school. It is intimidating to those students who do not share their views. A teacher has a lot of power over his/her students and should not wield it like that.

If someone had worn a Bush t-shirt to school and done the same thing--or a McCain t-shirt--I'd feel the same.

Just because he's OUR choice doesn't mean we should encourage that type of action.

[LostinVA]

57. My view, too

[Catch22Dem]

62. What about a Kennedy shirt? FDR? Lincoln?

Are those bad too?

[Kaye1]

67. I agree

Teachers should not be influencing their students politically in any manner. My parents are hard-core Repubs, she's a teacher, and she never says anything about politics in the classroom. The principal there also doesn't allow it. It's just not ethical.

[hellbound-liberal]

58. I think this teacher showed poor judgement by WEARING the shirt to school

He said he wanted to demonstrate the use of art in the campaign but he could have done that by simply bringing the shirt to school rather than wearing it. To me, wearing the shirt does imply that he supported Obama and, in my opinion as a teacher, those types of statements and opinions are best not shared with students. Like it or not, many students are influenced consciously and unconsciously by the opinions of their teachers and teachers should try to mitigate these effects as much as possible. IMO, he crossed the line of good judgement whether he broke any policies or not.

[No Elephants]

59. Wearing the shirt before the election would have been political. Wearing it after the election

is patriotic.

[Zuiderelle]

65. I was on the fence until I read this line in the article:

"Kennedy said she thought it would be OK for a teacher to wear a T-shirt showing the sitting president, but not the president-elect right after an election where the Florida vote was relatively close."

If there's a rule about not showing your political leanings, then that sentence and her reprimand are hypocritical.

[burrowowl]

68. Public Buildings usually have a picture of the President

on display. I guess the teacher jumped the gun. Will the school put a picture of Obama up or will it keep Bu$hco's up?