Tech school instructor on leave over Obama remarks - elected "because of the color of his skin."

[The Straight Story]

Tech school instructor on leave over Obama remarks

WICHITA, Kan. - An instructor at Wichita Technical Institute is on administrative leave after a student complained about remarks he made while watching Barack Obama's inauguration on television.

The student said she was so offended by the instructor's remarks Tuesday, that she walked out of the computer networking class. The woman, Danyeal Jackson, said the teacher gave a play-by-play mocking what Obama said in his inauguration address.

Jackson said the instructor questioned the intelligence of those who voted for Obama and asserted that the nation's first black president was elected "because of the color of his skin." She said one other student was upset by the remarks but that she was the only one to complain.

School officials say they are taking the complaint seriously, and that they train their instructors to keep politics out of the classroom.

http://www.kansas.com/news/breaking/story/671504.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. I'm a white guy in Mississippi

and I didn't vote for Obama because he's black, I voted for him because he isn't a fucking conservative.

[Kalyke]

2. I would question the intelligence of this instructor.

Even in Kansas, smart people know not to bring their politics to work.

Geesch.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Beat you to this one

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[The Straight Story]

4. yeah, but mine was typed prettier

LOL!

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. And mine was typed by a prettier typist

[shintao]

5. One Racist At A Time..............

It is a slow process weeding out the racists from society, and might be helped along with some racist laws that would forward these people to re-education camps for 10-20 years of re-indoctrination. I think I would send their gang leaders first, Rush, Hannity, and Duke. Those three need some serious waterboarding anyway.

[Raskolnik]

6. I'm not so sure I agree with this. A reprimand, sure, but being put on leave?

Would you approve if in 2005 an instructor that made some negative remarks about Bush was put on administrative leave?

Of course, it does depend on what was actually said by the instructor, but if it wasn't any worse than the "color of his skin" buffoonery, I'm not certain that it merits a suspension.

[lolly]

10. Not a couple of jokes or off-hand remarks

According to the OP, an extended play-by-play mocking of the inaugural speech.

If he's a decent instructor, he'll probably have to go to some sensitivity training thing.

But devoting a large chunk of class time to ridiculing the president? Yeah, he deserved to be put on leave. And he's probably a crappy teacher if his judgment is no better than that.

I can't imagine devoting 15 minutes of my class time to talking about Bush. That would have been poor judgment.

[Raskolnik]

13. I wouldn't want someone forced to go to "sensitivity training" if they mocked Bush, would you?

Again, neither of us was there so we don't know the exact words he used, but I'm not in favor of penalizing unpopular thoughts like this.

[lolly]

15. For an extended play-by-play

Especially in a "Tech College," where I'm assuming we weren't talking about a graduate course in "Political Rhetoric."

The article described it as a play-by-play mocking of the speech--sounds like an extended discussion.

So, yeah, if I spent a large chunk of class time (off-topic, no less) dissecting and ridiculing a Bush speech, I would expect to have to face some consequences. I would be surprised if a student didn't complain, and once a student complained, I would probably get called on the carpet. If I made racist remarks in my diatribe, I would probably also have to repeat the diversity training stuff that we all do every other year anyway.

Now, I'm not a tenured professor, but it sounds like this guy wasn't either. So I probably wouldn't be rehired the next term. And unless he's really in demand for some reason, he may not be either.

[devilgrrl]

7. He sounds like a dolt - how did he get to be a teacher?

eom

[boppers]

16. "computer networking class"... In a Tech College.

It's a step above being a "12 o'clock flasher".

[Belial]

8. Gee.. the double standard.. who would have thought?

[Blaze Diem]

9. OK racist....your king George was selected cuz of his dad...what's your point?

shut up now racist haters.

[gratuitous]

11. Ding, ding, ding, winner!

George W. Bush would be pumping premium unleaded somewhere in East Texas if his daddy had been anyone else.

[Blaze Diem]

12. or in jail mandated rehab.

****