High school teacher's comments investigated by district (Anti-bush)

[The Straight Story]

High school teacher's comments investigated by district
Marissa Pasquet Web Producer


AURORA - A 16-year-old boy at Overland High School doesn't want to hear what he calls his teacher's left-wing political rants.

Sean Allen frequently recorded his teachers to back up his notes. Allen recorded Jay Bennish, his 10th grade World Geography teacher, making comments about President Bush's State of the Union Address.

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.


http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=b8298706-0abe-421a-0116-75e16c449518&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf

[Maddy McCall]

1. This just pisses me the hell off.

I live in fundieland, and I can't tell you how many times my son's public school teachers told classes that "John Kerry is a baby killer," or "John Edwards makes money off of people's injuries."

I'm homeschooling my kid now. Complaining did no good. It just pisses me off to see that rules are not applied fairly.

For Chrissakes, the teacher in the article was encouraging his students to THINK CRITICALLY of the information they receive! And, as a college instructor of history, I can tell you now that not enough high school teachers are assisting their students in that facet of education.

The dumbing of America--where critical thought and debate are no longer allowed in schools.

:grr:

[alarimer]

3. Kid and his dad both need to get a grip

God forbid we should ever have to hear an opinion we don't agree with. Have to protect the precious little angels from that.

[Wcross]

51. I agree. Teachers should teach, not preach.

I am astounded after hearing the tapes. I am sure there are teachers with far right opinions doing the same thing. It isn't right for either to "teach" their personal opinions. No wonder kids are having difficulty with the basics.

Maddy, if Mississippi schools are anything like ours in Tennessee you are doing the right thing. Teachers and schools seem to have lost their focus. Teach the kid how to read and write. Teach them how to spell and use proper grammar. (see- they failed to teach me!) Teach them basic science. Teach them how to relate to other people with respect. College is the place to explore the deeper things.

Its pretty sad to see portable classrooms (trailers) outside an overcrowded school that has a brand new stadium out back.

[Lerkfish]

2. ahhh. wake up and smell the fascism!

asking his kids to use critical thinking is the real thoughtcrime here.

god forbid we should have that.

[Solomon]

63. You hit the nail on the head Lerkfish. Critical thinking is what the

right wing objects too. I'll never forget when my favorite high school teacher, in GEOGRAPHY class, told us that we shouldn't be going around the world dictating to other countries what kind of government they should have. He was talking about vietnam during the height of the vietnam war. I'll never forget him saying that maybe communism is the best system for them, who knows, but it was not up to us to decide.

That day changed my life. It's still burned in my memory because I remember how we were all taught to hate communism, etc. It changed me from being a zombie believing everything you're told, to thinking critically about everything.

Now what my geography teacher did is no different than what this guy is doing. Challenging students to think for themselves. He would have been drawn and quartered apparently by today's standards.

I for one am glad at least that my teacher was there to do that for me.

[fasttense]

4. Is it legal to record someone with out their permission?

Aside from that, let's start recording some of the crazy republican rants that some teachers go on. I bet they aren't looked at.

[Maddy McCall]

7. It's up to the teacher whether or not he allows his students to record him

Many don't for reasons other than the political ones.

[QuettaKid]

14. The law varies from state to state.

Some states have what is called "one party consent" laws, meaning if one party, i.e. YOU are aware, you can tape whatever you want. More info here.

http://www.pimall.com/NAIS/n.tel.tape.law.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. That is often an accomodation for kids with disabilities

So yes, lots of kids tape lectures in high school and in college. The teacher doesn't have to give permission. Now if this kid wasn't disabled, then I would think he would have to get the teacher's permission. But it probably varies from state to state.

[Yupster]

57. Probably not, but

since he's a minor there's noy much that could be done to him other than a judge telling him not to do that again.

[Faygo Kid]

5. He should have had Limbaugh blaring on the radio every day.

Then, he might be promoted. Actually, not sure he handled this all that well - although in a high school World Geography class, how nations' borders are formed through political dynamics is certainly relevant.

[abluelady]

6. And that School Probably

doesn't teach evolution either! Maybe they should just make sure when they hire teachers, they hire repugs so the children are not taught to think at all.

[donco6]

15. No, that's not true at all.

It's actually a very good high school. I know Monte Moses, the supt., - he's a good guy who has spoken out about NCLB consistently.

[abluelady]

22. Not the type of "good" school I would want my kid in.

[donco6]

23. You're really making a judgment with no facts at all.

But, that's your prerogative, I guess.

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. So do you rush to judgment often?

Or is this a new habit?

[abluelady]

41. I don't consider it a rush to judgment.

I believe any time a school interferes without abuse, the school is overreacting. Unfortunately, this seems to be the habit in public schools nowadays. Perhaps after their investigation, they will end up firing a good teacher who tries to teach the way I would want my kid taught. American seems to be producing sheeple. That is not, imho, a good way to teach. I am seeing in my community the better teachers going to private schools and making less money but being able to teach without worrying about SOL's, etc.

[proud2BlibKansan]

49. But this can be considered a form of abuse

Don't get me wrong. I think it is silly that the school is reacting but I am not a high school teacher. The rule we go by at the elementary level is that if ONE parent or kid might be offended, we don't do it. It keeps us out of trouble.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

56. Oh come on now......

......you mean to tell me if a repug teacher was doing the same thing, you'd be okay with it then?

[abluelady]

67. As Long as he was Telling Truths

It goes on all the time. But when the right does it nobody listens to the complaint. Check this out form another post. This is a "good" school imho.

http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/NEWS01/603020327/1005

[fed-up]

8. My son's HS teacher showed "The Corporation" the other day, YEAH for the

few brave teachers that are not afraid to get the truth out there!

[zbdent]

9. So, if the teacher had compared Clinton with

Stalin, the kid would have been all brightness and sunshine, Right?

[Maddy McCall]

12. Only difference is...

that would have been a lie. :hi: :D

[acmejack]

10. That's what this Country is about now

Sixteen year olds dictate what the teachers can say. Of course that is Reichwing students! This is such a sick joke.

[Maddy McCall]

11. MORE INFO HERE:

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.

snip/

The 20-minute recording of only a portion of the class was made by 16-year-old sophomore Sean Allen the day after the president's speech. The recording has raised questions about what level of academic freedom is acceptable for high school teachers. It also has generated discussions about Bennish on dozens of websites.

snip/

He added that he wanted to tape the session for his father, who later shared it with the media.


Much more at: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3560566

[CornField]

16. This link has another link to the recorded comments

It's over 4 minutes into it before the teacher even mentions the State of the Union or Bush. It sounds as if he has a list of definitions (either on an overhead or maybe a blackboard) and he is filling time while everyone gets those copied down.

Something else not mentioned in the news articles: The recording teen directly engages the teacher (about 10 minutes into the recording) & it sounds as if several students are trying to help him understand what the teacher is saying.

[CornField]

21. AND -- the teacher discusses Clinton's foreign policy as well

He basically correlates the attacks of Sept. 11th to Clinton policy (and earlier policy) -- saying the whole thing is very muddled.

He thanks the (recording) student for his questions and tells the whole class that they don't have to think the same has he thinks... that the point is, he (teacher) wants them (students) to think.

[alarcojon]

47. and the guy got suspended for 20 minutes of a lecture?

Superintendent Monte Moses told ABC News affiliate KMGH-TV that policy calls for both sides of an issue to be presented to students. He said Bennish's presentation appeared unbalanced.

How can you tell if a presentation is unbalanced if you only hear 20 minutes of it? Does anyone know if the tape was edited, BTW? I haven't had a chance to hear it yet.

"We do want teachers to express their opinions, but to put that in context and to provide opposing points of view," Moses said. "All discussion must be fair and balanced."

Fair and balanced? Where have I heard THAT phrase before?

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=1679439

[Maddy McCall]

13. Question: Does this teacher have a first amendment suit against the...

school if he is terminated?

[donco6]

18. No.

Many court cases have already ruled that the Board sets curriculum. If it's determined that the "rant" went too far afield, he would lose. He can always sue, of course. I just don't think he'd win this one.

Y'know though, my question is, why does it always come to this? Did the kid ever get up and talk to the teacher and say, "I'm not comfortable with this anti-Bush talk. Could you tone it down a little?" But no, the solution is to tape the guy unawares, then broadcast it on ultra RW fascist asshole Mike Rosen's show. I just hate that chickenshit stuff.

[Maddy McCall]

20. Thanks, and I agree with your opinion.

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. How many high school students do you know that record a session?

None. Zero. And what that teacher told his students was not liberal but actual teaching.

Repubs just want their kids hardwired to be obedient sheeple that don't question those in authority. This is worse than communism.

[KittyWampus]

27. Remember the college GOP'ers who were PAID to record their professors

This almost smells like a set up.

Remember the GOP father who goes around with his kids being "victimized" on purpose?

I can't help but wonder if kiddie told his father about a comment made by his teacher and father knew about efforts to inform on "liberal" college professors and decided to try same with his kid's teacher.

It almost seems like entrapment.

[CornField]

19. Bush and Hitler use the same rhetoric... how absurd!!

"The government will make use of these powers only insofar as they are essential for carrying out vitally necessary measures..."
~Adolf Hitler, March 23, 1933, before the German Parliment (Reichstag) as he urged them to pass his "Enabling Act"

Of course, when the board realizes the teacher speaks the truth, this will be removed from the "rant" category and he'll be reinstated. Right?

[Wetzelbill]

28. Ouch

:) That's a good zinger!

[donco6]

24. Legally, here's what this comes to:

It all comes down to Board policy, which - here in Colorado at least - is close in stature to state law.

If there is a policy that sets boundaries on what what teachers can and can't say in class, and if the teacher crossed those boundaries, the Board has no choice but to discipline the teacher. They get to determine the discipline, of course. The RW public will be screaming for his head, and others - such as here on DU - will be asking for a medal.

If the Board determines the teacher did break the policy, but it does nothing to discipline him, they open themselves up to a lawsuit by at least the student, if not the entire class of kids the guy taught. It also could open the district up to exposure beyond the state immunity cap of $150,000. With our funding levels at $6,600/kid, every dollar that goes out to paying lawsuits is very painful.

So that's the situation. It sucks, but there you have it.

[LizW]

32. It DOES suck. If there is a board policy

that says that a teacher may not say in class what this teacher said, then every teacher should receive training and instruction about it, because it would be so contrary to what any rational person would expect.

How could any social studies or government teacher adequately instruct students if he has to be so restrained about what he says about political issues, for fear of losing his job?

If I found out my school district had such a policy, I would be complaining that they weren't adequately educating my children.

[donco6]

34. We can infer the policy says . . .

Superintendent Monte Moses, who received a copy of the recording on Monday from 850 KOA-AM radio show host Mike Rosen, said it appears "a breach of district policy" occurred.

"Our policy calls for both sides to be present ... in the interest of intellectual discourse," Moses said. Bennish's presentation appeared to be unbalanced, he said.

There's a portion of the tape here, too:

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3560566

[Yupster]

58. I was a high school history teacher for ten years

I always made sure that if I gave an opinion on a topic of the day, I also gave the argument of the other side too.

I realized I was dealing with a captive audience and therefore there was an obligation to give btoth sides, or I thought there was anyway.

[gatorboy]

25. Oh sure, this family doesn't want their son hearing the teacher's opinion.

But I bet they don't mind forcing theirs (intelligent design) on everyone else...

[DBoon]

26. I'm not saying Sean Allen and the KGB are exactly the same

just that they use similar tactics to silence criticism.

[SammyBlue]

29. Here is the school's web address

www.ccsd.k12.co.us/index.htm

Contact them. Contact the ACLU at www.aclu.org.

I run into this shit all the time. Teachers aren't allowed to have opinions that aren't right wing. Liberal teachers are censored constantly.

In the district I was in, I was told "liberals shouldn't be social studies teachers." Yes, this is what's happening.

[progressivebydesign]

30. The irony that the little shit was upset about Bush and Hitler..

..while the little turd helps to create a Nazi state himself, by tormenting people for having ideas contrary to Rush Limbaugh. Do these people not see the irony? Do they not see that they are trying to stifle ANYONE with a differing opinion?

In our local paper, some dolt wrote a "cheers and jeers" item (they are all anonymous in our paper). The writer said this: "CHEERS to our wonderful teachers at the high school who instill values in our children every day. And JEERS to the liberal, anti-Christian, teachers who spew their hatred of our President and poison the minds of our children." In our local high school, some teachers are openly right wing and born-again and make no secret of it, and some are liberals and make no secret of it. That's high school... the teachers DO have leeway in their opinions in high school. People like the Allens want to make sure only the teachers with THEIR opinion are allowed to express it. Sick... we are becoming more and more like the Taliban. Our troops are dying to give IRaqis the freedoms WE are losing. Sad.

[Jim__]

31. This is an organized effort by the right.

To get some idea of the degree of right wing organizing to take over the schools, read this:Princeton's Rightwing Tilt.

The left needs an organized response to this, or in a few years education will be under the same level of right wing domination as politics and the courts are now.

This tactic can easily be turned around. Left wing kids need to record everything right wing teachers say. And complain everytime they express a right wing opinion.

[alarcojon]

38. Absofuckinglutely!

[alarcojon]

39. To expand on my earlier enthusiasm....

I agree that the left needs to do this. There are plenty of right wingers "teaching" in our public schools, and I'm sure they are NOT used to being monitored or challenged in any way. A poster upstream mentions teachers referring to Kerry as a "baby killer." GET THAT SHIT ON TAPE AND MAKE A STINK.

The problem is our common decency. As I see it, this is a total set-up designed expressly to score political points. This teacher turned out to be easy to "catch," but that is another point for another discussion. We on the left tend to be too "nice" to think up something as underhanded and slimy as this, even more so to carry it out. But the signs indicate that the future of our educational system depends on it.

Teachers need to back up their points, or they are not teaching critical thinking skills. The great benefit we have on the left is that we have facts and analysis behind our ideas, not just ideology, spin, and hatred.

[dsc]

33. I am a teacher and I have to say the teacher was out of line

He was teaching geography not history or economics. He had no business discussing that in class.

[ProfessorGAC]

37. In High School, Though?

I would think that the social sciences would be intertwinable in high school. Doesn't that help kids learn to think critically, by making them look at how the various discpilines interrelate?
The Professor

[woo me with science]

40. i agree with you that

discussions at the high school level should go beyond the insipid textbooks that most schools use. however, good teachers don't let their own beliefs show. good teachers put out information from all sides and encourage debate. they do not put out one-sided arguments, and they avoid extreme (as in comparing a political leader to hitler) commentary. if this teacher had compared clinton to stalin in a one-sided political speech during a geography lesson, i dare say you would be screaming bloody murder and asking for his hide.

[ProfessorGAC]

62. Mayhaps You Could Have Your Opinion. . .

. . .without needing to tell me what my opinion is or would be. You have no idea how i would react to your hypothetical. None at all.
The Professor

[woo me with science]

64. fair enough...

What WOULD your response be?

[ProfessorGAC]

66. I Am A Proponent Of Complete Classroom Freedom

Anybody should be able to say anything they want in the classroom, as long as:

1) Any reasonable person could find a cogent and coherent connection to the subject at hand;
2) The teacher makes no conscious effort to coerce others to agree

When right wing screedsters do it in the classroom, i disagree with the message but don't disparage the messenger. I believe that in the end, bad ideas and hollow philosophies will be exposed as such.

The Professor

[woo me with science]

68. I have a problem with it when the audience is kids.

Good teachers present multiple viewpoints and teach kids HOW to think and learn to value one over the other. Persistent one-sided screeds from either side IMO constitute indoctrination, not teaching.

[ProfessorGAC]

69. High Schoolers Aren't Kids

I guess i can buy that for grade schoolers, because they're not in any position to formulate their own judgments and are far less likely to rebel against an authority figure's opinion. High schoolers are rebelling against something or other every 15 minutes. They are far less prone to the intimidation of authority.
The Professor

[woo me with science]

70. I see your point, but

I have a hard time believing that most high-schoolers would even realize that they are getting just one side of the story. Maybe in an AP class, but I honestly think most high school kids are still taking what the teacher says as fact, just because he or she is the teacher. One-sided presentations are the mark of a bad teacher, IMO.

Anyway, sorry I ascribed beliefs to you. I do appreciate your perspective.

[ProfessorGAC]

71. Thanks. And. . .

. . .we don't all have to agree on everything around here. It would be boring if we did.
The Professor

[dsc]

45. To some extent

It is a little better than say a math teacher doing the same thing. But there is a clear curriculum in all courses. I would be hard pressed to imagine that the State of the Union is in that curriculum.

[Yupster]

59. But Professor

When I taught high school history, I fostered discusiion by giving the facts or both sides and then got the discussion going.

I would think that once the teacher gives his opinion, then you're much less likely to get a good discussion going.

There is such a discrepency of power that few students are going to want to offer their views contrary to the teachers's views, especially if he's a popular teacher.

If he wanted the kids to think and discuss, offering his own opinion forcefully is certainly not a smart way to do that.

[abluelady]

42. And the football coach/teacher doesn't have a right to

talk Saturday's games in algebra class. How does one stop that?

[dsc]

44. by suspending them

[abluelady]

48. Right! That's Going to Happen in the South! lol

[dsc]

60. actually they take algebra very seriously here in nc

it is an eoc course. Screw that up and the school is in trouble. He would probably be reassigned to a non eoc course.

[abluelady]

65. They take algebra seriously here, too, but football more seriously!

[ourbluenation]

72. at my sons HS before every varsity FB game they pray to Jesus...

problem is - we're not Christians. Oh - and this is a public HS in blue Northern California. Where is the outrage from these people like the kids who taped his teacher who don't want views forced on kids in school? Oh, I see, only if you disagree with the comments is it a problem...

[dorkulon]

61. I agree

Heard some of this stuff on TV last night, and I have to say the guy was simply editorializing. He's supposed to be teaching geography. If he wants to talk politics outside of class, that's fine. But be honest--imagine what we'd all say if he were ranting pro-war and pro-Bush for twenty minutes of class time.

[Initech]

43. I never thought I would miss my freedom of speech rights this much...

[RagingInMiami]

46. Reminds me of an article I wrote last month

Educators face blowback for protesting Iraq war in schools

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Educators_face_blowback_for_protesting_war_0209.html

[merbex]

50. And how isn't this kid like the Nazi youth who turned in his parents?

Seig Heil you little bushbot

[mia]

52. Colorado Geography Curriculum

What goes on in the political realm clearly impacts Geography. Below is Standard #4 from the Colorado "Model Content Standards" for the teaching of Geography.

http://www.cde.state.co.us/index_stnd.htm

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeassess/standards/pdf/geogrphy.pdf



Students understand how economic, political, cultural, and social
processes* interact to shape patterns of human populations,
interdependence*, cooperation, and conflict.

4.5 Students know how cooperation and conflict among people
influence the division and control of Earth's surface.

GRADES K-4
In grades K-4, what students know and are able to do includes
• describing how and why people create boundaries; and
• describing how cooperation and conflict affect neighborhoods and communities.

GRADES 5-8
As students in grades 5-8 extend their knowledge, what they know and are able to do includes
• describing how cooperation and conflict among people contribute to political, economic, and
social divisions of Earth's surface; and
• describing the forces and processes of cooperation that unite people across Earth's surface (for
example, the nations of Western Europe have joined together in the European Union).

GRADES 9-12
As students in grades 9-12 extend their knowledge, what they know and are able to do includes
• analyzing why and how cooperation and conflict are involved in shaping the distribution of
social, political, and economic spaces on Earth at different scales – local, national, and
international; and
• analyzing how differing points of view and self-interests play a role in conflict over territory
and resources.


Colorado Content Standards Adopted 6-8-95; Amended 11-9-95 Geography - 20

[dobegrrrl]

53. I have to watch what I say

I teach GOVERNMENT!!! It is so hard not to break into a Mike rant!! BTW I teach in Chesapeake VA -- a very red area!!!!

[populistdriven]

54. There is a Poll on this to DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=561661&mesg_id=561755

[chat_noir]

55. "The nerve! It is obvious that the two are not similar."

1. Hitler was elected.

2. Hitler rebuilt the German economy.

3. Hitler was an artist. (Bush doesn’t even write his own bad poems.)

4. Hitler was not an alcoholic.

5. Hitler was a gifted speaker.

http://hammeroftruth.com/2006/03/02/teacher-suspended-for-insulting-hitler/


:evilgrin:

[The Straight Story]

73. Hmmm Maybe a poll is in order

If bush were running against hitler which would you vote for?

[Neil Lisst]

74. If this were a college class, I'd have no problem with it.

I think the Socratic method is sound, and posing issues in the extreme can be helpful in making points clear. But a high school class lacks the sophistication to get that. To them, he's clearly stating these things as facts, not as suggestions for comparison.

He could have presented the same thoughts in an acceptable manner, without appearing to be such an advocate for one side.

I would not have cared for a pro-Bush harangue like that by a teacher.