MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
They're not "unpatriotic"-but to do that to students at that time and place, really not the most appropriate choice. I think the students and others were giving a standing ovation for the students who were entering the military, not for "militarism". Why should their achievements be honored in some sort of segregated way, apart from the other students?
Cape Cod Times
By Cynthia Mccormick
cmccormick@capecodonline.com
June 18, 2010
Two Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School teachers who held an anti-war sign during a senior assembly last week are facing disciplinary action.
D-Y world history teacher Marybeth Verani and English teacher Adeline "Carrie" Koscher have been put on paid administrative leave until the end of the school year June 24, Verani said yesterday.
In addition to the paid leave, Verani said she has been given an unpaid suspension for the first 10 days of school in September. Verani said she did not want to comment on what further discipline Koscher might be facing.
Verani and Koscher conducted a silent protest during the part of the assembly in which school officials recognized graduating seniors entering the military.
Verani and Koscher stood up on the bleachers and displayed an "end war" sign while a school resource officer made opening remarks about six students entering the military. They sat in the audience while the names of the students were being announced and remained seated when the assembly rose to give the students a standing ovation.
Before last night's district school committee meeting, Supt. Carol Woodbury declined to comment on the protest. She said any discipline of the teachers is a confidential personnel issue.
Woodbury said the school committee began working on a freedom of speech policy earlier this year and that effort is ongoing. But whether the policy is in place or not, Woodbury said "people who work with us should know what they can and cannot do."
The protest has generated nation-wide interest, and school officials have been besieged with e-mails from local residents as well as individuals from out of state, many of whom painted the teachers as unpatriotic.
Verani said she and Koscher were not protesting the students set to join the military but what they saw as a recruiting moment involving a school official dressed in military fatigues. She said the students joining the military should have been awarded their plaques at a non-compulsory awards dinner instead of in front of an assembly that all students in the high school were required to attend.
"I wish school officials had shown some leadership in the building on behalf of an honest exchange of ideas and political discussions," Verani said. "What message have they sent to students in the assembly who also chose not to give a standing ovation for militarism, or for students who were too afraid not to stand?"
Koscher was not available for comment yesterday.
Cape Cod Times
By Cynthia Mccormick
cmccormick@capecodonline.com
June 18, 2010
Two Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School teachers who held an anti-war sign during a senior assembly last week are facing disciplinary action.
D-Y world history teacher Marybeth Verani and English teacher Adeline "Carrie" Koscher have been put on paid administrative leave until the end of the school year June 24, Verani said yesterday.
In addition to the paid leave, Verani said she has been given an unpaid suspension for the first 10 days of school in September. Verani said she did not want to comment on what further discipline Koscher might be facing.
Verani and Koscher conducted a silent protest during the part of the assembly in which school officials recognized graduating seniors entering the military.
Verani and Koscher stood up on the bleachers and displayed an "end war" sign while a school resource officer made opening remarks about six students entering the military. They sat in the audience while the names of the students were being announced and remained seated when the assembly rose to give the students a standing ovation.
Before last night's district school committee meeting, Supt. Carol Woodbury declined to comment on the protest. She said any discipline of the teachers is a confidential personnel issue.
Woodbury said the school committee began working on a freedom of speech policy earlier this year and that effort is ongoing. But whether the policy is in place or not, Woodbury said "people who work with us should know what they can and cannot do."
The protest has generated nation-wide interest, and school officials have been besieged with e-mails from local residents as well as individuals from out of state, many of whom painted the teachers as unpatriotic.
Verani said she and Koscher were not protesting the students set to join the military but what they saw as a recruiting moment involving a school official dressed in military fatigues. She said the students joining the military should have been awarded their plaques at a non-compulsory awards dinner instead of in front of an assembly that all students in the high school were required to attend.
"I wish school officials had shown some leadership in the building on behalf of an honest exchange of ideas and political discussions," Verani said. "What message have they sent to students in the assembly who also chose not to give a standing ovation for militarism, or for students who were too afraid not to stand?"
Koscher was not available for comment yesterday.