Teacher's flag burning inflames many

[icymist]

A Stuart Middle School teacher has been removed from the classroom after he burned two American flags in class during a lesson on freedom of speech, Jefferson County Public Schools officials said.

Dan Holden, who teaches seventh-grade social studies, burned small flags in two different classes Friday and asked students to write an opinion paper about it, district spokeswoman Lauren Roberts said.

A teacher in the school district since 1979, Holden has been temporarily reassigned to non-instructional duties pending a district investigation. The district also alerted city fire officials, who are conducting their own investigation.

“Certainly we’re concerned about the safety aspect,” Roberts said, along with “the judgment of using that type of demonstration in a class.”
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[Warren DeMontague]

1. I don't think he should be starting fires, period.

Of course, I had a middle school science teacher who used to heat up his soup on the bunsen burners.

[Monkeyman]

2. I back free speach but to burn anything is a classroom is just nuts

[HereSince1628]

3. Giving a new meaning to teacher burn-out?

I'd have thought that after more than 25 years teaching he'd have heard plenty of horror stories of teacher's getting crucified for such things.

[Mz Pip]

4. Sometimes there are

consequences to doing really dumb stuff. Burning a flag in a classroom qualifies as dumb. Can't yell fire in a crowded theater. Can't start fires in crowded classrooms. Duh.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Mmhmm.

I wonder how many people who say the only problem they have is burning something in the classroom really mean it.

[jobycom]

10. Sure would cause problems in science labs if they do mean it.

No more Bunson burners, no more chemical experiments.

One would assume a qualified adult can burn a small flag in a way that does not endanger anyone.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. Don't forget restaurants

No more bananas foster.

[bluestateguy]

6. I don't condone what he did

but if this guy burned a Koran, conservatives would be cheering at the top of their lungs.

[melnjones]

8. I think that's a bit of an exaggeration...

Yes, some would, but most would not condone it.

[jobycom]

7. Sounds like an effective demonstration. Kids get to see

a flag burned, rights stifled, a community overreact, a witch hunt to find some non-issue legal ramifications to justify the over-reaction... The kids will learn a lot about America from this. I wonder how many of these lessons the teacher anticipated.

[Kali]

13. Yep

[OwnedByFerrets]

9. The article says two "small" flags.

If its the size of most handheld flags that I've seen, and it was done in a responsible manner, I dont see a problem with it. Had the teacher been smart, however, he would have gotten permission from the priciple. I try to always use the CYA method.

[cornermouse]

18. If its like the other night, don't expect anyone to listen to you.

[OnionPatch]

12. I can't help but wonder

Was there a purpose for his doing this behind his stated one? Maybe he's someone who wants to get the jingoe's all fired up just before the election. :shrug:

[elocs]

14. Why, why would anybody so casually burn an American flag?

Burning the American flag is something that should be reserved for the violation of some deeply held belief or some specific and important political protest. It should not be used as a demonstration of anything, particularly in a public middle school. There has to be more to this, otherwise this teacher is certifiably stupid.

[icymist]

15. One would have to wonder if this teacher anticipated such harsh reactions.

Certainly, this teacher knew that burning small American flags in class would be a hot topic... it makes me wonder why? This day and age, in America, when wearing the wrong tee-shirt can get you banned or arrested in a demonstration, why stir up a wasp's nest in such a manner? The ACLU is only monitoring the situation, saying “if a school is masking their objections to flag burning under the guise of safety, it raises questions about freedom of speech and academic freedom,” but my question is that this teacher must read newspapers and knew what such actions would brew.

[redherring]

16. He's not burning American flags because he's a traitor

or hates America. He's doing it to teach his students. I think they made a mountain out of a molehill.

[magellan]

17. Don't we have a brand spanking new law making this illegal?

And the worst part is that stupid shit like this and demoting planets gets Americans fired up ten times more than being lied into a war, learning they're being illegally spied on by their government, allowing torture to be carried out in their names....and them's just the highlights of the last 5 years.

Excuse me, what fucking 3rd world country is this again?