teacher was fired for apparently trying to turn his class into militant vegans

[kpete]

Forty-five year old middle school art teacher Dave Warwak was dismissed last fall from the District 3 school system where he had taught for eight years for, “turning his classroom into a forum on veganism,” abandoning the art curriculum and asking students to keep it a secret from their parents according to school board documents.

What began as a simple be-kind-to-animals project approved by administrators who even participated–marshmallow Easter “Peeps” were made into “pets” to be cared for–got out of hand when Warwak put the “pets” in cages, pots and pans and between slices of bread.

“The problem was when it turned into a PETA advertisement and it was against the school lunch program,” testified Fox River Grove Middle School Principal Tim Mahaffy at the Illinois Board of Education’s three day closed hearings into Warwak’s dismissal conducted at the Fox River Grove City Hall in April.

Despite hearing officer Barry Simon’s repeated admonishments that the case was not about whether veganism, “is right or wrong or good or bad,” feeding children animal products was the 300 pound Peep in the room as Warwak, acting pro se, questioned Mahaffy.

more at:
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/24/9846/

[fishwax]

1. FYI: looks like the article says Illinois, rather than Texas

"“The problem was when it turned into a PETA advertisement and it was against the school lunch program,” testified Fox River Grove Middle School Principal Tim Mahaffy at the Illinois Board of Education’s three day closed hearings into Warwak’s dismissal conducted at the Fox River Grove City Hall in April."

[Orrex]

2. I heard that he branded one kid with the symbol of an asparagus

[saltpoint]

4. LOLOL!

[Hekate]

3. Did he scourge them with carrots? Aside from the snicker, the red flag is his asking for secrecy....

That simply Isn't Done in settings where adults have authority over children.

As with others who feel that strongly about their particular set of beliefs, if he wants to teach he needs to do it in a setting supported by like-minded adults, in other words a private school, and not a public one.

By-by. good luck at your vegan charter school.

Hekate