NJ Teacher's anti-gay remarks on Facebook- Page 2

[StockardFan]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 9:32am

ChiChi, that is absolutely appalling!

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 11:46am

ChiChi, I'd like to think you're living off the settlement money, but something tells me that's not the case.

I'm very sorry that happened to you.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 12:03pm

That's appalling, ChiChi. I don't even know what I would have done if I'd have been in your shoes. Knowing me back then I would have gotten up and punched the teacher in the face.

When I was in High School I wasn't out but my best friend was. People didn't know I was gay and I guess some people still have a hard time knowing unless I tell them so we were (and still are) total opposites. He was quite flamboyant and people laughed sometimes or said something stupid but the only time I ever felt threatened was after school one day when we were walking out of school towards where I worked and we saw one of the schools football players (who was a real moron anyways). He stopped in front of us and asked me what I was doing walking with the faggot. Now this was the very first time I'd EVER been put in a situation like this and didn't know exactly what to do so I just didn't say anything. He said to me "Are you a faggot, too"? And I thought long and hard and punched him in the stomach. Hard. He fell down and I said "Who's the faggot now" and we walked away. My friend was more shaken up at the time than I was, surprisingly.

I was TERRIFIED to go back to school but never had to deal with him again. Whenever I saw him he just acted like nothing happened and he also never bothered my friend again. So I guess the point is that violence really is the answer! lol

[StockardFan]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 12:47pm

Good job, Jordan!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 8:43pm

Matt, you are wrong. If she used the N-word, or made any disparaging remarks on her Facebook p[age about Jews, Asians, or any other minority, the school district would not tolerate it.
AND.....it does affect her teaching. Any student seeing that, of those minorities (if she used negative comments, would not feel save with her....it definitely does affect things.
It is not ok for her to do this as long as it's a public outlet.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 9:38pm

"ChiChi, I'd like to think you're living off the settlement money, but something tells me that's not the case."

You would be right. And as old as it makes me feel to say this, in those days you didn't sue school districts for gay discrimination. At least not in red states like mormon Arizona. But when you look at how hard it is to get hate crime legislation passed, I guess it doesn't sound that different.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 10/19/11 at 10:05am

The real kicker is, under NJ's very strict anti-bullying laws a student would face serious consequences for posting something like that. But a teacher gets away with it?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/19/11 at 10:13am

Wait, shouldn't the people offended by this just develop a thicker skin? I'm so confused.

[romantico]

Posted: 10/19/11 at 12:15pm

Here's the latest. Video posted below. This hateful teacher has a lot of supporters. My guess is this will not harm her at all and she will continue to teach and preach her hate on Facebook.

http://www.towleroad.com/2011/10/knoxprotest.html

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/19/11 at 12:47pm

In that video it's now being said by students that she's expressed these views in the classroom. If that is true, she should be fired IMMEDIATELY.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/19/11 at 1:40pm

Especially considering this teacher was fired for something she said outside of the classroom. Will NOM and its ilk jump to her defense as well, I wonder?
Hmm

[romantico]

Posted: 10/19/11 at 1:53pm

WOW! This surprised me.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/gov_christie_calls_teachers_an.html

Gov. Chris Christie Denounces Anti-Gay Teacher Vicki Knox

'I think that kind of example is not a positive one at all to be setting for folks who have such an important and influential position in our society. I'm really concerned about those kinds of statements being made.' Christie went on to say he would like to see an examination of how that teacher conducts herself in the classroom.'

DO not agree with Christie on hardly anything but I applaud him for this. He will make a lot of enemies over this remark.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/19/11 at 2:25pm

Pretty shrewd of Christie, actually, considering his ongoing battle with the teacher's union. The nasty cynic could see how he might see this as a way to gain some new allies on that front. But I'll take it at face value and say good for him for saying it.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 10/19/11 at 2:35pm

He really had no choice. He got the nations strongest in- school anti-bullying legislation passed in NJ. He's battling with local districts because of the unbudgeted expense that legislation has created after he cut school funding. Tyler Clementi happened here. And, as Calvin said, his ongoing battle with the NJEA continues -- and they are providing legal council for the teacher.
Updated On: 10/19/11 at 02:35 PM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/19/11 at 2:58pm

Good for him...I still consider him an enemy of gay rights, of course.

I'm not too surprised since NJ is pretty liberal on these issues. He's pandering to those who voted against Corzine, not for him...which was most of NJ, imo.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 10/19/11 at 11:36pm

"Wait, shouldn't the people offended by this just develop a thicker skin? I'm so confused."

I cannot believe it. Phyllis, did you REALLY say that. Why should ANYONE have to have a thick skin against hate and bigotry. Who are you?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/20/11 at 12:21am

Shh, baby, I was just contrasting the sentiment with the one in this thread. I like to compare things. Chill, baby, chill.
this thread

[btthegreat]

Posted: 10/23/11 at 4:00pm

This is a horrible notion. the more we expose students to diverse political and social positions BEFORE they leave high school the better. they are going to be voters mighty soon. Not a lot of time left to get them beyond their parent's stranglehold,and used to the idea that authority will try to influence, persuade and lobby, that whether authority or refutes preexisting views, each of us is obliged to think critically. That means no longer worrying about whether the high school teachers share your values or not. Your kids deserve uncensured access. You can rebutt, or better the students can. My Dad had copies of Hitler's Mien Kamph, Marx's Communist manifesto, and the speeches of Martin Luther King and Barry Goldwater side by side. He wanted us to read them all.
Updated On: 10/23/11 at 04:00 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/23/11 at 4:24pm

Do you really believe that reading MEIN KAMPF is commensurate to a teacher publicly comparing homosexuality to cancer on her Facebook page?

That means no longer worrying about whether the high school teachers share your values or not.

I don't believe teacher's views/values should be in the classroom at all. My students wouldn't be able to tell you if I'm liberal or conservative, or if I'm religious or not, because I've never once discussed anything concerning politics, religion, or values in my classroom. And I probably wouldn't discuss it on my Facebook either, because I'm not naive enough to think that people haven't/wouldn't try to find my profile.

This woman should be smart enough to use privacy settings on her Facebook and Twitter. Whether you like it or not, people *do* look at those things when you're in a job like teaching.

[btthegreat]

Posted: 10/23/11 at 4:39pm

It is absolutely up to you whether you hide your views or not. I am about as liberal as anyone can get, but I was delighted when my daughter was exposed to the conservative opinions of her social studies teacher, and I let him know he'd have no problems from me if he sounded like Sarah Palin, William Buckley or Newt gingrich as long as she could ask questions. She'd heard my opinions for years, she needs to handle someone else's with respect and absorb the challenge of critical measure before college or the work/social world. I draw the line at open bigotry in a school setting. Honestly, if student bodies and parents are so damn fragile by high school, we've already screwed up. High School is about ideas. Let's not be scared of them

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 10/26/11 at 1:20pm

Why are these people teaching our children?