Comments on: Oklahoma teacher resigns over gay film http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html/ PinkNews.co.uk Gay News (UK and world) from Pink News - all the gay news for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in the UK and beyond- thegaynews from Pink News Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:21:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Brian Burton http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html/comment-page-1/#comment-48301 Brian Burton Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:49:23 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html#comment-48301 How can anyone be punished for teatching the young how wrong Murder is? How can anyone be punished for teatching the young how wrong Murder is?

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]]> By: kim http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html/comment-page-1/#comment-46520 kim Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:24:03 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html#comment-46520 There are two separate issues: 1) the reasons behind the cancellation of the class project and 2) the reasons behind the teacher's forced resignation. For the first, we can presume many things, such as the language being use, the fact that the students were being film, and possible homophobia. Whatever the actual reasons, they don't really have anything to do with the latter issue of the the firing/resignation of the teacher. For that issue, let it be clear that it was not until AFTER she held the mock funeral that she was suspended and the class disbanded. If the play was the actual reason, she would have been suspended long before the mock funeral. Also, this mock funeral was held OFF school grounds DURING school hours--so she took student OFF school property WITHOUT permission. And there are two ways that the mock funeral can be viewed as insubordination: 1) a demonstration against the administration/her employers or 2) a continuation of lesson plans in direct violation of her the administration/employer's decision. Either way, it is insubordination and that is a part of the standard teaching contract. There are two separate issues: 1) the reasons behind the cancellation of the class project and 2) the reasons behind the teacher's forced resignation. For the first, we can presume many things, such as the language being use, the fact that the students were being film, and possible homophobia. Whatever the actual reasons, they don't really have anything to do with the latter issue of the the firing/resignation of the teacher. For that issue, let it be clear that it was not until AFTER she held the mock funeral that she was suspended and the class disbanded. If the play was the actual reason, she would have been suspended long before the mock funeral. Also, this mock funeral was held OFF school grounds DURING school hours–so she took student OFF school property WITHOUT permission. And there are two ways that the mock funeral can be viewed as insubordination: 1) a demonstration against the administration/her employers or 2) a continuation of lesson plans in direct violation of her the administration/employer's decision. Either way, it is insubordination and that is a part of the standard teaching contract.

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]]> By: Tom http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html/comment-page-1/#comment-46278 Tom Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:28:26 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html#comment-46278 History will judge Ed Turlington as an ignorant bigot who should not be allowed within 30 feet of any child. History will judge Ed Turlington as an ignorant bigot who should not be allowed within 30 feet of any child.

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]]> By: Patrick, Dublin http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html/comment-page-1/#comment-46269 Patrick, Dublin Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:23:34 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html#comment-46269 I hope this teacher fights the disgusting homophobes all the way through the courts. She was dismissed unfairly due to homophobic discrimination. The Laramie Project is precisely what people in Oklahoma need to be watching - it could teach them a much needed lesson. Oklahoma needs to be dragged, like so many other parts of benighted and backward Bible belt USA, kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. I hope this teacher fights the disgusting homophobes all the way through the courts. She was dismissed unfairly due to homophobic discrimination. The Laramie Project is precisely what people in Oklahoma need to be watching – it could teach them a much needed lesson.

Oklahoma needs to be dragged, like so many other parts of benighted and backward Bible belt USA, kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.

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]]> By: Jen Marcus http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html/comment-page-1/#comment-46227 Jen Marcus Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:27:49 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html#comment-46227 Ms. Taylor should seek counsel and assistance from the US ACLU, Lambda Legal , NGLT Taskforce etc. and attempt to sue although the odds may be against her for making an actionable cause of action given the US and Oklahoma laws and courts: for breach of contract, constructive discharge, and violation of her First Amendment US and Oklahoma state constitutional rights of speech and assembly and maybe even on grounds of denial of academic freedom. Ms. Taylor should seek counsel and assistance from the US ACLU, Lambda Legal , NGLT Taskforce etc. and attempt to sue although the odds may be against her for making an actionable cause of action given the US and Oklahoma laws and courts: for breach of contract, constructive discharge, and violation of her First Amendment US and Oklahoma state constitutional rights of speech and assembly and maybe even on grounds of denial of academic freedom.

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]]> By: Nick http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html/comment-page-1/#comment-46217 Nick Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:35:43 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html#comment-46217 Having watched the film I can see nothiong in it that could possibly corrupt or deprave anyone. All it shows is how hatred and bigotry lead to violence and how others should be repected. Surely that is an ethos the school should embrace? Having watched the film I can see nothiong in it that could possibly corrupt or deprave anyone. All it shows is how hatred and bigotry lead to violence and how others should be repected. Surely that is an ethos the school should embrace?

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]]> By: Gary http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html/comment-page-1/#comment-46215 Gary Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:24:57 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html#comment-46215 It is sad, indeed; however, Oklahoma is the BUCKLE of the Bible Belt in the U.S.A. It is the home of Sally Kern, the state legislator who said that homosexuals are a bigger threat than terrorism. Oklahoma likes to keep its place in the 19th century. I know. I live there. SIGH It is sad, indeed; however, Oklahoma is the BUCKLE of the Bible Belt in the U.S.A. It is the home of Sally Kern, the state legislator who said that homosexuals are a bigger threat than terrorism. Oklahoma likes to keep its place in the 19th century. I know. I live there. SIGH

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]]> By: Mark Satterthwaite http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html/comment-page-1/#comment-46209 Mark Satterthwaite Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:47:57 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html#comment-46209 Homophobia as a school sanctioned agenda-we have a long way to go to teach people that gay people exist and deserve rights too. Homophobia as a school sanctioned agenda-we have a long way to go to teach people that gay people exist and deserve rights too.

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]]> By: Charlene http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html/comment-page-1/#comment-46206 Charlene Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:05:43 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11630.html#comment-46206 This is unfair dismissal! Take it to tribunal. This is unfair dismissal! Take it to tribunal.

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