my experience

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Home : 2004 : August : 12

my experience
By Dave

I just found this site this evening and saw your story. I am returning to teaching after many years and will be subbing this upcoming year. I will have a cell phone. Many years ago I was teaching at a small Christian school
during an election year. This was when Reagan was going up against Mondale and I let in slip out that I was voting Mondale.
The Democratic VP candidate came to the area for a visit and the school decided to allow the students to go see her. They were instructed by the principal that no sign of disrespect would be tolerated. The teachers were instructed to give detentions out to those

who misbehaved, and I gave out four.
The next board meeting a number of parents were there complaining about the teacher who gave out detentions to their kids because they were booing the candidate I intended to vote for. Also, it was said that when the VP(Bush) came to the area I had booed and heckled him. The board apologized to the parents and told them that they would disipline the teacher( they were unaware I was there).
I got permission to speak and introduced myself. I related that the teachers had been instructed to give detentions and I was following guidelines as had all other teachers. As for heckling the Vice President, I told them that it was interesting to hear that since I had been in a doctor's office 50 miles away that day having tests run on me. I told the board that they did not have to discipline me, since I just quit. I walked out with my dignity intact.
I am glad the board backed you up, since as mentioned above I had the other end of the stick.