Teacher draws heat for Reagan remarks
Clifton Park, NY -- Shenendehowa officials discuss possible discipline for educator who didn't honor moment of silence
By DENNIS YUSKO, Staff writer
Friday, June 11, 2004
A Shenendehowa teacher faces possible disciplinary action for disparaging former President Ronald Reagan during a moment of silence in his honor, district officials said.
The female High School East instructor, whom the school would not identify, refused to honor a silent tribute to the late 40th president during Monday morning's homeroom period, district spokeswoman Kelly DeFiciani said.
"Once the final investigation concludes, they could be subject to disciplinary action," DeFiciani said.
During the minute or so observation, the teacher made a series of "negative" and "inappropriate" comments about the Republican president's policies in front of up to 16 seniors, officials said. A parent of a student in the class alerted the district to the incident, she said.
DeFiciani would not characterize the teacher's remarks, but Tony McCann, president of the Shenendehowa Teachers Association, did: "This teacher said she wasn't going to participate, even if Reagan was dead. She didn't think Reagan was the hero that everyone else thought he was."
Reagan, 93, died in California at 4 p.m. Saturday after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
The district is investigating whether the teacher's comments violated Shenendehowa policy. Board policy states: "In cases where staff members are making political endorsements, they should do so on their own time, at places other than school district property, and in a manner that clearly does not appear to represent or to be attributable to the school district."
The instructor could be disciplined, but DeFiciani would not elaborate on when or how.
"I think it was extremely inappropriate," Board President Karen Boiko said. "The investigation is ongoing and consequences could be meted out."
The teacher, who has taught at Shenendehowa for more than 20 years, remains on the job, McCann said. She issued an apology to her homeroom class and recognized her actions were inappropriate, DeFiciani said.
Free speech advocates warned the school district that it was the one guilty of politicking and said any punishment would go against the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
"The school district is seeking to impose its views," said Jeffrey Fogel, legal director for the Manhattan-based Center for Constitutional Rights. "The issue becomes, can any higher authority in the school system require people to act in lock step with their political views, and the answer is no. It's a matter of free speech," Fogel said.
High School Principal Robert Melia, acting on his own, announced the moment of silence via loudspeaker during morning announcements, DeFiciani said.
"It was a distinguished teacher who had a momentary lapse of judgment," McCann said. "We're all astounded. We had no idea she had such political views."
But reaction in this heavily Republican school district remained angry four days later.
"I'm ashamed that person teaches in the Shenendehowa school district," said Clifton Park Supervisor Philip Barrett, a Republican who named his son, Philip Reagan Barrett, 8, after the former president.
"Those type of comments at this time are just appalling," said district resident Adam Kramer of Country Knolls West, who supports taking disciplinary action against the teacher. "It's not appropriate for any teacher to express their own political views."
McCann took the middle road. While the teacher's actions sent the wrong message to students, her apology should defuse the issue and close the case, McCann said.
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