Ok, so he should not be fired, but - dumb mistakes. NEVER should any joke or example be used that connects shooting with any president. It is something we should not tolerate, just as we should not tolerate the mockery of our religioous values. Why are they 'speech' issues and not something like this? I understand the difference - one is a symbol or icon, the other a human being, but mentioning this in a class of 8th graders is as likely to result in anyone ever contemplating it as there is a chance of me going to the moon. More damage is done, by the destruction of our religious values, which can occur in 8th grade, and with the assistance of our children, than will ever be done by some fool speaking about angles and a president.
Some people however just cross the wrong boundaries and need to be smacked. Perhaps 2-3 weeks unpaid leave, and he should read about the assassinations of several, and attempts on other of our presidents. Something anyway.
Jefferson County geometry teacher uses wrong example to teach angles --- assassination of President Barack Obama
By Marie Leech -- The Birmingham News
and Carol Robinson --- The Birmingham News
May 18, 2010, 6:30AM
A Jefferson County teacher picked the wrong example when he used assassinating President Barack Obama as a way to teach angles to his geometry students.
Someone alerted authorities and the Corner High School math teacher was questioned by the Secret Service, but was not taken into custody or charged with any crime.
"We did not find a credible threat," said Roy Sexton, special agent in charge of Birmingham's Secret Service office. "As far as the Secret Service is concerned, we looked into it, we talked to the gentleman and we have closed our investigation."
A Corner High geometry teacher picked the wrong example, President Barack Obama, to use in a lesson on angles. The lesson resulted in a Secret Service investigation. (AP) Sexton said he generally doesn't discuss threat cases, but confirmed his office investigated the incident. No federal charges followed the probe.
The teacher was apparently teaching his geometry students about parallel lines and angles, officials said. He used the example of where to stand and aim if shooting Obama.
"He was talking about angles and said, 'If you're in this building, you would need to take this angle to shoot the president,' " said Joseph Brown, a senior in the geometry class.
Efforts to reach the teacher for comment Monday were unsuccessful.
Superintendent Phil Hammonds said the teacher remains at work, and there are no plans for termination.
"We are going to have a long conversation with him about what's appropriate," Hammonds said. "It was extremely poor judgment on his part, and a poor choice of words."
Caroline Polk, the parent of a ninth-grader at the school, said she doesn't believe the teacher ought to be fired.
"We all make mistakes, and we should be able to learn from our mistakes," she said. "What he said was just wrong and inappropriate. Everyone's got their own opinions, but we have to be aware of our surroundings. At this point, it just needs to be handled in a way that it won't be repeated."
teachers on parade
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