School Board Removes Popular Math Teacher, Students Remove School Board

[Are_grits_groceries]

Student organizers have collected enough signatures to hold a referendum on recalling the entire school board of a California district, officials said.

Students undertook the recall campaign in support of a high school math teacher dismissed by the Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified School District. The Tuolumne County clerk said Friday the drive had collected enough signatures to put the recall before voters, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

The board voted in September to remove Tioga High math teacher Ryan Dutton, a former professional football player. He had been accused of copying work from another student at Cal State Fresno, where he is working toward getting a teaching credential.

Dutton denied the charge and the university said it was unfounded but the school board has refused to reinstate Dutton.

The school board is expected to receive formal notice next week that the recall has qualified for the ballot. The board may choose to call the election on its own and allow a vote exclusively by mail, the Times said.

http://www.topix.com/city/groveland-ca/2009/01/recall-of-entire-school-board-sought#inlinePostAnchor

Heh!!
(I'll bet there is a lot more to this.)

[Ian David]

1. Eight years of Republican tryany have taught a generation of young people how to organize...

... and how to avail themselves of the political system.

A decade of "Bong Hits for Jesus" and "No baggy pants" crap has come to an end.

[DS1]

7. Not so fast.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4810408

[lapfog_1]

2. My niece's 7th Grade math teacher (also the middle school football coach)

Almost sent her to the principal because my niece refused to agree that the following was true.

9 / m = 3, "m" equals 27.

She finally got him to bring in another teacher who pointed out that m = 3, not 27.

Sigh.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

4. Isn't it

9/m=3 m=3? Isn't / the sign for division?

[lapfog_1]

8. Yes, and she stuck up for what she knew was the right answer.

Because a lot of students got it "wrong" on their homework, including her.

I found it astounding that a 7th Grade math teacher could get it wrong, have 75 percent of his class disagree with him, and not look at it and determine that he did, indeed, get it wrong.

Really sad.

[Renew Deal]

3. And watch as these kids get every past student out to vote using facebook.

Say goodbye to the board.

[glitch]

5. Sweet! K & R nt

[Phred42]

6. Good for them!

:toast:

[arcadian]

9. Fuck yeah. This is how direct actions works.

awesome.

[Writer]

10. Can I be honest? I don't think the children have the right frame of mind.

The teacher just recently has been accused of cheating. I don't know about you, but that's a value that I'd want my kids to have - to be honest when doing one's work. Now if a teacher - a popular teacher, mind you - is accused of this and isn't held accountable for his actions, then truly what value is that lesson to the kids? What are they supposed to learn?

I side with the school board here.

[MineralMan]

11. Reading is FUNdamental

Had you read the article, you would have noted that the teacher denies and the University says there was no evidence of cheating. At the very least, some proof ought to be required, don't you think?

[gratuitous]

12. According to the story, the teacher didn't cheat

He was accused of cheating, denied it, and the university concluded that he hadn't cheated. Instead of taking that result and being satisfied with it, the school board decided to terminate the teacher anyway, the sort of action that can hamper his ability to pursue his profession for the rest of his life. Based on an unfounded accusation.

Nope, 15 yard penalty on the board for unsportsmanlike conduct, and loss of down.

[glitch]

13. Accused is not convicted. I stand with the kids on this. nt

[Libertyfirst]

14. The university cleared the accused teacher. n/t

[gollygee]

15. Maybe they'll also learn that "accused" does not equal "guilty"

And they'll apparently be a step ahead of DU.

Even the university said the accusation was unfounded. People should lose their jobs over one accusation? If he didn't do it, what actions is he being held accountable for?

[canaar]

16. You're serious?

J'accuse is sufficient grounds to terminate a person's employment? I guess due process is overrated /sarcasm.