Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

appalachiablue

(41,054 posts)
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 01:27 PM Oct 2019

South Florida Principal Who Made Controversial Comments About The Holocaust Is Fired

Source: Miami Herald

MIAMI — The South Florida principal who stirred national controversy after refusing to say the Holocaust was a “factual, historical event” was fired Wednesday during a school board meeting at the recommendation of the district’s superintendent. With no discussion, the school board for the School District of Palm Beach County voted 5-2 to end William Latson’s more than 20-year-employment with the district.

Latson, who was the principal of Spanish River Community High School in Boca Raton for 11 years, was reassigned in July after emails he wrote to a mother’s inquiry in April 2018 surfaced. Superintendent Donald Fennoy originally said Latson’s contract should not be renewed, and he appointed Allison Castellano as the school’s new principal.

Among the comments made in the email: “Not everyone believes the Holocaust happened.” Latson also told the parent that because he worked for the public school district he could not take a position on whether the Holocaust was real, according to news reports.

Fennoy recommended Latson’s firing not because of the comments he made but because “while the email was receiving global news coverage, Mr. Latson failed to respond to communication from his supervisors and failed to assist the district in addressing the serious disruption caused by the aforementioned email and news coverage,” Fennoy explained in an executive summary given to the board...

Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/south-florida-principal-who-made-controversial-comments-about-the-holocaust-is-fired/ar-AAJDbIc?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15



Fennoy said Latson’s actions also violated the school board’s ethics code and the state’s code of conduct for principals.

Prior to Wednesday’s vote, several parents and teachers spoke in favor of keeping Latson as a principal.
14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
South Florida Principal Who Made Controversial Comments About The Holocaust Is Fired (Original Post) appalachiablue Oct 2019 OP
OP makes clear that Latson goes not because stopdiggin Oct 2019 #1
He failed to respond & work things out, unfortunate but it's on him. appalachiablue Oct 2019 #3
You know the drill Grokenstein Oct 2019 #4
probably could have chosen a smarter topic stopdiggin Oct 2019 #6
right. how did you THINK this would end? stopdiggin Oct 2019 #5
Still baffled about how he thought this stance would fly past appalachiablue Oct 2019 #7
New Secretary of Education? hibbing Oct 2019 #2
Not everyone believes the earth is the shape of a slightly smushed ball. paleotn Oct 2019 #8
Some deny the holocaust... Some brag about it. keithbvadu2 Oct 2019 #9
Trump confuses his supporters. keithbvadu2 Oct 2019 #11
Saw the story on CNN.com cannabis_flower Oct 2019 #10
Good BigDemVoter Oct 2019 #12
fucking MAGAt Skittles Oct 2019 #13
It's ok to say "not everyone believes the Holocaust happened" christx30 Oct 2019 #14

stopdiggin

(11,095 posts)
1. OP makes clear that Latson goes not because
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 01:58 PM
Oct 2019

of an indiscreet (and offensive) email .. but because he chose to double down and become belligerent (rather that attempt solutions) about it when exposed. Either an apology or an explanation could have probably saved his job .. and he did neither. It would appear that the job didn't mean that much to him?

appalachiablue

(41,054 posts)
3. He failed to respond & work things out, unfortunate but it's on him.
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 02:03 PM
Oct 2019

How did he not think it would come to this?

Grokenstein

(5,707 posts)
4. You know the drill
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 02:29 PM
Oct 2019

"Lookit me everybody, I was made an example of for bravely defying the system!!"

Victimhood planned in advance.

stopdiggin

(11,095 posts)
5. right. how did you THINK this would end?
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 02:37 PM
Oct 2019

So .. either the guy is a true believer (SCARY!) .. OR, he's one of these knuckle heads that just won't (or can't) back down or compromise .. in which case he ALSO doesn't belong within a twenty miles of a school (or any other job serving the public).

is this guy some kind of former football coach, or some such nonsense? (asking because of the belligerent macho thing)

appalachiablue

(41,054 posts)
7. Still baffled about how he thought this stance would fly past
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 02:47 PM
Oct 2019

the administration and community esp. in Boca Raton which has a high no. of Jewish residents.

The course on the Holocaust was part of the school curriculum for a reason, fool!


hibbing

(10,076 posts)
2. New Secretary of Education?
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 01:58 PM
Oct 2019

Or perhaps another whiny right wing commentator of Fox who can cry about his free speech rights being violated? Florida Man!


Peace

paleotn

(17,781 posts)
8. Not everyone believes the earth is the shape of a slightly smushed ball.
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 05:16 PM
Oct 2019

So I can't take any position on earth's shape.

Fire his ass...not tomorrow, not after breakfast...NOW!

keithbvadu2

(36,369 posts)
9. Some deny the holocaust... Some brag about it.
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 05:28 PM
Oct 2019

Some deny the holocaust... Some brag about it.

America fought a war against the Nazis and supposedly won.

Yet here they are in Charlottesville marching to "take back America".

KKK Conservative boasting:

“We killed six million Jews the last time,” he answered. “Eleven million is nothing.”

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article167939222.html

cannabis_flower

(3,764 posts)
10. Saw the story on CNN.com
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 05:30 PM
Oct 2019

He was quoted as saying. "I can't say the Holocaust is a factual, historical event because I am not in a position to do so as a district employee."

This is an black guy, I'm wondering if he also doesn't know if America slavery in 1600-1865 was a factual historical event also? After all, he wasn't there either.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/us/florida-principal-holocaust-fired-trnd/index.html

christx30

(6,241 posts)
14. It's ok to say "not everyone believes the Holocaust happened"
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 09:32 PM
Oct 2019

as long as you follow it up with, “but anyone that does not, despite the billions of pieces of historical data, is an idiot, a bigot, or both.”

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»South Florida Principal W...