(Colo. school) disciplines teacher over foreign flags in classroom

[Newsjock]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/education/article/0,1299,DRMN_957_4939458,00.html

By Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News
August 23, 2006

LAKEWOOD — A seventh-grade geography teacher at Carmody Middle School was suspended with pay today when he refused to take down three foreign flags on display in his classroom.

Eric Hamlin said the flags of China, Mexico and the United Nations were relevant to the unit on the fundamentals of geography he teaches during the first six weeks of the semester. He’s used the same display for most of the nine years he’s taught in Jefferson County, Hamlin said.

The foreign flags are in addition to the standard U.S. flag found in all classrooms.

Hamlin said principal John Schalk escorted him from the building Thursday before classes began. He was handed a letter saying the matter is under investigation and warning him to remain off school property.

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[WindRavenX]

1. oh, jesus christ

I grew up with foreign flags in my classrooms from elementary to college.

[Monkeyman]

4. Yep and I moved from State to State

Dad was a GS 14 Govenment worker

[bluestateguy]

2. Suspended with pay!

Time for golf, bowling, hitting the gym, catching some great porn movies on the Playboy Channel and finishing up that extra wing on the house.

[BlueStorm]

3. Hmmm....

"He’s used the same display for most of the nine years he’s taught in Jefferson County, Hamlin said."

If he was using the flags for nine years, why now do the school's administration suddenly have a problem with it? Seems like this country is getting more xenophobic by the minute.

Blue

[Ravenseye]

5. probably one of two things

Either a nutty parent with alot of complaining power got to a weak principal, or a new principal went into the position who was a nutcase. Claiming that there is a public law that prevents the flying of foreign flags on public ground....how fucking weak. It's a GEOGRAPHY CLASS for crying out loud.

I swear to god I hate the kind of conservative who would be behind this crap. I'm sorry. This is total bullshit.

[Anakin Skywalker]

7. America is THE GREATEST and

the BEST COUNTRY in the entire world, OK? No need to learn about "Axis of Evil" and other countries.

This news article reminds me of the one of a few days ago where all those patriotic Cubans in Floriduh strong-armed the schoolboard there to remove a book about Cuba because the book wasn't anti-Castro. (It was a neutral book meant for kids, but those idiots wanted to politicize EVERYTHING).

[HockeyMom]

6. Daughter's 6th Grade School Olympics

Each student picked a country out of a hat. They were required to locate it on a map and write a short essay on its history, customs, etc.

The actual Olympics Day was modeled after the real event. Each group of students marched onto the field carrying the flag of "their" country before the sports events occurred. They all had different colored shirts with the name of the country printed on it.

Ironically, the country my daughter picked was Iraq. I can remember them being jeered from the stands. It really bothered my daughter at the time, but revenge is sweet. Iraq came in 2nd.

I can imagine the HORROR the above school district would have had with this.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

16. I'm curious - who came in 1st?

:evilgrin:

[HockeyMom]

26. Italy

USA was 3rd.

[AX10]

8. Foreign flags are common place in classrooms everywhere.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. I'm going to presume...

this is a reaction to immigration protests.

[grytpype]

10. That LIBERAL is tryin to turn our kids in to FURRINERS!

Every time I think I've heard the most fucking stupid thing I've ever heard, I hear another fucking stupid thing that's even more stupid that the most fucking stupid thing I've ever heard.

[acmejack]

11. Providing a fine example for our children.

Colorado is rapidly losing it. Are they trying to displace Texas from our traditional spot?

[Solly Mack]

12. damn

[CatholicEdHead]

13. Oh WTF

:wtf: :wtf:

This is an utter joke. There is nothing illegal about flying flags of different countries, espically in a GEOGRAPHY class.

[tanyev]

14. What about the Cuban flag?

Most RWers seemed to have no problem with that during the premature celebrations of Castro's death in Miami.

[Davis_X_Machina]

15. This is why...

...there are teachers' unions, and tenure.

People demonize them all the time -- even on this board -- but in situations like this there is no substitute for them.

This teacher would already be on the unemployment line if principals could hire and fire ad lib., and with a weak principal, that same power would immediately devolve upon the noisiest parents.

[anotherdrew]

17. John Schalk = ignorant worthless pathetic brainless ass. A true assess ass

this is beyond words, this teacher needs to sue this dirt bag in civil court. he has completely exceeded his authority.

[badgervan]

18. Just Like Dear Leader

Willful ignorance is a not constructive. Combine that ignorance with stubborness, and you get dangerous. We have an excellent example of this sitting in OUR White House right now.

[treestar]

19. Morans

[earthside]

20. Here is the Colorado Law

What angers me is that the Jeffco School District administration has become so gutless that they won't even stand up for one of their own teachers.

Please note the 'bolded' section of the statute. The school administation has a legal leg to stand on! Why did the superintendent let this teacher be suspended?

Another example that 'government' is not a friend these days to progressives, liberals and genuinely patriotic Americans.

Colorado Revised Statutes

18-11-205. Unlawful to display flag - exceptions.

(1) Any person who displays any flag other than the flag of the United States of America or the state of Colorado or any of its subdivisions, agencies, or institutions upon any state, county, municipal, or other public building or adjacent grounds within this state commits a class 1 petty offense.

(2) Any person who displays any flag other than the flag of the United States of America or the state of Colorado or any of its subdivisions, agencies, or institutions in any place where it is likely to be viewed by the public or a substantial portion thereof, knowing that under the circumstances then existing such display is likely to cause a breach of the peace, commits a class 1 petty offense.

(3) "Flag", as used in this section, means any flag, ensign, banner, standard, colors, or replica or representation thereof which is an official or commonly recognized symbol of a particular nation, state, movement, cause, or organization.

(4) (a) This section does not apply to:

(I) The display of the flag of the United Nations or the flag of a foreign nation displayed to identify persons officially representing such foreign nation or the property or premises of the person or nation;

(II) The display of an appropriate flag upon ceremonial or commemorative occasions proclaimed by the president of the United States, the governor of the state of Colorado, the board of county commissioners of any county, or the mayor or other chief executive officer of a city or town within this state;

(III) The display of the flag of any adjacent state with the flag of the state of Colorado at the ports of entry weigh stations, in recognition of the joint state port operation; or

(IV) The display of any flag or representation thereof described in subsection (1) of this section that is part of a temporary display of any instructional or historical materials not permanently affixed or attached to any part of the buildings or grounds described in subsection (1) of this section.

(b) This subsection (4) shall be an affirmative defense.

[Kagemusha]

24. Thank you for a public service.

The fools who couldn't be bothered to read the damn law in question ought to apologize.

[sakabatou]

21. WTF?

[bumblebee1]

22. Guess hubby and I better not move to Colorado

During the Winter Olympics, I displayed foreign flags and the U.S. flag in our home. I also had a display of the flags of Canada, U.S. and Mexico for the months of June and July. For the World Cup final, the French and Italian flags were displayed. For winning the World Cup, the Italian flag was displayed for an additional week. For Christmas, I plan on displaying both the U.S. and Greek flags. We met while we were stationed in Greece. Yes, for us, Greece hold a special place in our hearts.

[rodeodance]

23. I hope this principle has a good lawyer!

.....Jeffco Public Schools spokeswoman Lynn Setzer said Schalk believed Hamlin was in violation of a state law on display of foreign flags on public property.

Schalk interprets the law as allowing foreign flags as part of a specific lesson, but not for the duration of the six-week unit.

Hamlin has more than 50 flags that he uses during the course of the year. He asks students to consider the symbolism different countries put on their flags, such as the stars and stripes on the U.S. flag.

[no_hypocrisy]

25. In tribute and satire of Disney: "It's a Small (Minded) World After All"

The "real thing"

It's A Small World

It's a world of laughter
A world of tears
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all

It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world


There is just one moon
And one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to every one
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all

It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world

[AnneD]

27. Many of my geography teachers had flag displays...

and look how I turned out........




uh....maybe they have a point.
One thing I have learned about education, and other business.... the first given reason is not the real reason. Nine years may put him high up the pay scale. Geography can be as controversial as science these days...God forbid if you dare tell the truth instead of the party line. Hell, he could have exercised his rights according to his contract...God only knows. But there is more to this story than first blush.