Teacher suspended for controversial assignment returns to class today

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Critical thinking wins! For those unfamiliar with this situation, I first read about it here. The teacher had given his honors English class an optional assignment: to review a science article on homosexuality in animals and critique the writing. Students who were uncomfortable with this article could choose another. A parent complained to the superintendent who then suspended Mr. DeLong last week, pending a school board review last night.

Mr. DeLong's students -- both current and former -- organized massive support for him, including a group on Facebook called Bring Back Mr. DeLong. So satisfying to see the Age of Reason alive and well in one pocket of rural America.

Teacher suspended for controversial assignment returns to class today
By Jasmine Huda

(KSDK) - The high school teacher suspended for giving students a controversial reading assignment returns to class today.

Students say Dan DeLong, an honors English teacher at Southwestern High School in Piasa, Illinois, was suspended last week after at least one parent complained about the assignment.

At issue was whether it was appropriate for Delong to have students read an article about homosexuality among animals. The article, written by a Rhodes Scholar, comes from the science publication Seed Magazine.

Last night, a crowd of students showed up at DeLong's disciplinary hearing to show their support for the teacher...

http://www.ksdk.com/life/programming/local/tisl/story.aspx?storyid=188783&catid=97

[dalaigh lllama]

1. kick for the evening crowd