Comments on: Kit McCormick leaves school district for Garfield High http://snovalleystar.com/2008/08/28/kit-mccormick-leaves-school-district-for-garfield-high Web site for the Sno Valley Star Newspaper Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:09:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tessa Matthysse http://snovalleystar.com/2008/08/28/kit-mccormick-leaves-school-district-for-garfield-high/comment-page-1#comment-1986 Tessa Matthysse Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:31:55 +0000 http://snovalleystar.com/?p=1059#comment-1986 I love you Mrs.McCormick and want you as a teacher again. You taught me so much more than just books and poems. Thank you for being the life teacher I needed. I love you Mrs.McCormick and want you as a teacher again. You taught me so much more than just books and poems. Thank you for being the life teacher I needed.

]]> By: Ratgirl http://snovalleystar.com/2008/08/28/kit-mccormick-leaves-school-district-for-garfield-high/comment-page-1#comment-770 Ratgirl Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:18:27 +0000 http://snovalleystar.com/?p=1059#comment-770 It's "difficult," so she leaves? Wow. Way to set an example for the students and let the out-of-control watchdog group get even MORE so. I am not talking through my hat here. In 1995, my school district fired me for refusing to practice anti-glbt exclusion in my classroom and curriculum. Yeah, they offered me a "settlement" first. So I could settle for being a hypocrite? I could never have taught my students books such as "To Kill a Mockingbird" or essays by Thoreau or Emerson again had I taken their little "buyout." I fought them. I lost plenty of salary and benefits, but in the end I was reinstated and am still there. It was not, is not, and never will be easy. Teaching for justice never is. But so what? Google my name and you'll probably be able to find the whole story. Actions like McCormick's (and they are WAY more common than what I did) make me ashamed to be a public school teacher. It is HER loss, I think. How will she ever again be able to teach works like the ones I mentioned above, knowing she gave in to bigots?? P. Culliton Temple, NH (teacher in New Ipswich) It’s “difficult,” so she leaves? Wow. Way to set an example for the students and let the out-of-control watchdog group get even MORE so.

I am not talking through my hat here. In 1995, my school district fired me for refusing to practice anti-glbt exclusion in my classroom and curriculum. Yeah, they offered me a “settlement” first. So I could settle for being a hypocrite? I could never have taught my students books such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” or essays by Thoreau or Emerson again had I taken their little “buyout.” I fought them. I lost plenty of salary and benefits, but in the end I was reinstated and am still there. It was not, is not, and never will be easy. Teaching for justice never is. But so what?

Google my name and you’ll probably be able to find the whole story.

Actions like McCormick’s (and they are WAY more common than what I did) make me ashamed to be a public school teacher. It is HER loss, I think. How will she ever again be able to teach works like the ones I mentioned above, knowing she gave in to bigots??

P. Culliton
Temple, NH
(teacher in New Ipswich)

]]> By: David Williams http://snovalleystar.com/2008/08/28/kit-mccormick-leaves-school-district-for-garfield-high/comment-page-1#comment-762 David Williams Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:53:53 +0000 http://snovalleystar.com/?p=1059#comment-762 This is an issue that is being addressed nationwide in many schools. The Coalition to Defend Education is being used as a model to help students in other states address sexual orientation on campus. Groups like GLSEN promote only one view on the origin of homosexuality and leave no room for those who have left the lifestyle through spiritual conversion or reparative therapy. Students who do not agree that homosexual behavior is OK have the first amendment right to that belief. Tolerance must be afforded ex-gays as well as those who self-identify as gay. Student learning is of the utmost importance in our schools and extra-curricular or student organizations that disrupt that learning ought to be minimized. This is an issue that is being addressed nationwide in many schools. The Coalition to Defend Education is being used as a model to help students in other states address sexual orientation on campus. Groups like GLSEN promote only one view on the origin of homosexuality and leave no room for those who have left the lifestyle through spiritual conversion or reparative therapy. Students who do not agree that homosexual behavior is OK have the first amendment right to that belief. Tolerance must be afforded ex-gays as well as those who self-identify as gay. Student learning is of the utmost importance in our schools and extra-curricular or student organizations that disrupt that learning ought to be minimized.

]]> By: Rebecca Russell http://snovalleystar.com/2008/08/28/kit-mccormick-leaves-school-district-for-garfield-high/comment-page-1#comment-759 Rebecca Russell Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:23:49 +0000 http://snovalleystar.com/?p=1059#comment-759 It's apparent by Ms. McCormick's behavior and responses that the only opinion she feels should be expressed in the classroom is one that agrees with her political belief. School is a place for students to learn reading, writing, and arithmatic and teachers that push their personal views onto students and behave aggressively towards anyone who shows any sign of dissent are the problem with our school systems today. Parents are to be the "watch dogs" for their children that is in fact, part of the job description. If parents don't like what is going on in their tax paid school system, they have not only the right to say so, they have the obligation. It’s apparent by Ms. McCormick’s behavior and responses that the only opinion she feels should be expressed in the classroom is one that agrees with her political belief. School is a place for students to learn reading, writing, and arithmatic and teachers that push their personal views onto students and behave aggressively towards anyone who shows any sign of dissent are the problem with our school systems today. Parents are to be the “watch dogs” for their children that is in fact, part of the job description. If parents don’t like what is going on in their tax paid school system, they have not only the right to say so, they have the obligation.

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