Posted on 08/18/2011 5:29:29 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
A long-time educator recently named his district's 'Teacher of the Year' is under fire after he likened same-sex unions to a 'cesspool' on Facebook.
Jerry Buell, a teacher at Mount Dora High School, said he 'almost threw up' in a post about the legalisation of same-sex unions in New York.
Mr Buell, who teaches social studies, told the Orlando Sentinel: 'It wasn't out of hatred. It was about the way I interpret things.'
A teacher for 25 years, Mr Buell has been at Mount Dora High since 2006. He was named 'Teacher of the Year' for 2010.
His teacher profile page, which has since been cleared out, said his style of teaching is guided by God.
Mr Buell wrote: 'I try to teach and lead my students as if Lake Co. Schools had hired Jesus Christ himself.'
Despite arguing that he made the comments on his own time and on his personal computer, the district has drawn up a policy on how teachers should approach social networking.
Christopher Patton, communications officer for Lake County schools, helped develop the guidelines, which are to be given to teachers when the school year begins on Monday.
Mr Patton said: 'Most teachers or any other employees think [social networking] is personal and it becomes very public very fast.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
This guy needs a good lawyer, or maybe just an OK one. Hell, even a poor lawyer could gut the school district.
I hope he sues, and I hope he breaks the back of the budget of his system.
Same here Mr Buell. Many MANY people feel the same.
“Despite arguing that he made the comments on his own time and on his personal computer, the district has drawn up a policy on how teachers should approach social networking.”
IT’S CALLED FREE SPEECH.
Well he’s right!!
Wow he is still my Teacher Of The Year here in Mount Dora probably should watch his posts though. God forbid you tell the truth.
Gee, maybe he should call the ACLU.
Repent, Recant and Repent Mr. Buell. You have grievously sinnned.
Let him sue and use the $ to start his own school with his own philosophy driving it. It’s sad, tho, for the kids in the public school who benefited from his teaching gifts.
I agree. I hope he sues and not just to get his job back. Make them hurt financially.
It’s a public school so, unless he threatened someone, there’s absolutely no way they can punish him for something he said or wrote on his own time. This isn’t Canada.
THOU SHALT NOT HAVE IMPURE THOUGHTS AGAINST THE LIBERAL AGENDA
Not even in private on your own time
Moral Absolutes ping
I often think that given the freedom most govt employees would be die hard conservatives and patriots .....
What we must see here is a government agency is denying this man his right of free speech. FB is a privately owned entity.
But he should have known better. One of the reasons I cancelled by FB page. Someone is always watching.
Bingo! This is exactly the tactic that needs to be brought to bear on entrenched leftist bureaucracies like education. Sue them like there was no tomorrow - open with $100 million in damages, suffering and lost wages. If you win, pay off your house and make some worthy charities happy.
People really need to stay off facebook.
Of course this man has the right to state his opinion, but it sure did complicte his life. Facebook has been complicating too many lives. Stay off it for your own good.
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