Posted on 05/14/2004 9:31:26 PM PDT by wagglebee
SAN DIEGO -- Two teachers are suspected of showing students video of American Nick Berg being decapitated, 10News reported.
A social studies teacher from Grossmont High School in El Cajon allegedly showed students Wednesday a portion of the video, pictures and audio of the beheading, Grossmont Unified School District Superintendent Terry Ryan told 10News.
Ryan said the teacher, Michael Smith, (pictured, far right), has been removed from the classroom pending a full investigation.
Smith, an El Cajon native, graduated from Grossmont High School in 1983.
Many of his students wore shirts Friday that read "Free Mr. Smith." Others, who also support Smith, said he is a very popular teacher, but they question his judgement.
An art teacher from El Capitan High School in Lakeside Thursday allegedly noticed a student watching the video and invited other students to come to the computer terminal and watch.
Ryan said the art teacher, Gina Grossini, (pictured, above, right), told the students, "That's what we get for being in a war we shouldn't be in."
Kenneth Blackington, a senior at El Capitan High School, said, "A couple of kids almost fainted during it, and another kid had to go to the bathroom and almost puked."
Grossini was also removed from the classroom.
An investigation has been launched and district officials met with the teachers Friday along with attorneys.
Counseling services have been made available for students.
"We have set aside counseling and we are making a provision at the school that any student who saw the video can have counseling. That is our first and foremost concern," Ryan told 10News.
Parents and school administrators have expressed deep concern, according to 10News.
The San Diego City School District sent a letter to all principals Friday morning advising them not to allow their students to see the video.
It read:
"We believe that the content of the video is not age-appropriate for students in grades K-12. We suggest other means for students in the upper grades to discuss this world event in age-appropriate formats."
The letter also told principals to make sure their school counselors can provide support for students who have seen the video, or who are disturbed by reports of the incident."
The video, posted earlier this week on an Islamic militant Web site, showed five men wearing headscarves and black ski masks, standing over Berg, a U.S. contractor whose body was found on a highway overpass in Baghdad on Saturday.
"My name is Nick Berg, my father's name is Michael, my mother's name is Susan," the man said on the video. "I have a brother and sister, David and Sarah. I live in ... Philadelphia."
After reading a statement, the men were seen pulling the man to his side and putting a large knife to his neck. A scream sounded as the men cut his head off, shouting "Allahu Akbar!" - "God is great." They then held the head out before the camera.
Bet if Mr. Smith instead showed the photos and videos from Abu Ghraib he'd get a raise....
Wait I thought I read somewhere on here that a fellow freeper whos wife was a teacher was going to show the video. Anybody here remember reading that?
Ohhhhma Gawd the teacher showed kids about to enter the real world, the truth?
You know, I distinctly remember seeing and reading some pretty horrible things about the Holocaust while I was in school.
How is this really any different?
They showed the video to blame Bush for what happened.
Pictures of the Holocaust are shown to remind us of man's depravity so it won't happen again. Most of these teachers are showing these pictures to support an anti-war, anti-Bush agenda.
I know according to this article, and its despicable. But I remember reading a post here about a freeper wanting to show it to his/her students.
I agree absolutely in showing this to students to demonstrate the savagery of the enemy, but I think with this there should at least be some parental notification.
This is why they showed the video, PERIOD.
Thanks for the tag line. I've been trying to remember that phrase for months.
If that's the case, then it's very poor strategy. It would be like showing an abortion on video to support "choice". Watcing five hooded Muslims cutting the head off an innocent, helpless American civilian will not promote anti-American feelings. It can only have the effect of creating disgust and hatred for the Islamofacists.
Geez it's not like these students were 8/9 yrs old Cripe I saw worse when I was in HS. this Super is a Wossie.
"Wait I thought I read somewhere on here that a fellow freeper whos wife was a teacher was going to show the video. Anybody here remember reading that?"
Yep...It was me. My wife, and several other teachers at their high school, did not directly show the students the video. They provided a link and made viewing it the student's choice. Most...actually almost all...watched it and there has not been a peep of a complaint. Of course, this is Texas and not California...;-)
-Toonces
That image montage is so funny and yet so true.
"That's what we get for being in a war we shouldn't be in."
These people are such idiots. I wonder what American action she blamed 911 on? Yeah, maybe if we just roll over and do everything they say then everything will be o.k. Doesn't "Islam" mean "submission?"
At first, I thought he should have been given an award as an outstanding teacher, until I saw his commentary on his REASONS for SHOWING IT.
9/11 is what we got for NOT being in a war that we should have been in.
The teacher's commentary sounds a lot like what Michael Berg has said about his son's murder. They're both twisted commie fellow travelers, IMO.
Those teachers need to try doing their little show and tell crapola on their next field trip to the marine base at pendelton... with a couple hundred recently graduated marines sitting in the audience.
ready. aim. fire.
Well look, it seems to me that presentation is an important part of this.
Showing students the pictures of the reproductive system as it is shown in health text books is something that should be taught. OTOH, showing students Hustler Magazine closeups of hardcore porn is not.
Similarly, if somehow a teacher were to present the video of Berg as some sort of anti-American screed that is wrong. Showing this, or the people falling out of the WTC, or something similar as examples of the beasts we are fighting is something every school in America should show.
One cannot understand the WoT without understanding both the goals and the methods of Islamism.
Sounds like it's the teacher who needs counseling.
I don't believe he was dismissed (I could be wrong). I think he taught 6th graders.
There is a double standard where the teachers' union is concerned.
The students need to know "why we fight". Sex education they get from tv.
Schools show Holocaust documentaries, I see no reason they should not learn that antisemites come in other colors other than white. The horrific attrocities they commit may use different tactics but the outcome is the same (death).
This footage CAN be shown. They choose to bury it.
I have no doubt in my mind that some network (at least PBS) would have showed a video of Byrd's dragging death in Texas if one had been shot.
>>>"That's what we get for being in a war we shouldn't be in."
>>9/11 is what we got for NOT being in a war that we should have been in.
BUMP!!!
An outstanding reply to the pro-terrorist masquerading as peacenik crowd. I nominate you for quote of the day.
There is no statement that I can see from the first teacher.
He may very well have tried to make a statement for support of the war, or our President, or against the terrorists.
It was the female teacher at the other highschool that made the antiwar statement.
didn't a freeper say they or their spouse was going to show the video in the high school where they teach?
There also is the matter of curriculum. I think that a social studies teacher showing it in class, as part of discussion of the war, would probably be legitimate, with fair warning to parents. An art teacher making a statement, while one kid is on the computer is not. Why are kids surfing the internet in art class instead of learning.
Counseling services have been made available for students.
????
I remember the counselor in my high school. He was a guidance counselor with the primary job of helping students find an appropriate collage or career field. We had our share of deaths, saw pictures of the holocaust but we never had counselors swarming over us. Now it seems routine.
What are these kids going to do after they graduate?
Oligarchy - government by the few
Democracy - government by the mob
Republic - government by elected representatives
Theocracy - government by a priesthood
????????? - government by terrorists
This, folks, is yer typical publick skool teecher. Yep. Wish I could say he's an aberration, but he's the norm.
How is this any worse than showing all those Holocaust documentaries that gave me nightmares for weeks? I presume those are still part of a H.S. history curriculum.
Hooray for those teachers. They're doing a public service, letting their students know what this upcoming generation is going to face over the next decades.
A girl was badly burned in a house fire in my senior year. The principal talked to the senior class for about 15 minutes and we all went back to class.
So many new jobs for people other than educators since I went to school.
Must be a mis-quote, I am sure the teacher meant
"That's what we get if we lose this war"
I'm honored and graciously accept your nomination. ; > 0
An investigation needs to be launched.
I requested the numbers for our local school system employment a few months ago - number of teachers, total number of employees.
I was a bit shocked to see how many administration, janitorial and maintenance people there were - and a lot of the work is contracted out so does not show up.
I read where 75 million people are involved some way in public education today -- school counsellors, pyschologists, social workers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitorial staff, teachers, assistant principals, principals, test preparers, text book publishers, school police, etc., etc.
The San Diego City School District sent a letter to all principals Friday morning advising them not to allow their students to see the video.
It read:
"We believe that the content of the video is not age-appropriate for students in grades K-12. We suggest other means for students in the upper grades to discuss this world event in age-appropriate formats."
Since we all know that as soon as the kids find out that the "grownups" do not want them to see it, it then becomes most interesting to find.
About your wanting to know why an art student would be surfing the Internet in Art class. I have many students come to my lab from the Art\Animation class we have at the high school.
Mostly to look up pictures of a cartoon character or sports emblem that they want to draw and replicate for projects. A student last year produced an excellent 3 ft. x 2 ft. painting of a small picture of Minnie Mouse that she had printed off from my room.
Then we should have the cleanest, best maintained schools and the best educated kids in the world.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.