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.
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.
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