Posted on 02/07/2009 8:56:33 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
BEAVER DAM (WKOW) -- Beaver Dam school officials placed a middle school teacher on administrative leave after discovering a photograph of the teacher with a gun on the teacher's Facebook page.
In the photo, teacher Betsy Ramsdale is training a rifle at the camera.
Ramsdale emailed 27 News in response to our inquiries saying she "removed the photo immediately" and that she is not "interested in any controversy." Ramsdale did not comment on her motivation for posting the photo.
Schools superintendent Donald Childs told 27 News he is unaware of any sinister intent on the teacher's part and said the use of the photo "appears to be poor judgment."
Childs said the Facebook photo was brought to the attention of school district officials by a concerned staff member at Beaver Dam Middle School.
Ramsdale's biography on the school district website states she is in her first year of teaching at the middle school. Department of Public Instruction records show Ramsdale has been licensed to teach since 1996.
Middle school parent Jennifer Buzzell said the teacher's decision to post the photograph was concerning.
"I don't think it's appropriate," Buzzell told 27 News. "I'm not sure why this would be on the computer at all."
"I don't see anything wrong with it," school parent Mark Hagstrom said. "She's on her time to do what she wants."
School parent Chad Van Loo said the photograph sends the wrong message.
"With the way things are going these days, with the kids bringing guns to school and bomb threats, (photograph) is something to be concerned about."
Ramsdale's union representation is through the Beaver Dam Education Association. Association president Janet Schumaker has yet to return a call from 27 News.
Read our Assistant News Director's Blog on this topic:
http://addins.wkowtv.com/blogs/behindthenews/
To comment and provide news tips, contact reporter Tony Galli at tgalli@wkowtv.com
i smell a lawsuit.
If she had been shown having an abortion they would have given her a commendation.
Maybe she had it pointed at a pic of zero.
If she was smart, she’d explain the picture this way. “I have the rifle because I’m FIGHTING against “global warming” and homophobia. Those braindead “school officials” would fall for it. Obviously, they’re morons.
If she was holding a bong, crack pipe, or dildo she wouldn’t had any problems...
Or an aborted fetus, an Obama sign or a Communist Party membership card.
Beaver Dam isn’t far from The Peoples Republic of Madison, the sickness is obviously spreading...
Brilliant!!
I really hate these type of busybody parents who think they are so righteous they have to be outraged at anything. This teachers contract will not be renewed. She has no protection from idiot administrators as a first year teacher in the district.
She wasn't just holding it.
Warping young minds to hate?
The Flying O, doesn't like guns (duh) and thinks that anyone who has one is EVIL!
Thankfully I fall into the last one
It’s wrong for a school to even put a teacher on punitive leave for that. But the whole problem needs to be addressed—not only one instance of the problem.
Teachers and others are fired for violating any one of many perceived ultra-sensitivities (like telling a badgering class or coworker to “shut up”). That kind of firing in general needs to be stopped. It’s illegitimate.
If she had been wearing a Planned Parenthood tshirt or an Obama sticker she’d have gotten a fvcking promotion.
Thought police nazis.
According to the article, she was holding a rifle that was pointed at the camera. Do you know something else that we don't?
Nope. Like I said, she wasn't just holding it.
Was this a harmless photo, too?
In the Land of Obama, the big-eared punk is king. Or something like that.
So Miss Betsy Ramsdale doesn’t have the same 2nd Amendment rights that you and I have because of her occupation? Interesting theory.
didn’t hurt me.
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