Posted on 01/17/2002 4:45:56 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
MURFREESBORO A Rutherford County teacher who called his students a ''bunch of fools'' and made them place their noses in a circle on the wall has been suspended without pay, according to a letter school officials sent to the teacher. William Van Ulzen, 60, of Franklin, was notified on Dec. 19 that Superintendent Hulon Watson intended to terminate his post as a first-year visual arts teacher at Cedar Grove Elementary School in Smyrna, ''based on incidents that occurred during the current school year.''
The letter cites several instances in which Van Ulzen used ''demeaning'' disciplinary measures and made ''derogatory, humiliating and ridiculing remarks'' to his students. Watson declined to comment on the matter, pending a hearing before an independent hearing officer. A telephone message left at Van Ulzen's home was not returned.
Van Ulzen, who has two master's degrees, has more than 20 years of teaching experience, including a one-year stint at Williamson County's Centennial High School and three years at Marshall County High School. In both cases, the position he held was eliminated. He also has held positions as an art and design instructor and department head at various schools and colleges.
Two letters of recommendation found in his personnel file state that Van Ulzen ''consistently exhibits professionalism, caring and wisdom'' and that students ''enjoy his teaching and rate him as one of the best.'' The school board will select an independent hearing officer at its 5 p.m. meeting today at its central offices at 2240 Southpark Blvd.
BS, one-sided story...
On the other hand, Van Ulzen is 60 years old and probably never had all the "diversity", "multicultural", and "self esteem" training that today's government schools require.
What may be acceptable in high school is not going to fly in elementary school.It does not say what grievous wrong the kids did, nor does it mention the grade.
My child is 7 and looks 11 or 12.She definately does not have the same comprehensive skills and I would want her treated as a 7 yr old. Could it be this guy forgot that kids are not miniature adults?Just because someone is a teacher doesnt mean they are a good one. For all the anti-public education jibes I see on this forum, it seems a little weird to see a thread that will take the teachers side just because it involves dicipline, whether appropriate or not. More facts please.
Sometimes, the truth hurts.
I would love to see this thing brought to trial: "All right, counsellor, prove to me that they're NOT a bunch of fools."
LOL, maybe out in the "rich" suburbs they collect lunch money, but in the parasite centers (cities) most of the kids get their lunches paid for courtesy of the money confiscated by the stinking government from regular working folks. Heaven forfend the parents who reside in the parasite centers should pack lunches the way my wife and I pack three lunches every night.
You mean words like "niggardly"? They get you coming and going, those buffoon goverment union types.
It is a shame to see every negative reinforcement tactic at a teacher's disposal snatched away one by one. Anyone who's ever slapped a rat into a Skinner box knows a steady diet of positive reinforcement won't get you all the way there.... (aren't any of these fools parents?)
I learned well and lived to tell the tale!!
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