Posted on 05/12/2008 10:30:52 AM PDT by GOPGuide
A student teacher who uses a service dog for his epilepsy has had to leave his position early after a Muslim student harassed the animal, and worse. Tyler Hurd needs the dog for his protection and for emergency supplies for first-aid responders, but apparently Technical High School in St Cloud believes that Hurd’s needs are secondary to providing a dog-free zone for its Muslim students. Hurd says he feels threatened by the action, as well he should — because the student threatened to kill the dog:
A St. Cloud State University student in a teacher-training program at Technical High School left the school in late April because he says he feared for the safety of his service dog.
The school district calls it a misunderstanding, and officials there say they hoped Tyler Hurd, a 23-year-old junior from Mahtomedi who aspires to teach special education, would continue his training in the district. Hurd said a student threatened to kill his service dog named Emmitt. The black lab is trained to protect Hurd when he has seizures. …
Hurd trained at Talahi Community School and Tech. He said his experience at Talahi was good. The Somali students there warmed to the dog and eventually petted him using paper to keep their hands off his fur, Hurd said.
Things didn’t go as well at Tech, Hurd said. Students there taunted his dog, and he finally felt he had to leave after he was told a student made a threat. Hurd met with Lockhart but said he did not feel comfortable continuing.
King Banaian notes the ridiculous nature of the school’s response:
So let’s take a look at this as a case of competing rights. On one side we have a student with a medical disability. One would think that the Americans with Disabilities Act would allow this student to participate to the fullest extent possible in pursuing his goals, which is to teach in special education. To do so, he is supposed to train in both elementary and secondary school settings. (The article notes that Hurd had no such problems with Somali students at his elementary school assignment.)
On the other side, we have a student at Tech HS whose faith considers dogs unclean and is asserting his right to education in an institution without dogs. This not only affects student teachers; any student with a sight or hearing disability may use a dog for assistance and might want to also attend Tech HS. …
But when rights collide, as they did here, whose rights did they choose to uphold first?
That’s easy. They upheld the rights of the side that threatened capitulation or violence. Instead of expelling the student for his threat and making an example of him, they chose to coddle the student and chase the teacher out of his job. Afterwards, they issued the normal multi-culti mewlings of “misunderstanding”, “growth process”, and emphasizing respect for different cultures.
I’ve got a suggestion: how about teaching that respect to the people who issue threats, instead of their victims? Which person needed an object lesson in respect more, the Somali student or Tyler Hurd?
The First Mate used to use guide dogs here and in California. On more than one occasion, she initially got refused cab service when using Cory. Only after she explained that the law required them to give her access did the cabbies relent.
We have laws in this country, decided on by democratically-elected representatives. If Muslims don’t like these access laws, then let them elect representatives that will reverse them, or failing that, go back to Somalia where violence trumps the law and they would be more comfortable. Shame, shame on Technical High School for buckling under to thugs and abandoning their responsibilities in such a cowardly manner.
Update: When I first read the article and King’s post, I had the impression that the school got complaints from the Muslim students, but the story doesn’t explicitly say that. I’ve reworded the first sentence, although it’s still entirely possible that they complained to the administration. If they didn’t, it makes the administration’s move even worse.
“Instead of expelling the student for his threat and making an example of him, they chose to coddle the student and chase the teacher out of his job.”
(1) If the student threatened to kill the teacher’s dog, the teacher should report him to law enforcement. See below.
(2) If they drove the teacher out of his job, he should see a lawyer and drag the school district’s name and reputation through the court system and the newspapers while getting six or even seven figures in punitive damages. (Not legal advice, I am not a lawyer, but common sense says you don’t interfere with a service animal.)
St. Cloud is in Minnesota, isn’t it?
Also contained in chapter 8 is a new crime in the criminal code for harming service animals. This new law creates penalties which apply to a person who intentionally and without justification causes harm or death to an animal trained to assist a person with a disability while the animal is involved in that purpose or is in the custody of the person with the disability.
The criminal penalty depends on the level of harm that the animal suffers and ranges from a misdemeanor to a fine of up to $10,000 or a four-year imprisonment or both. This language was passed in response to a specific incident where a service animal was harmed in the course of performing its duties for its owner.
Effective: Most provisions effective 07/01/01; others effective 08/01/01
Q: What’s brown and black, and looks good on an Islamic supremacist who threatens a guide dog or other service animal?
A: A Rottweiler
There's less chance of getting bit.
This is outrageous!
Sounds like an ADA violation and communication of a criminal threat to me. Perhaps the LAW should be applied to the students and school.
Solution: A judiciously applied case of ‘Whupass’ to the aggrieved Muslim followed by expulsion from the school [and hopefully deportation to a country that plays his favorite song, “My Sharia”].
I love it!
He needs to bring a rabid pit bull who carries a machine gun and sprays attack-killer-bees when he barks.
On the basis of facts as presented this is a cold case as far as a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act is concerned, but it has a problem. The disabled person is entitled to reasonable accomodation. Forcing the school to accept the dog and restrain the mohammedan animals would be reasonable accomodation, but placing the handicapped person elsewhere is also a legal option. Which one will the Dhimmi School System select? Not likely that the school is going to make some mohammedan smart-ass behave. We made a mistake when we let the first one of those peculiar followers of the crazy pedophile enter the country.
It is an ADA violation and he could sue the school, administrators and the sons of pig f’n dogs out of existence.
Choice "A" presented here is emminently unacceptable; no more acceptable than "electing representatives who will reverse laws prohibiting one man from owning another as property".
Two of the ways God shows us he loves us are dogs, and Italian sausage and pepper and onion heroes.
So, Mohammed, “ST-EE-RIKE TWOO!!”
Until every school has a designated "Professional Offendee". What do you do then when the precedent has been established that sharia law overrules ADA?
Yes, I used ragheaded...screw you CAIR members that frequent this site to whine to the moderators.
Is it me, or is it hard to follow who’s who and who did what where in this story?
WHF
What is a dog suppose to do for epilepsy, dial 911, what a crock. Just another kid wants his pet in class. Abusing truly handicapped peoples rights.
Now all you peta supporters and animal rights N-jobs have at it.
That's the trend. Even John McCain warns of violence from ‘good immigrants’ if they don't get their way. No matter who wins this election, pandering to these demanding, whining immigrants is going to be the norm.
Get rid of your dog, stop eating bacon and learn Spanish. Let anyone in that wants in and give them special privileges. That's what we've got now, let's just admit it.
"On June 2, McCain rolled out his fear-based defense of amnesty on the campaign trail in Le Mars, Iowa. Responding to a question about deportation of illegal aliens, McCain delivered the following dilly: "In case you hadn't noticed, the thousands of people who have been relegated to ghettos have risen up and burned cars in France,'' McCain said. "They've got huge problems in France. They have tremendous problems. The police can't even go into certain areas in the suburbs of Paris. I don't want that in the suburbs of America.''
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1844358/posts
So true. If there ever was a war between Muslims and dogs, I would stock up Alpo and dog biscuits.
Like liberalism, Islam is a mental disorder.
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