Religious conflict leads to teacher's suspension

[KR McKay]

This "teacher" has been entrusted with educating the youth of America -- in this case, the youth of Wake County, home of Raleigh, NC.

Helps to explain why we're headed where we are headed, doesn't it?

Religious conflict leads to teacher's suspension - Wake County - NewsObserver.com

Religious conflict leads to teacher's suspension


BY T. KEUNG HUI - Staff Writer

APEX A Wake County middle-school teacher may be fired after she and her friends made caustic remarks on a Facebook page about her students, the South and Christianity.
Melissa Hussain, an eighth-grade science teacher at West Lake Middle School in southern Wake County, was suspended with pay Friday while investigators review her case, according to Greg Thomas, a Wake schools spokesman. The suspension came after some of Hussain's students and their parents objected to comments on her Facebook page, many revolving around her interaction with Christian students.
Hussain wrote on the social-networking site that it was a "hate crime" that students anonymously left a Bible on her desk, and she told how she "was able to shame her kids" over the incident. Her Facebook page included comments from friends about "ignorant southern rednecks," and one commenter suggested Hussain retaliate by bringing a Dale Earnhardt Jr. poster to class with a swastika drawn on the NASCAR driver's forehead.
"I don't defend what the kids were doing," said Murray Inman, a parent of one of Hussain's students. "I just couldn't imagine an educator, or a group of educators, engaging in this kind of dialogue about kids."
Hussain did not return calls and e-mail messages Monday.
The Wake district doesn't have a policy on the use of social networking sites, Thomas said. But the district, North Carolina's largest, does have a code of ethics for employees that the school spokesman says applies to social networking. The code says employees' conduct "should be such as to protect both the person's integrity and/or reputation and that of the school system."
Teachers across the nation have been suspended or fired because of questionable material posted on their Facebook pages and other online social networking sites.
'We are public figures'
In 2008, seven Charlotte-Mecklenburg school employees were disciplined and at least one was fired because of Facebook postings. That led to a memo going to all Charlotte-Mecklenburg school staff warning that offensive postings to social networking sites are grounds for termination or disciplinary action.
Thomas and Jennifer Lanane, president of the Wake County chapter of the N.C. Association of Educators, said they're not aware of any Wake school employees who were fired because of postings. But Lanane, who said she wasn't aware of the details of the Hussain case, said teachers need to be careful about information they put online.
"We are public figures," Lanane said. "We are held to a higher standard."
In Hussain's case, the comments in question were on the public side of her Facebook page. She has since limited public access.
Parents of children in her class said they learned about the comments last month, leading them to complain to the school three weeks ago.
The picture of Jesus
Parents said the situation escalated after a student put a postcard of Jesus on Hussain's desk that the teacher threw in the trash. Parents also said Hussain sent to the office students who, during a lesson about evolution, asked about the role of God in creation.
On her Facebook page, Hussain wrote about students spreading rumors that she was a Jesus hater. She complained about her students wearing Jesus T-shirts and singing "Jesus Loves Me." She objected to students reading the Bible instead of doing her work.
But Annette Balint, whose daughter is in Hussain's class, said the students have the right to wear those shirts and sing "Jesus Loves Me," a long-time Sunday School staple. She said the students were reading the Bible during free time in class.
"She doesn't have to be a professing Christian to be in the classroom," Balint said. "But she can't go the other way and not allow God to be mentioned."
Hussain, a 2004 Florida State University graduate, has been a Wake teacher since 2006. Her religious affiliation isn't on her Facebook page.
'Merry Christmas'
The flash point for the comments came after the Bible was left on Hussain's desk in December. The Bible was accompanied by an anonymous card, which, according to Hussain, said "'Merry Christmas' with Christ underlined and bolded." She said there was no love shown in giving her the Bible.
"I can't believe the cruelty and ignorance of people sometimes," Hussain wrote on her Facebook page.
Hussain also said she wouldn't let the Bible incident "go unpunished."
Her friends soon joined the discussion about the situation. The one who suggested Hussain's "getting even" by bringing the swastika-marred Earnhardt poster to class said it would be "teaching" students a lesson.
"And without a job," Hussain responded. "But I like it!"
Hussain's comments included one where she complained that she "hates" parents who complain about their child's first B in middle school. She said her husband suggested she start a blog "based on ridiculous students and their parents."
Balint said it was clear to the class that Hussain was talking about her daughter. "I feel violated that she would say those things," she said.
The length of the investigation is frustrating parents.
"My biggest concern is whether the resentment between the students and the teacher will continue for the rest of the school year," said Robert Boretti, a parent.
keung.hui@newsobserver.com or 919-829-4534

[Merrily]

why did this woman become a teacher? it seems obvious that she is unable to interact effectively with young people. she also lacks an understanding of professionalism. i would be interested to know what subject she teaches and how old she is. i would hope that part of the problem is inexperience, but i think she chose the wrong profession.

[mattfivefour]

Part of the problem MAY be inexperience ... but I think the far greater part is her deep embracing of Islam. Her reaction is typical of some of those Muslims whose paths I have crossed and who have been shown Jesus and the Word of God.

[Merrily]

i wasn't certain her religion was islam, the article said her facebook page didn't say what her religion was. from her name it that could be inferred. but there are just as many faithless people from middle eastern backgrounds as westerners.

in any event, the last place she should be is a class room.

[mattfivefour]

i wasn't certain her religion was islam, the article said her facebook page didn't say what her religion was. from her name it that could be inferred. but there are just as many faithless people from middle eastern backgrounds as westerners.

You are correct. Point taken. And I apologize for jumping to a possibly erroneous conclusion. I should know better.

in any event, the last place she should be is a class room.

I agree.

[myinnuendo999]

when I look beyond the teacher and her unprofessional behavior that is clearly unacceptable.

My main concern would be how far does any job have the right to invade our lives even on face book when we are off the clock? If her workplace has the power and authority to suspend her with pay or fire her and she wasn't even on the clock then what will happen to Christians when workplaces don't like what we have to say and have the power to take action against us?

[KR McKay]

when I look beyond the teacher and her unprofessional behavior that is clearly unacceptable.

My main concern would be how far does any job have the right to invade our lives even on face book when we are off the clock? If her workplace has the power and authority to suspend her with pay or fire her and she wasn't even on the clock then what will happen to Christians when workplaces don't like what we have to say and have the power to take action against us?

Well, I do know that my wife works for a Forbes Top 50 company, and she was required -- as a condition of employment -- to sign a statement of ethics in which she promised to not say publicly anything disparaging about that company. Furthermore, as her spouse, I am bound by that same agreement! (I could violate it, but then she could face disciplinary action).

I also read a newspaper story -- about a year and a half ago -- about how a Walmart associate, who identified himself as such on either his Facebook or Myspace page, on the same page, "slammed" Walmart. According to the news story, the Walmart IT department discovered it, and passed it along to the appropriate mangers. The associate was terminated.

I include those two stories to say that I guess it is understandable that a company doesn't want its employees going around bad-mouthing them. Granted, there are some companies who could do a better job of showing appreciation to their employees, and so they could use the "carrot" instead of the "stick" to discourage such talk. And, while all employees certainly have freedom of speech, and the freedom to criticize their employers (and some employers may well have it coming!), they don't have a right to be employed by their employers. If they want to violate a policy that prohibits such talk, they have the right to do so, but they must be willing to accept the consequences for doing so. If the policy seems overbearing, they can always seek other employment.

Now, in the case of this teacher, recall that the story says,

The Wake district doesn't have a policy on the use of social networking sites, Thomas said. But the district, North Carolina's largest, does have a code of ethics for employees that the school spokesman says applies to social networking. The code says employees' conduct "should be such as to protect both the person's integrity and/or reputation and that of the school system."

Thus, she SHOULD HAVE known better.

On a related but barely tangential note, I'll include the paraphrased thoughts of the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, when he was discussing "rights." In one book of his, he noted that what most people call their "liberty" to do such-and-so is really a demand by them for LICENSE to do such-and-so. The difference between the two being that "liberty" is the right to do the RIGHT thing. "License" is the right to do the WRONG thing. Sadly, too many people today do not know the difference.

On a completely unrelated note to this current immediate post, I can't help but think how differently this story might've gone if a Koran and Islamic literature was left on the teacher's desk, and she threw it away and/or spoke disparagingly of it. Aside from the fact that a fatwah would've been issued, calling for for her head on a platter, she'd've already been dragged before a disciplinary board, and ordered to receive many weeks -- or months -- of "sensitivity training"...

[myinnuendo999]

Well, I do know that my wife works for a Forbes Top 50 company, and she was required -- as a condition of employment -- to sign a statement of ethics in which she promised to not say publicly anything disparaging about that company. Furthermore, as her spouse, I am bound by that same agreement! (I could violate it, but then she could face disciplinary action).

I also read a newspaper story -- about a year and a half ago -- about how a Walmart associate, who identified himself as such on either his Facebook or Myspace page, on the same page, "slammed" Walmart. According to the news story, the Walmart IT department discovered it, and passed it along to the appropriate mangers. The associate was terminated.

I include those two stories to say that I guess it is understandable that a company doesn't want its employees going around bad-mouthing them. Granted, there are some companies who could do a better job of showing appreciation to their employees, and so they could use the "carrot" instead of the "stick" to discourage such talk. And, while all employees certainly have freedom of speech, and the freedom to criticize their employers (and some employers may well have it coming!), they don't have a right to be employed by their employers. If they want to violate a policy that prohibits such talk, they have the right to do so, but they must be willing to accept the consequences for doing so. If the policy seems overbearing, they can always seek other employment.

Now, in the case of this teacher, recall that the story says,

The Wake district doesn't have a policy on the use of social networking sites, Thomas said. But the district, North Carolina's largest, does have a code of ethics for employees that the school spokesman says applies to social networking. The code says employees' conduct "should be such as to protect both the person's integrity and/or reputation and that of the school system."

Thus, she SHOULD HAVE known better.

On a related but barely tangential note, I'll include the paraphrased thoughts of the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, when he was discussing "rights." In one book of his, he noted that what most people call their "liberty" to do such-and-so is really a demand by them for LICENSE to do such-and-so. The difference between the two being that "liberty" is the right to do the RIGHT thing. "License" is the right to do the WRONG thing. Sadly, too many people today do not know the difference.

On a completely unrelated note to this current immediate post, I can't help but think how differently this story might've gone if a Koran and Islamic literature was left on the teacher's desk, and she threw it away and/or spoke disparagingly of it. Aside from the fact that a fatwah would've been issued, calling for for her head on a platter, she'd've already been dragged before a disciplinary board, and ordered to receive many weeks -- or months -- of "sensitivity training"...

I agree with you wholeheartedly with what you've said. I recon if I were to be specific, I'm thinking of the "hate crimes" law that has been passed. The problem with work places having their employees sign a statement of ethics constitutes the problem of what is that work places "definition" of ethics. if they consider "ANYTHING" said against homosexuals is hate speech for example,, then they will be able to take action..

Just something to consider since this is a double-edged sword

[KR McKay]

I agree with you wholeheartedly with what you've said. I recon if I were to be specific, I'm thinking of the "hate crimes" law that has been passed. The problem with work places having their employees sign a statement of ethics constitutes the problem of what is that work places "definition" of ethics. if they consider "ANYTHING" said against homosexuals is hate speech for example,, then they will be able to take action..

Just something to consider since this is a double-edged sword

Amen, brother, AMEN!

Of course, the true answer to all of this is to "reset" the world's heart, if you will, such that we do away with laws and policies that cover and "OK" sin and sinful lifestyles of ALL TYPES.

In as much as I don't foresee that happening until the start of the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ, I guess we just suffer under this garbage and keep "looking up" until HE RETURNS for us all....

[Merrily]

it is sad to see that this will escalate into a "who has the right to do what" issue with free speech and personal liberty being thrown in for good measure when it began as poor communication between an ADULT TEACHER and one or more of her "middle school students." it particularly doesn't make sense considering most schools have all sorts of tolerance and intervention programs going on. just the other day a kid was put in counseling for drawing Jesus on the cross. the schools are hypersensitive to any kind of conflict or wacky behavior on the part of a student. the last thing they want is to end up in court or in the newspaper.

however it started, whether a comment, a look, or a t shirt, it was the teacher's responsibility to act in an adult and professional manner. she has been teaching for at least a couple of years and it doesn't take years to figure out that middle school kids can be a handful, but there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to react to students. also there are protocols for interacting with students and handling conflicts. there is more to this story and this teacher than meets the eye.

she is the adult. if she has no respect for the students and their parents (as her public comments show) and has this much trouble relating and maintaining order in her classroom she should not be teaching.

what if in the future something more serious occurs? could she be relied on to act appropriately or would she "go rogue" as they say. i hope someone in their district will stick to the basics in this issue, but i am not counting on it.

[Betty]

She should be fired.

[SonSeeker]

She should be fired.