High school teacher suspended after assigning an article on homosexuality in animals

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

PIASA - Dan Delong, an English teacher at Southwestern High School in Piasa, has been suspended for allegedly allowing students in his English classes to read an article about homosexuality in the animal kingdom.

"I have been suspended, but not without pay," Delong, of Carlinville, said Wednesday. "But I would rather not comment further until I speak with my union representative."

...

According to an e-mail sent to The Telegraph from a former student, Delong has the support of more than 400 parents, students and friends, seeking to have him reinstated.

The article that Delong had his students read was written by Jonah Lehrer and quotes Joan Roughgarden, a biology professor at Stanford University who challenges Darwinian sexual selection by documenting more than 450 animal species that engage in homosexual behaviors.

A copy of the article that Delong allegedly had his class read was published in a 2006 edition of "The Gay Animal Kingdom" and is available at http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/th..._animal_kingdom.

http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/animal-32...cle-delong.html

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Where the hell is Piasa, and why should I care?

[Peikko 1,575]

The original article is worth reading, good for Delong. I thought that was what education was about, exploring all the credible explanations?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Where the hell is Piasa, and why should I care?

Illinois...would you care if the teacher was your brother?

[peejay 327]

Where the hell is Piasa, and why should I care?

I could give a rat's azz about Piasa, but inserting this not-so-subtle kind of indoctrination into the curriculum of any taxpayer funded public high school is the epitome of poor taste. Minor kids don't need this trash rammed down their throats in public high schools where they are captive audiences at best. Shame on this idiot of a teacher. It ought to be a suspension without pay.

Edited November 1, 2009 by peejay

[Peikko 1,575]

There we go, that's the attitude behind the suspension

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Where the hell is Piasa, and why should I care?

I could give a rat's azz about Piasa, but inserting this not-so-subtle kind of indoctrination into the curriculum of any taxpayer funded public high school is the epitome of poor taste. Minor kids don't need this trash rammed down their throats in public high schools where they are captive audiences at best. Shame on this idiot of a teacher. It ought to be a suspension without pay.

It's science, not indoctrination.

The article ... quotes Joan Roughgarden, a biology professor at Stanford University who challenges Darwinian sexual selection by documenting more than 450 animal species that engage in homosexual behaviors.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Where the hell is Piasa, and why should I care?

Illinois...would you care if the teacher was your brother?

Not really. My brothers know how to take care of themselves, and fight their own fights.

[Peikko 1,575]

Where the hell is Piasa, and why should I care?

I could give a rat's azz about Piasa, but inserting this not-so-subtle kind of indoctrination into the curriculum of any taxpayer funded public high school is the epitome of poor taste. Minor kids don't need this trash rammed down their throats in public high schools where they are captive audiences at best. Shame on this idiot of a teacher. It ought to be a suspension without pay.

It's science, not indoctrination.

The article ... quotes Joan Roughgarden, a biology professor at Stanford University who challenges Darwinian sexual selection by documenting more than 450 animal species that engage in homosexual behaviors.

It's indoctrination simply because the writer of the paper is transgender.  That in itself is enough

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It's indoctrination simply because the writer of the paper is transgender.  That in itself is enough

You're channeling redneck trailer trash. Good job.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's indoctrination simply because the writer of the paper is transgender.  That in itself is enough

You're channeling redneck trailer trash. Good job.

and for my next trick...

[Ban Hammer 13,676]

perhaps this paper wasn't approved for classroom instruction by the school.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

perhaps this paper wasn't approved for classroom instruction by the school.

No, a parent complained. Apparently, science is inappropriate

An Illinois high school teacher was suspended for offering an optional assignment to read a scientific report about homosexuality in animals, students said.

...

School officials were alerted to the assignment by a parent who believed the report was inappropriate for her child.

After the teacher was suspended, more than 400 people signed on to a Web page that was created to offer support to DeLong.

Edited November 2, 2009 by w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r

[one...two...tree 2,762]

perhaps this paper wasn't approved for classroom instruction by the school.

No, a parent complained. Apparently, science is inappropriate

An Illinois high school teacher was suspended for offering an optional assignment to read a scientific report about homosexuality in animals, students said.

...

School officials were alerted to the assignment by a parent who believed the report was inappropriate for her child.

After the teacher was suspended, more than 400 people signed on to a Web page that was created to offer support to DeLong.

He should have played it safe and handed out a PR pamplet from Haliburton with an introduction from ####### Cheney as optional reading material...then if any parent complained, the Right Wingers here on VJ would be questioning that parent's patriotism.

[peejay 327]

perhaps this paper wasn't approved for classroom instruction by the school.

Probably because any parent with a lick of sense doesn't want this trash taught to their minor kids in a public funded high school. Educate...don't indoctrinate!