An interesting tidbit from Cherry Creek Schools:Jana Frieler, principal of Overland High School in the Cherry Creek School District since 2005, was voted president-elect of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) at the organization’s national conference in San Diego February 27, 2009. Frieler will lead the 30,000- member organization in 2010-2011. Frieler has been active in principal leadership through national-level committee work and service on the NASSP Board of Directors. Congrats to Jana Frieler on her new position. What's the big deal with this announcement, you say? You may remember Frieler as the principal who during her first year was thrown into the fire of national controversy over teacher Jay … [Read more...]
Search Results for: Bennish
The Further Churchill-ization of Jay Bennish
Apparently convinced that he doesn't look enough like Ward Churchill in the public eye, controversial Overland High School teacher Jay Bennish has hired ACLU attorney David Lane to represent him during Cherry Creek School District's ongoing investigation, reports The Conservative Voice. (HT to John at Stop the ACLU) … [Read more...]
More Bennish…
Due to overwhelming popular demand, I thought I would respond to a couple commenters from my previous post on the gigantic Jay Bennish flap, and shed a little more light on the whole topic. When a story erupts and spreads through the media - old & new - as fast as this one has, the caution needs to be made that we don't make hasty judgments that outstrip the evidence we have. Furthermore, we should promote a healthy, moderate, and reasonable tone to the debate. No one I have seen is calling for violence to be done against any of the parties involved, and that should hold for both supporters of Bennish and for those like me who admire the smart and courageous 16-year-old Sean Allen. That being said, I think some judgments can be made in … [Read more...]
Irony: Bennish Case Goes Federal
The Rocky Mountain News reports that Jay Bennish lawyer David Lane plans to file a lawsuit in federal court this morning to put the highly controversial teacher back in the classroom. Bennish is currently on paid administrative leave while the Cherry Creek School District conducts an investigation based on his 20-minute recorded left-wing political tirade. From the News story: "I know about 10 federal judges who are more than willing to teach the Cherry Creek School District what the First Amendment is all about," his attorney, David Lane, said Thursday. Lane said he expects to file a federal lawsuit as early as this morning, and that seeking a court order to return Bennish to the classroom is one option he might pursue. He … [Read more...]
Fact-Challenged Jay Bennish
To all the readers finding my site via Google or another search, I thought it useful to the debate to link to an industrious blogger putting together a factual response to many of Colorado geography teacher Jay Bennish's claims in his 20-minute tirade. (HT: Hugh Hewitt) This advances the debate even farther than I summarized it last night. … [Read more...]
Bennish Update
Fox News reports a positive development in the controversial Colorado geography teacher case: Jay Bennish has decided to drop the lawsuit against Cherry Creek School District in exchange for the district dropping the media gag order. In my opinion, both sides chose wisely. We may start to hear from the embattled Marxist instructor in various outlets. Stay tuned. … [Read more...]
The Best Take on the Bennish Fiasco
What lesson ought we to take from the whole Jay Bennish fiasco? David Harsanyi hits a home run with his column today: "Teacher Fuss Shows Need for Choice." Go and read it. … [Read more...]
GOP Senators Tell Boulder School Officials to Straighten Up
Update (6/5): Open blogging keyboard, insert foot. I clearly glossed over the problems with O'Reilly's reporting of the situation. Upon closer examination and analysis, he clearly has distorted the goings-on in Boulder (to be sensational? to fit the thesis of his book? I don't know). Boulder school officials aren't to be completely exculpated, but they have handled the matter more responsibly than the Fox News commentator has given them credit for doing. So, regretful apologies for my earlier misstatement, and hope this adds a little clarity. Republicans in the Colorado legislature have taken their turn now putting the heat on leaders of Boulder Valley School District for putting on a mandatory pro-sex, pro-drugs seminar for high school … [Read more...]
Fairness and Integrity: Flunking the Test in Fort Collins
According to one Fort Collins high school math teacher, you can't believe anything I say. If his opinion doesn't bother you, then go ahead and read. My Independence Institute colleague Amy Oliver helped to uncover the story of the slanted Rocky Mountain High School math exam, which is covered this morning at Face the State: RMHS is part of the Poudre School District; its teachers are members of the Poudre Education Association (PEA). The Colorado Supreme Court recently announced that it will hear arguments alleging that the PEA illegally campaigned for democrat candidate for state senate, Bob Bacon. Faithful readers of this site may know something about that issue. For a refresher, here's an op-ed I wrote last July after the state court … [Read more...]
Left-Wing Classroom Rant
Suffering from low blood pressure and need it raised? Want to hear one of the reasons why many people are disenchanted with public schools? There's nothing quite like indoctrinating young minds, whether from willful ignorance or whatever the cause may be. Mike Rosen, the preeminent radio talk show host in the Rocky Mountain West, has recorded classroom footage from Jay Bennish's geography class at Overland High School, featuring an unbalanced rant against President Bush, America, and capitalism. One of Bennish's students made the recording and will appear with his mother on the Mike Rosen Radio Show on 850 KOA tomorrow morning, Wednesday, March 1. I haven't heard if the host was able to get Bennish himself, the Overland principal, or … [Read more...]