Teacher Suspended Over 'Puerto Ricans Destroying Orlando' Letter
Local6 does it again...
An Orange County elementary school teacher was suspended Wednesday over a letter asking for laws to be changed to prevent Puerto Ricans from coming to Orlando because they are "destroying the city every day,". Check out the rest of the story HERE.
You can bet I'll be talking about this Thursday morning.
posted by Pat Campbell @ 5:52 PM
13 comments
13 Comments:
The poor woman misspoke ... what she meant to say was that the parents of all the children are allowing their children to destroy our cities. There is a difference.
I don't see why she was suspended from her job. She wrote the letter on her free time, she was not teaching this in the classroom. It should have been between she and her Congressman. I do not agree with her views but this seems to be a free speech issue. I do not think her ideas were meant to incite people against Puerto Ricans since she did not write the letter knowing it would become public record.
Here is a comment:
For all posters that may not be aware, Puerto Ricans ARE Americans, 100%, natural born, citizens. While I agree that the school board had a knee-jerk reaction to suspending her w/o pay pending investigation, I do believe she should have been suspended, albeit w/pay until they could get to the bottom of it. The underlying issue has to do with PARENTS, not Puerto Ricans. If their parents want their children to be properly educated, they will be educated. If these comments did come from this "poor woman" as wm states, then she should not only be ashamed of herself, but she should be terminated. For wild cur, personal opinion is fine, do it at HOME, not in school! If she had written the "n" word, the entire state would want her head by now!
As for the quality of schooling in Puerto Rico, some schools leave much to be desired, while some are exemplary (much the same as here in Central Florida!).
Personally, as a Puerto Rican myself when I moved to the mainland and started going to high school in Florida, the textbooks I was using in ninth grade were the same exact textbooks I used in Puerto Rico in seventh grade, and yes, in english.
There is a code of ethics within the education system, and if she did write that letter, be it on her own time or otherwise, she should be dismissed from her duties as an educator. Anyone with these kind of views will not make the extra effort to educate children that will need more attention.
"There is a code of ethics within the education system"
Can you send me a link to that code
of ethics? I'd love to check it out!
Puerto Rico, the 3rd world part of the USA. Yes, that's right. I said that and you can't fire me for speaking my mind. I am so sick of the left wing wacko nut cases who want to shut every American up that does not lean far left.
Comments to comments:
to Jan Hall, do you really think that teachers are allowed to "do anything or say anything". Remember the teacher that was dismissed for doing a "flash" on her time during a superbowl party on her own time?
As for Jim McCall in Watertown PA, Puerto Rico absolutely not a 3rd world part of the us! Have you ever been there? By the way, I am a Puerto Rican (born and bred), yet I am 100% AMERICAN! I am also the farthest thing from being a left winger. You sir, need to educate yourself. Do you consider Alaskans or Hawaiians to be anything other than americans? FYI, Puerto Rico has been part of the US since 1898!
To sick boy, Puerto Rico, while being a commonwealth and having its own consititution, this is superceded by the us consititution (same as any state). Also, Puerto Rican's "roots" are only traced back to the island of Hispaniola in that the locals at the time of discovery by the spaniards were basically the same tribes (Tainos), and not the more warrior-like tribes "Caribes" of the area. Hispaniola (the island now resided by the Dominican Republic and Haiti) was given that name by the Spaniards (Españoles). so if you want to trace "roots" of Puerto Ricans, you need to look at 1. Spain (Spain financed the expeditions!)
2. Italy (Italians were mostly in the expedition - Christopher Columbus was Italian, by the way)
3. Natives (most were killed off very quickly)
4. Slaves
5. Other inhabitants during the times (Dutch, French, English).
To Wild Cur:
How does someone's correspondence end up from someone's home and into the hands of the media? If she did write this (again, this is still up in the air and I am very well aware of that), and it was found (desk, garbage, wherever) in the school, it does not matter where it was written. As for the ACLU, if the teacher made these comments about how "green" (insert whichever race you'd like here) students were keeping other students from learning and they should be kept out of school, and you were "green", or maybe "red", or "orange", do you think that that teacher should continue to teach? If I in my work, openly said I did not want to work with someone because of their race, religious beliefs or sexual orientation, I would be fired in about 1/2 second (and deservedly so!).
So, again, pending an investigation, if this woman did write these words, she should definitely lose her job, benefits, and be stripped of her teaching certificate.
This letter was written by a constiuent to her representative.
This rep needs to investigate his/her office staff for handing this personal correspondence over
this newspaper. This individual should be fired (not the teacher) and brought up on charges. This is a total breach of confidentiality. It sure has made me think twice about writing to my representative. I think this teacher is spot on with her letter. People should research the PR effect on NYC schools
during the late
60's and 70's. (They tried to make it cute with a musical called
West Side Story.) It was guns, gangs, knives, drugs and they live like pigs. Spics are the educate and medicate crowd, of course when they are not dealing drugs with their mexican brothers and sisters.
It is ironic how the mass media can rally behind Cindy Sheehan and Ward Churchill to promote their right to free speech when their views basically condemn the country that allows them that freedom. This teacher, like anyone else living in this great country has the right to express her opinions on what she feels. If indeed she did make those statements, she has every right to just as Ward Churchill can basically rationalize that we are to blame for the attacks on 911, without being suspended or fired.
To the remarks from anonymous who reminded us that Puerto Ricans are indeed Americans 100%, why is it then that most of the PR drivers only have PR flags on their cars? Why is the American flag not so "proudly" flown next to the PR flag if you are now living here. I have only been recently become a naturalized American citizen, not born one, but I proudly display American flags on my car to show my patriotism. I am proud to live in the USA because I honesly feel that it is the best country or I would still live in another country. Just remember: The American flag has fifty stars, not just one, for its fifty states, NOT 51!
OK, I'm back, first of all, the "spic" reference is totally uncalled for, and issues in the 40's and 50's in NYC were not started by Puerto Ricans!! Your generalizations make YOU look stupid and racist.
To sickboy, you are again generalizing and painting everyone with a broad brush. I do not, nor do all Puerto Ricans put flags of their rear view mirrors, nor stickers. Some do, and it is their RIGHT TO DO SO.
The Navy pulled out of Rossevelt Roads as a measure of cutting back bases (just as on the mainland).
By any means Puerto Rico is NOT considered 3rd world. I have traveled to 3rd world countries, and believe you me, PR is not one of them. I have also traveled to many other countries, and believe you me, Puerto Rico is much better off than them!
It appears as this becoming Puerto Rican bashing. This is about the safety and education of our children. If any teacher in the district let it be known that she discriminated against white students, or black, everyone would be in an uproar. But since it is hispanics, it is "she can say whatever she wants" walk a mile in someone elses shoes. If one cannot get past their racist or discriminatory views, they should not be teaching, period. This is a "don't ask, don't tell" issue, if indeed it is proven and the "cat is out of the bag", then good riddence to ANY teacher that spews hatred. As for Ward Churchill, he should have been gone in a second as far as I was concerned. The 1st amendment grants you freedom of speech personally. You can't go around saying what you want at any time, in any place, your employer does have a right to can you if he/she sees fit.
There are many places in the metro Orlando area that I avoid like the plague because of crime issues (and there are no Puerto Ricans in sight). Same in Puerto Rico, same EVERYWHERE!!
I will say again, I am 100% AMERICAN, 100% Puerto Rican. I am also not a "left wing nutcase", but a full on boat republican.
Sick Boy:
Puerto Rico is a nation, a commonwealth, it is NOT a race. Puerto Ricans. Are Hawaiians or Alaskans 100% Hawaiian or 100% Alaskan? Yet they are 100% American! I too agree that the reasons for closing Roosevelt Roads and Vieques were politically driven and populist driven (w/o taking into consideration the economic repercussions).
I do not think that the educational standards should be lowered for anyone. One of the biggest problems in Puerto Rico is the lack of English education (albeit in the public school system), this was done in the 50's when the first elected government changed the rules of all classes in english, plus spanish class, to all classes taught in spanish and english class because it was difficult for the poor children to learn as there may not be anyone in the household that knew english. Well, 2 or 3 generations later, this comes back to bite them in the butt!!
I was fortunate enough to attend school where everything was done in
a balanced way, where one learned both languages equally in the school.
Getting children back up to an acceptable level in English requires time and commitment not only bytthe teachers, but by the parents as well (not to mention the students!!), so teachers need to be willing to do this, and not look down on children that have difficulty. What if the child was partially deaf, or dyslexic, or blind? these are physical obstacles that can be surmounted with work, same with teaching a child that is not as familiar with the language as other children..
Sick Boy:
I think we are atarting to see eye to eye. I too, agree that proof of residency should be verified. I'm sure you know (some of the other posterr may not) that Puerto Ricans are US citizens, and do have the right to come and go to the mainland as they please (NO GREEN CARD NEEDED, our passport is blue just as eveyone elses!).
As for the education program, I also do agree that if you can't hack it in the regular class, then you should not be in there, but also think because of the way the world is changing, the opportunity needs to be there for all students (help classes?, why not). But we are once again getting into generalizations, as in a regular classrooms, you have some disruptive students and some good students. This PC world of ours will not allow us to go back to the way things were when I was in school, which was separate students by their abilities (A,B,C,D,E,F) classes, and kind of bunched the students together given their gpa or aptitude tests. This way, the A class may be able to cruise along a little faster, and even get into some additional work, whereas the F class just needs to chug along.
As for foreign language in school, I do believe it to be very important (given how small the world becomes every day).. Personally, I regret taking only spanish class in high school and college (stateside), for the easy grade. I should have challenged myself more and taken a different class.
I believe integrating into the community (we are the biggest "melting pot" in the world), but I also believe in maintaining the individuality and pride of your home country.
Sick Boy:
One can be integrated into the community and still have their pride (can you tell italians they can't march on Columbus day, or Irish on St. Patrick's day? They, too are a nationality, not a race.
Puerto Rico, while being a nation, is still part of the US, so you can no more say you want to keep ANY Puerto Rican out of the country, than you can keep any Californian out of the country (talk about nuts!!). Most Puerto Ricans have no issue against the US (especially if they live here!). There is a minority in Puerto Rico that are independents (want nothing to do with the US). They are a small, but very loud bunch (ie Vieques), but on the whole, Puerto Rico is divided into two groups, Status Quo (remain a Commonwealth), and Statehood. Being a capitalist society, you have all in Puerto Rico, upper class, middle class, lower class. This is the same as here. Puerto Ricans are not "separatists" as a whole, slavery was abolished long before it was abolished stateside. Puerto Ricans are very proud of their heritage (native, Spanish, and American), Puerto Ricans have servedi in the US military PROUDLY since WWI, and continue to do so. We are Americans, and yes, we are Puerto Ricans... this is an example where 100% plus 100% does equal 100%!
Sick Boy:
I agree with you on the immigration point, but someone has to bring up either racist or ignorant remarks on her part. For example, should consider Puerto Ricans "immigrants"? A Puerto Rican is no more an immigrant than someone from Georgia moving into the state. The others I do grant you...
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