Two Massachusetts teachers protest at a ceremony to honor high school seniors who joined the military
During a ceremony at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School in Massachusetts last week, six students were being honored for their decision to join the military upon their graduation. These students received a standing ovation from their classmates for their decision, but not everyone was pleased that these students decided to dedicate their lives to defending the United States of America.
While the student body was giving these students a standing ovation, two of the TEACHERS in the school decided that it was a proper setting for a war protest, holding up protest signs and refusing to cheer on the decision that these high school seniors made.
Regardless of how these teachers feel about the war, they should have shown a little common decency and respect for the decision that these students made. Obviously these students felt that the military offered them an opportunity to better themselves, and possibly they even feel that America is worth fighting for.
I am not saying that these teachers do not have the right to protest the wars, but there is a proper time and place for their protests, and to denigrate the choice that these students made just because they do not agree with them during a situation where these students were being honored is just disgusting.
Can you imagine being the proud parents of these students– who probably are already concerned enough about the safety of their children, and anxious about their wellbeing– watching what was supposed to be an honoring of their children being turned into a political statement?
These teachers are now trying to claim that this was a teachable moment because they were showing the students the proper way to “exercise dissent,” to which I declare bullshit! They had no interest in providing a context in which students could see what an acceptable protest looked like; they were simply using this forum to protest the wars.
These two teachers have been suspended–with pay nonetheless– as the principal tries to distance himself from them, but upset parents and students are not satisfied. In a turn of events that is extremely gratifying, the students are now forming a protest against these two teachers.
Some students are calling for the firing of two Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School teachers who held an anti-war sign during a school assembly Friday.History teacher Marybeth Verani and English teacher Adeline Koscher made their silent protest during the part of the assembly in which school officials recognized graduating seniors who are entering the military.
“They not only imposed their political will, they imposed it at the wrong time,” said D-Y junior Andrew Bowles Jr., who organized an after-school protest yesterday that drew about 30 students
It makes me feel good to know that the attempts at indoctrinating our children by liberal teachers is not always successful; and it makes me feel good to know that our youngsters for the most part are growing up to respect the military and those that choose to serve in spite of what teachers like these are trying to teach our children.
As I stated above, while I disagree with the position these teachers have taken, I understand that they have the right to do what they did. I just feel that this was not the proper place for them to protest the wars. This was meant as a ceremony to honor the students who chose to serve our country and because these teachers did not agree with the student’s decision, they decided to make themselves the focal point of this ceremony, taking the limelight away from those for whom it was intended.
Last Friday night I attended the High School graduation of my oldest son, Andy. My wife and I were so full of pride in our son, watching him take the next step in his life. He is a great child, we couldn’t ask for a better son than either him or our other son, Tim. Seeing Andy receive his diploma was one of the proudest moments I have had as a parent.
There was a moment in the graduation ceremony that had me feeling proud– not as a parent, but as a member of the community. At one point in the graduation ceremony, three students were asked to stand up. It was revealed by the principal that these three students had signed up for the military; two joined the Marines, while the third joined the Navy.
The applause started slowly at first and built up until the whole auditorium was giving these students a standing ovation. I took notice of the fact that the first people to actually stand up were the graduating seniors, showing that they truly understood what these three students had signed up to do. Once the ovation was over, the three students were asked to stand once again so the obviously choked up principal could continue with her salute to them.
I remember thinking how proud I was to live in a community that still understands how important our military is and how much we owe to them. I remember feeling proud that even the young people who were in attendance realized that the sacrifice that these three students was something to be honored and admired.
And when I read the story about these two teachers it makes me think that they could learn a thing or two from the graduating seniors in my son’s class.
America's Watchtower 
Check out Our Community Salutes (www.ourcommunitysalutes.com) to see what GOOD educators and community leaders are doing to recognize and honor military-bound high school graduates.
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I will check out the link, thank you!
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Sorry, Steve, I’m going to disagree again . . . but I think you’ll like what I have to say anyway.
You said these two teachers had a right to make their protest at that time and place. I disagree. The people attending these ceremonies are pretty much a captive audience, and for protesters to subject them to their rant of the moment violates their rights.
If they’d stood outside the ceremony venue with their sign, I’d agree with you; to display the sign indoors where the audience really has no choice but to sit and pay attention to them is discourteous and inconsiderate, IMO.
This kid hit the nail on the head:
[quote]“They not only imposed their political will, they imposed it at the wrong time,” said D-Y junior Andrew Bowles Jr., who organized an after-school protest yesterday that drew about 30 students.[/quote]
I’m so tired of arrogant teachers and their “teachable moments.” I’ve heard the term used before, and I don’t think it’s possible to utter it in a non-condescending way. They should try this on for size – their teachable moment interrupted for all time a moment of honor for these special students.
How would the teachers feel if, at the point when the teacher of the year award is bestowed, someone unfurled a sign protesting the two teachers?
As to your son’s graduation, good on you – my daughter graduated a couple of weeks ago as well, and stands on the threshold of her adult life. I know you’re going through a lot now, but as I said, good on you, and may God bless us all!
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I think you misunderstood what I was saying, or perhaps I just didn’t say it properly. I believe that these teachers have a right to protest, but I think that this wasn’t a proper forum for them to do so. I think that you are right, it would have been much more appropriate for these teachers to protest outside of the event.
Congrats on your daughter’s graduation and yes, I am going through quite a bit right now. I am still getting used to the fact that my son is going to be entering a new phase of his life, he really is an adult now. This is something that isn’t as easy to accept as I had thought it would be.
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Beyond the smokescreen of a freedom of speech argument, this is really an example of leftist teachers imposing their view on others. I wonder if these teachers also display and enforce their beliefs in the classroom as well? Considering that the students want them fired, I can’t see them being all that well liked.
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Matt, according to what I have read these teachers leftist positions have been well known by students and faculty for a long time. It appears as if they did indeed use the classroom to spread their beliefs, but even the students realize that this was out of bounds.
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Congratulations Steve! I remember thinking you had great boys when I met you all at the Tea Party 2 years ago! Geesh, was it that long ago?
I totally agree with you. With freedom of choice … or freedom period, comes responsibility.
I find it interesting that the young men and women who signed up to defend our great country also are defending these two teachers rights to be protesting. It appears to me that it isn’t the teachers who are the mature adults here.
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Thanks Dominique and yes it already was two years ago. Its hard to believe it has alreay been that long.
You made a great point about freedoms coming with responsibility, that seems to be a concept that most people don’t understand anymore, not just on this issue but everywhere in America today.
I bet if you asked these students they would tell you they were joining the military to help protect the rights of the teachers that were protesting them. Yes, the students do seem to be more mature than the teachers in this case. The teachers could learn a thing or two from the students.
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From Colorado, I just vacationed in Eastham last week. I saw that the Massachusetts license plates read, “The Spirit of America.” I wondered whether it was a reference to the spirit of our forefathers, who settled this great land, or to the present. If the latter, I should say Massachusetts does not represent the spirit of the vast majority of Americans, which will be in full evidence this November. As for these teachers, I hope they realize those students may well be called upon to surrender their lives for their opened, and ugly mouths.
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I ave to feel that the motto refers to the founders because Massachusetts of today certainly is not the spirit of America.
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As I said, I just vacationed in Eastham. What is so ironical is that the overpasses on route 6 exuded patriotism; welcoming back those who served our Country. The overpasses were in the Dennis and Barnstable vacinities. I hope you are correct about the motto, as a reference to our founding fathers. My heritage is in the Plymouth colony; eight of those who came over on the Mayflower. Bartlett is one of those who settled there, but came later. To me it’s a travesty to see how far New England has fallen from its’ heritage. How sad indeed.
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I did a google search and found out that this motto was a tourist promotion from the ’80’s. I knew the slogan was fairly new, but not what it was about.
Here is the original commercial.
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Well in Central Texas today we laid a young hero to rest. 3 years out of high school and the 3rd from the same small town in 12 months. Not only did the town turn out in mass but neighboring towns. Fire trucks lined highways and people stood waving flags as the hearse carried him from the airport. Flags still line the route and flags were put up on utility poles overnight in honor of this fallen hero.
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