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Geography Teacher Disciplined For Hanging Foreign Flags

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Geography Teacher Disciplined For Hanging Foreign Flags

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Discussion Started: 08-23-2006, 6:40 PM

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A geography teacher was placed on administrative leave for hanging several flags from other countries in his classroom.

Eric Hamlin said the flags were part of a lesson plan and refused to remove them.

The Jefferson County school district placed him on administrative leave citing a Colorado law that makes it illegal to display foreign flags permanently in schools.

Do you think the teacher should be fired for refusing to remove the flags or is the school district interpreting the law wrong?

Or is the state law wrong?

View Messages: [newest first] | [oldest first]

chrism7979

08-23-2006, 7:15 PM

I think the person responsible for making him take the flags down should be ashamed for causing a stir about something so trivial and ambiguous.

The person responsible could have replaced the energy reprimanding the teacher with doing something constructive for the students.

I find it hard to believe that the teacher had any uses for the flags other than educational purposes.

chipnbelle

08-23-2006, 8:35 PM

What a backward, xenophobic state CO is. I'm sure if the Canadian flag were displayed, there would be no problem. Mr. Hamlin should be honored, not fired.

I guess all public schools should be put on notice and check whether or not the cafeteria utensils are made in China...are they next?!

daniben

08-23-2006, 8:59 PM

It is a pity that with all the stories that we read each week about teachers doing harm to their pupils. I find it rather amazing that this teacher, one who does nbot have some hidden agenda, one who is trying to do some good is forced into administrative leave becuase of a narrow minded schoolk district. I applaud Mr. Hamlin for his stance. I wish that there were more like him.

prt1957

08-23-2006, 9:24 PM

I too work for a school district in Colorado. I see nothing wrong in displaying the flags. The teacher is totally in the right. The schools principal and board needs to be looked at!

chef TY

08-23-2006, 9:58 PM

Don't we have bigger things to worry about than a Teacher teaching his class.

thanks, Chef TY

ny39usa

08-23-2006, 10:13 PM

If that was the case then the united nations shouldn't be displaying other countries flags on american soil becuse it happens to have some of those flags that belong to an enemy to the uninted states. ...... to me what the principal have done is a form of ignorance, and close minded.. granted that she was upholding a state law. however, how many STATES LAWS been on the books that have never been put into use because they are either too old and never been updated because it happens to serve a purpose to some politician one time or another....or simply put that they don't make any sense... if we were to cary every law on the books then the country might come to a hault because only god knows how many stupid laws on the books that neither side decided to rectify or modify to fit the time.

StudentMon

08-23-2006, 11:28 PM

As a student from Douglas County, Ponderosa High School. I am utterly ashamed of the said Principal for going out of his way to file against the teacher with the flags.

Heres why: #1 Flags in a Geography intended classroom makes sense. #2 The purpose of geography is to educate students about the world, the people in and and occasionally detailed history involving it. #3 If flags themselves are not allowed to be displayed without directly being involved in the curriculum, then I must go ahead and also suggest along with this rule that flags should also be removed from the eucational books therof.

Absurd? You bet. To remove the flags has no legitimate purpose whatsoever. They do not distract, hinder or otherwise prevent any student/s from fully using the utilities of the classroom environment. In fact, I suggest the flags inspire exstended thinking. It inspires the student to reflect on their standing knowledge of the world background and what each country displayed might have had or still may have an effect on the world and to them personally.

Better said, I believe it is an abstruction of rights, education and freedom of resources to disallow any flag at any given time to be displayed. Period.

Outspoken student, Ponderosa High School Parker, Colorado Douglas County Schools

parkbenn

08-23-2006, 11:31 PM

i would simply ask him if the United States has superior culture ( it does ) to mexico...if he won't answer the question, or won't answer it honestly, and if he thinks that if Americans should be more concerned with other ( inferior ) cultures, as opposed to ours, then he needs to be booted out the door, and I for one, would be glad to help use my foot to do the booting.

sh64

08-24-2006, 12:06 AM

Give me a break. This has got to be the most idiotic thing JeffCo schools has done lately. And for that matter, the state law is just stupid as well. It's a geography class for crying out loud. What constitutes permanent anyway? They could be left up all semester and taken down, and that is not permanent. For the principal to do this on the second day makes me think he or she has some kind of grudge against the teacher. Surely there are more important things that the principal should be doing within the school than harassing a teacher.

slapshotz

08-24-2006, 12:08 AM

It is frightening to think that the jackass who forced Mr. Hamlin to remove his teaching visual aids is part of the administration of a large school district. This is a perfect example of nauseating micromanagement. Geography is the study of the WORLD. The WORLD is made up of COUNTRIES. COUNTRIES have FLAGS. Nuff said? Reinstate Hamlin NOW.

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