Clark Co., IL. (ECWd) –
It was reported to us that High School English teacher, Mr. Jordan Parmenter, decided to place the United States Flag on the ground in his class and walk on it. According to students at the school, this is the teacher in question and some students walked out of the class when this happened and reported it to school administrators.
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We reached out to the Martinsville School District Superintendent, Jill Rogers, for comment and this is what was provided:
The incident happened last Friday, May 15, 2015 and was reported to the school and the teacher was removed from the school and placed on leave [pending further investigation into the issue].
There are two people currently in front of the building in protest (of the desecration).
There was word that a teacher walked on the flag “as part of discussion in class” – an 11th grade English class.
She did not provide the name of the teacher but did say a press release is forthcoming and will be posted on the school’s website.
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We will update this article when more information becomes available.
Protesters outside Martinsville High Scool
15 Comments
ECWDogs
Posted at 12:00h, 19 MayMartinsville English Teacher placed on leave after desecrating U.S. Flag in class – http://t.co/wFnoPZMi57
Tom Mouhelis
Posted at 12:35h, 19 MayThis moron should be fired. Try this is north Korea and see what happens. I spent 30 years in the USAF and retired as a Major.
Rebecca Gelinas
Posted at 22:42h, 19 MayYes, try this in North Korea and see what happens. Execution, most likely? Your argument just collapsed on itself. I’m thankful to live in a country where we are free to express opinions and ideas. People who think this should be illegal are probably the same people who revel in the freedom to criticize President Obama on a daily basis. Try that in North Korea! Freedom goes both ways. You get to criticize your president, and I get to stomp on the flag if I wish…and I thank you (and my Navy Commander husband) for your service to protect both those rights.
Dan
Posted at 07:55h, 21 MayJust because you CAN does not mean you should. The reaction you’re expecting is not always the reaction you will receive.
amanda
Posted at 13:17h, 19 MayWow! This is really shocking!! Mr. Stephens an Mr. Wolford need to teach that so called “teacher” some history!! Plus consequences for disrespecting the United States flag!!!!!!
Susan
Posted at 22:54h, 19 Mayajsolorio
Posted at 14:06h, 19 May@glennbeck in small town America. http://t.co/WgkWFX2IyL
Nina Leshley
Posted at 14:36h, 19 MayI hope his leave includes no pay, I wouldn’t want my children have him for a teacher.
twisten1up
Posted at 16:44h, 19 MayThis has been through the courts. He’s protected by the first amendment.
Joe
Posted at 04:56h, 21 MayAnd a teacher who did this to a Mexican flag would fired.
levisandelin
Posted at 05:57h, 21 MayMartinsville English Teacher placed on leave after desecrating U.S. Flag in class – – http://t.co/CVChWEOazF
HeinrichKlinge
Posted at 08:09h, 21 MayRT @levisandelin: Martinsville English Teacher placed on leave after desecrating U.S. Flag in class – – http://t.co/CVChWEOazF
Michael W Bumpus
Posted at 22:16h, 23 MayJohn could you check into this?
With all the ruckus over the Martinsville teacher (and I admit to joining in) it is only fair to share what a friend posted. Like her I want to go on record correcting my opinions. I was not advocating for his removal but the truth seems to be he has been treated unfairly and deserves our apologies.
From a friend:
Last week I was upset with the teacher, now I have information from a student PRESENT for the event. It is not what it seems. While yes he used a small flag as a pointer (because a student had broken the one for the smart board), the stepping on it happened when he ACCIDENTALLY dropped it. Some students were very disrespectful toward him.. AND the parents that went on Fox news did NOT have children in the class at the time of the incident. One of the parents on Fox news did not have a student in ANYof this teachers classes. From what I’m told he is a young, strict, teacher that unruly students constantly disrespect in class. The lady on Fox news who said her son got a detention over it wasn’t completly honest, that student got a detention much later in the day for being disrespectful in class. NOT at time of the flag incident. While everyone will have their own stories and probably never believe any version of the actual truth, I want to go on record as correcting my opinion last week and I am sad that this guys career is probably ruined and a group of teens have more power than they can handle. I pray for this teacher and his family.
jmkraft
Posted at 07:18h, 24 Maywe’ll check in to it.
Chris M. Gaines
Posted at 10:40h, 01 JulyI agree with you Michael. I hope our audience reading this considers this below. Have a nice day.
Garcetti v. Ceballos
The Supreme Court’s holding has curious and unsettling implications for academic freedom. In dissent, Justice David Souter wrote, “This ostensible domain beyond the pale of the First Amendment is spacious enough to include even the teaching of a public university professor, and I have to hope that today’s majority does not mean to imperil First Amendment protection of academic freedom in public colleges and universities, whose teachers necessarily speak and write ‘pursuant to official duties.’”