Should this teacher be terminated?

Scott Compton, a South Carolina high school teacher, is facing possible dismissal by his school board for stomping on an American flag in three of his classes last month.
Compton, who teaches honors English at Chapin High School, has been with the school for seven years, but the tenure of his job is now in question as the Lexington-Richland 5 school board will decide whether or not to dismiss the teacher for his actions.
Michael Copeland, the father of one of Compton’s students, told local WIS-TV News that he heard about what had happened from his daughter.
“He drew a couple of symbols, like one of them was a cross, and he said, ‘What does this represent?’ and everybody said, ‘Christianity,’” said Copeland.
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“Then he proceeds to take down the American flag, and said, ‘This is a symbol, but it’s only a piece of cloth. It doesn’t mean anything,’ and then he throws it down on the floor and then stomps on it, repeatedly.”
But Compton’s attorney, Darryl Smalls, says that’s not entirely how the story went down, according to WIS-TV. He claims that his client was trying to promote an “inspirational idea,” greater than the “material objects that represent it” while teaching a lesson to his students about symbolism
In an email statement sent to WIS, Smalls said that Compton “made only positive comments about America throughout this lesson.” And he claims that “the version of events currently circulating is incomplete.”
“My client has had an exemplary twelve-year teaching career and was only trying to create a forum for discussion using a powerful symbol with which all his students would be familiar.”
Smalls continues, “He meant no intentional disrespect to those men and women who served our country or to America itself.”
However, people of the South Carolinian community were outraged. Mark Bounds, public information officer for the Lexington-Richland 5 school district, said that people were offended because their community is a very patriotic one.
Bonds said that the actions taken by Mr. Compton were “not consistent with the values of the community.”
The school board became aware of Compton’s allegedly unpatriotic act after receiving numerous complaints from parents. Bounds told ABC News that they found out about this issue from a concerned parent who sent an email to the district, leaders in the community and various media sources.
“We conducted an exhaustive investigation right before Christmas break, but the full investigation took a few weeks because the kids were not in school.”
Bounds continued, “We interviewed Mr. Compton yesterday to complete the investigation. We had all the facts and we wanted to give him the opportunity to explain himself.”
Though there is speculation throughout the community, the reason for the flag stomping has not been released by the board. According to Bounds, it is a “personnel” action that they cannot comment on due to the sensitive nature of his case.
The future of Compton’s teaching career is now in the hands of the school board.
“The superintendent thought the best course of action for Compton is termination,” Bounds told ABC News. “But the case has to go to the local board and they will ultimately decide whether or not to support the superintendent’s decision.”

No, he should not. I dont care to emphasize more than that, its a ridiculous reason to terminate a great teacher. we dont have many of them honestly so theres no reason to get rid of the good ones just beacuse they do something someone else doesnt agree with.

No he shouldn't.

Slllyyyyyyyy


/nothing on topic

I wonder if this would have been looked at different if it hadn't taken place in South Carolina.

No, he shouldn't be. It's a flag - it's a piece of cloth with some dye on it. It is not the country and it is not the armed forces - it is a product that likely was manufactured in China or some other foreign nation. He was making a pretty solid point and one that obviously needs to be made more often.

Quoting Viv, Ev & Gwen ♥:" Slllyyyyyyyy /nothing on topic"

Oh hey.
 

I am a huge support of this country and would never consider leaving here. I have nothing be complete respect for the men and women in our armed forces. I am very proud and honored to call myself an American. However if what the teacher is saying is true then I disagree that he should be fired.

He was trying to teach a lesson. I personally wouldn't have gone about it that way but should he have that freedom living in America.

And I too think he should not be terminated. But I also don't stand for the pledge or the playing of the national anthem. I'm not a very patriotic person.

Quoting lilmzzgreeneyez *NMOA*:" No, he should not. I dont care to emphasize more than that, its a ridiculous reason to terminate a great ... [snip!] ... of them honestly so theres no reason to get rid of the good ones just beacuse they do something someone else doesnt agree with."

Took the words right out of my mouth...

His action disrespected the flag, yes. Should he be terminated? Absolutely not. I understand his reasoning behind what he did however it is not an excuse to disrespect the flag. But him disrespecting the flag is also not reason to be terminated especially if he is an exemplary teacher.

I don't think he should be terminated, BUT I also don't believe that he should be desecrating the American Flag in front of students. What he does in his own time is his business, but I don't believe that type of thing should be done while someone is teaching our children.

Should not be terminated
The lesson was a good one,sure he could have done it differently
It's not like he dressed like a nazi and lit it on fire

Quoting *PeanutButter*:" Should not be terminated The lesson was a good one,sure he could have done it differently It's not like he dressed like a nazi and lit it on fire"

I feel like I'd pay to see that.