Valparaiso teacher resigns after social post flagged by district
A Valparaiso High veteran teacher, whose personal commentary on social networks after the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was called by the school district a “reprehensible position”, resigned.
The Superintendent of the Valparaiso Community Schools, Jim McCall, announced the resignation at the meeting of the School Board on Wednesday, just before the public was authorized to comment. About 60 people attended Reunion, which was transferred to the high school auditorium.
McCall, after the meeting, would comment any more, citing confidentiality because it is a question of staff. He would not even mention his name. A job opening for an English teacher at the school was published on Tuesday.
Kathryn “Kat” Cichocki has taught for years in Valparaiso High, specializing in speech and theater. She was also technical director of the Lycée theater club. Cichocki could not be joined to comment.
The school district initially announced on September 15 that it examined what it called a “reprehensible position”, which, according to them, “does not reflect the values or the mission of our district”. The Cichocki position was done on a personal account during his own time
Indiana governor Mike Braun, after Kirk’s murder, said the state would begin to review comments on educators’ social networks and said the state had the right to suspend or revoke a license for teachers and kindergarten administrators to the 12th year. The Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has sent legal advice to school surveyors and public university administrators, explaining that they have an authority in accordance with the first amendment to discipline or end educators who make public statements that are disruptive to school operations.
“When teachers or teachers responsible for shaping young minds applaud the violent death of a political figure, they lose the moral authority to stand before a classroom,” Rokita said in a press release.
Rokita, in his eyes on the online dashboard of education, had published the commentary on Cichocki’s social media, as well as others considered reprehensible after Kirk was killed on September 10 on the campus of the University of Utah Valley. A teacher in Westville Middle School in the county of Laporte was no longer at work after her remarks on social networks on Kirk triggered criticism.
Cichocki’s post presented a photo of the emblematic actress Bette Davis with her quote: “You only have to say good things about the dead … He is dead.” Well. “
Five speakers at the school board meeting defended the teacher, declaring that she had a right of the first amendment to freedom of expression. They asked how the school administration had managed the problem.
For James Manago, the professor – he did not mention the name of Cichocki – was his “mentor” when he was a student at Valparaiso High 20 years ago.
“His character, his advice and his capacity as a educator were flawless at the time and stayed it today,” said Manago.
Manago said that she had the right of freedom of expression.
“His beliefs and his self -expression from the clock to her peers, no matter what online fanatics could suggest, did not hurt anyone,” said Manago. “The capitulation of this district deprived our students of an appreciated educator.”
Brett Miller said he was shaking his head on the situation, noting that teachers who had done much worse, including arrest, were not as severely disciplined.
“For a teacher to resign for an article on social networks,” said Miller.
Miller said this teacher was the type of person he would like in class, stimulating and debating with students.
George Terrell said it is clear that the teacher was forced to go out and that his right from the first amendment to freedom of expression was raped.
“I think what happened here is appalling,” said Terrell, imploring the school board and the administration to do this situation.
The only speaker to support the treatment of the situation by the school administration was Andrew Karr.
Karr said he was “happy” that the professor had been removed in this case.
“I fear that you cannot have freedom of expression if you tolerate the type of discourse that was exercised by this individual,” said Karr.
At the end of the meeting, the member of the school board John Peluso noted that the legal procedure is that the administration manages the staff.
Peluso said he understood that the last two weeks have been “incredibly difficult” for each district teacher. He said he thought that teachers should understand that the community is favorable and appreciates its teachers.
The president of the school board, Erica Watkins, said that it was normal to have an uncomfortable debate and conversations, but it is important to respect each other.
“I want to warn us all in the hope that we are really starting to listen to ourselves, whatever our faith, whatever our political affiliations, whatever the color of our skin, whatever things we will start to see for whom we are really,” said Watkins.
Jim Woods is an independent journalist for the post-distribute.
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