Teacher that was suspended over 'gay animal' article returns to class

Some unexpected good news! And YAY for teachers, who inspire their students to learn. That is, after all why students go to school, isn't it--to learn? As I said the other day, I read the article and didn't think it warranted suspension of an educator. Thank you to everyone that left a comment! You too thought suspending the teacher was a bit extreme.

Just last Friday I blogged here about a local teacher who was suspended after a complaint about an optional assignment for his sophomore English honors class.

Students had the option of reading an article written by Jonah Lehrer that quoted Joan Roughgarden, a biology professor at Stanford University who challenges Darwinian sexual selection by documenting more than 450 animal species that engage in homosexual behaviors.

The teacher was back in class Tuesday following a disciplinary hearing Monday night, where more than 200 people lined the stairs, sidewalk and office space at the school district’s small unit office in Piasa. Many of the teachers's supporters had handmade posters and banners.

A high school junior even presented the board with a petition that 204 people signed in support of the teacher. In her presentation, she noted the assignment had been optional and that any student could have chosen an alternate assignment.

I have to admit, being in conservative central Illinois that I was surprised that the teacher was not permanently suspended. I'm glad the board came to it's senses and happy that so many supporters of the teacher showed up at the meeting.

(Click the title link for the news article in the Jacksonville (Illinois) Journal-Courier)