Hundreds of thousands of Trump supporters gathered in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to protest an election many consider to be unfair. One of those attendees, a public school teacher in Allentown, Pennsylvania, has been relieved of duty pending a formal investigation into his attendance at Wednesday’s protest.
The letter from Superintendent Thomas Parker does not identify the teacher by name, where he works, or his extent of involvement in the protest.
“Because of the emotion and controversy stirred by the events of January 6, 2021, the teacher has been temporarily relieved of his teaching duties until the School District can complete a formal investigation of his involvement,” reads a statement from School District Superintendent Thomas Parker.
“Yesterday’s events have added to the confusion and uncertainty our students are experiencing during this unprecedented time,” Thomas continued. “To that end, we are reminding our staff to think carefully about what they share online and how it could affect their students and fellow community members. While we all have the right to express ourselves, it is important to do so respectfully. We ask the same of our students and families.”
The superintendent said the district remains committed to meeting “the academic, social, and emotional needs” of students.
“Thank you for your support in creating a safe, equitable, and inclusive environment for students to raise questions and develop a diversity of perspectives about our community, our nation, and the world in which we live,” Thomas added.
The district is taking the matter seriously and has started the process of investigating the extent of the teacher’s involvement, district solicitor John E. Freund III said. Only after knowing all the facts can the district make a decision that balances First Amendment rights with the higher standards set for public school teachers, he said.
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