A controversial social media post prompted quick action by administrators in the Talawanda School District on Friday.In a statement, officials said “a high school teacher” was placed “on paid administrative leave this morning pending an investigation..” of what the unnamed teacher said online.WLWT investigator Todd Dykes viewed the post in question. He said it shows a woman — who looks to be in a classroom — making comments critical of this week’s election results and President-elect Donald Trump.”Political statements in classrooms are always difficult to navigate, especially, like, around election season,” Miciah Mikes-Thacker said.Mikes-Thacker, who works in Oxford, is studying to become a teacher.She doesn’t think expressing political views that could affect the way a student thinks is appropriate.”For me, it’s really just a moral thing. I have opinions. I have feelings. And I’m going to disagree with somebody about something inevitably,” Mikes-Thacker said. “I want to be a science teacher, and science is always about disagreement. But it’s also about finding a space where we’re comfortable discussing our disagreements. And it’s not about hating on other people’s ideas. It’s about creating that space where we can both talk about it and be comfortable in that area instead of me forcing my ideas down your throat.”Talawanda school leaders haven’t commented on what the teacher said, only that the social media post may have been filmed on school property, using the district’s computer network and a school-issued mobile device.District leaders said they’ve received many reports about the social media post, adding they’re taking the concerns of Talawanda parents and the community very seriously.
A controversial social media post prompted quick action by administrators in the Talawanda School District on Friday.
In a statement, officials said “a high school teacher” was placed “on paid administrative leave this morning pending an investigation..” of what the unnamed teacher said online.
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WLWT investigator Todd Dykes viewed the post in question. He said it shows a woman — who looks to be in a classroom — making comments critical of this week’s election results and President-elect Donald Trump.
“Political statements in classrooms are always difficult to navigate, especially, like, around election season,” Miciah Mikes-Thacker said.
Mikes-Thacker, who works in Oxford, is studying to become a teacher.
She doesn’t think expressing political views that could affect the way a student thinks is appropriate.
“For me, it’s really just a moral thing. I have opinions. I have feelings. And I’m going to disagree with somebody about something inevitably,” Mikes-Thacker said. “I want to be a science teacher, and science is always about disagreement. But it’s also about finding a space where we’re comfortable discussing our disagreements. And it’s not about hating on other people’s ideas. It’s about creating that space where we can both talk about it and be comfortable in that area instead of me forcing my ideas down your throat.”
Talawanda school leaders haven’t commented on what the teacher said, only that the social media post may have been filmed on school property, using the district’s computer network and a school-issued mobile device.
District leaders said they’ve received many reports about the social media post, adding they’re taking the concerns of Talawanda parents and the community very seriously.
