NB Teacher Temporarily Suspended For Post On Capitol Riots

NORTH BABYLON, NY — A North Babylon teacher was temporarily suspended while school officials investigated her Facebook post in response to the riots at the U.S. Capitol last week, according to the local teachers union.

"If this isn't white privilege, I don't know what is," the teacher wrote last week in the post, which was obtained by Patch. "If these people were black...this would be an entirely different scenario. Where were the police? How does a violent armed mob break into the Capitol so easily? This is all on Trump. He instigated this. He's human filth...He's absolutely enjoying this. F--- him and f--- anyone who thinks this is OK. And if you have a problem with this post...don't comment here. You know where I work and where I live. Come talk to me in person. I dare you. You better have studied your constitutional law and US history because I will shred you."

In response to the post, Superintendent Glen Eschbach sent the following letter to the community Friday:

Earlier today, I was made aware of an inappropriate social media post made by an employee from our high school on a personal Facebook page. As this is a matter of personnel, the district is prohibited from sharing any additional information, which I realize might be frustrating to some. While all employees have a right to free speech, the sentiments shared in the post are not aligned with our district’s core values, nor do they represent the spirit of tolerance and understanding that we try to instill in our own students. I know what occurred in our nation’s capital two days ago is frightening and upsetting however, we must lead by example in our own words and actions and demonstrate to students respect and support for one another, even in the face of what differences we may have.

Then on Monday night, Eschbach released a follow-up letter stating that the matter was resolved:

Over the past few days concern and discourse has arisen regarding a letter issued on Friday, January 8, 2021 by me regarding a social media post by a North Babylon employee. I want to clarify exactly what core values were referenced in that letter. As educators, we serve as role models to the students and community of North Babylon. There seems to be a misunderstanding of the district’s position regarding core values and the social media post referenced. The school district understands, supports, and values The Constitution, The First Amendment, and the right to free speech. Additionally, we do not condone any acts of violence for any reason or purpose. The District’s concern was about the incorporation of our school district as a location where one can be physically met to debate personal views on a topic and the consequences, unintended or otherwise, this may have upon our school community. It was not about any particular personal/political views, it was solely about the safety of our students and staff. Please know that this situation has been resolved. We will not let things like this be divisive in our school community or community at large. We have all been reflective and will continue to work together to resolve concerns in a peaceful and professional manner.

The North Babylon Teachers' Organization stated that she was initially suspended while the investigation took place. The teachers union posted this letter on Facebook:

Unfortunately with the letter to the North Babylon community dated 1/8/21, Mr. Eschbach decided to inform the community about a high school personnel issue. Not only was no investigation started prior to this letter going out, it was shared on the community FB page where others were able to publicly decide this teacher’s guilt or innocence before that member was even interviewed.

Since when do we share personnel issues in a letter to the community? What happens when an investigation does finally take place if the teacher is found innocent? Does another letter go out to the community stating that? At that point, the toothpaste is already out of the tube and the teacher has been maligned publicly. We have had many personnel issues over the years, including building level administrators and central office administrators who have committed far more egregious acts and yet a letter never went out to the community. Is this the way North Babylon chooses to do business now?

You have made the decision to remove a highly respected teacher from the classroom without asking that teacher one thing, or without so much as telling the teacher even why they were being suspended? I find this action to be appalling and not what North Babylon School District should be about. Ultimately the students are the ones who are punished and have to be without this excellent instructor because of an accusation that the teacher has yet had the chance to speak about. So you have become the FaceBook police?

In the middle of a pandemic, this is the action that the Superintendent of Schools and Board of Education deemed as a priority? I believe you and the Board of Education owe this teacher an apology as well as their right to due process as required by law. Anything short of that is unlawful and unacceptable in our view. We look forward to a swift correction to this action and return of the teacher to the classroom immediately.

The situation also prompted a local alumnus to start a petition on the teacher's behalf. Some took to social media to express their support for the teacher.

"I, in my opinion, thought the superintendent took it a little too far by suspending the teacher. He could have simply asked the teacher to remove the post if he really thought there was a threat," the mother of one North Babylon High School student told Patch. "Was there a threat, yes, an intellectual one. The only threatening undertone was that of a discussion about how people of color are treated compared to the rest. The teacher’s understanding of a coup d’etat is better than that of a child. The teacher called it like it is-an attack on our elected government officials. The teacher was passionate as many Americans were while watching it unfold on tv. The teacher has their right to express how they feel. It’s an opinion based on a long hard-earned education and an in-depth knowledge of the subject."

However, some disagreed with the sentiment.

"Teachers are and should be held to a higher standard, as they are teaching impressionable children, opinions are fine but the language and the invitation to come to her work is where our children go to school," another commenter wrote.

In Levittown, officials announced they are investigating a teacher's "offensive" and "hostile" social media post criticizing police following the riots at the Capitol.