A teacher in Brick, NJ literally pulled the chair out from under a boy who chose not to stand for the National Anthem. Video of the incident is available at
NYC: IndyMedia.
The boy has said he had no political issue with standing but felt it was his right to sit, which of course it is. The teacher, a man named Martel with an obvious anger management problem, did some more yelling and pulled the chair out from under the teenager. A friend in the class caught the exchange on video. The boys say this teacher has been very strict about the anthem and pledge, so they wanted to be prepared should he go over the edge again.
The boy who filmed the incident has been suspended. The teacher? Nothing. Such a good lesson for the kids, huh? Adresses of the school & district in extended diary. I'll be putting together a few words for the fine people at Brick schools, anyone else?
This sort of compulsory nationalism makes my blood boil. Add to it a teacher who obviously feels it is his right to be as abusive as he likes to the young people in his class and the steam starts rising. Throw in a school district that punishes students for exercising their rights as citizens of a free nation while giving an abusive and violent teacher a free pass and I'm Super Fly TNT, baby!
I hope this gets widely read and circulated, triggering an outpouring of letters to Brick, demanding the situation be made right. One difference between freedom and a totalitarian state is the right to say "no" to gratuitous nationalistic rituals. If that is not the case for our children's schools, we are further down the slippery slope than I thought.
Anyway, those who are inclined can contact the Constitutionally-challenged folks involved at the following adresses/phone #s:
Brick Township Public Schools
Board of Education
101 Hendrickson Ave
Brick, NJ 08723
732-785-3000
Brick Township High School
346 Chambers Bridge Road
Brick, NJ 08723
(732)262-2500