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Six students at Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School in Massachusetts decided to enlist in the military following graduation. The school was understandably proud, and held an assembly honoring their service to their country. How did two moonbat teachers respond? They crashed the assembly and protested, holding “end war” signs.
Two teachers at Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School have touched off a firestorm after holding up an “End War” sign at a school assembly where six students who’ve enlisted in the military were being honored.
Many in the community say the teachers crossed a line and treated their own students with disrespect.
The students received a standing ovation, but at that point the two teachers sat down refusing to clap.
Teacher Marybeth Verani defends her protest saying, “I’m showing students in a democracy how to exercise dissent.”
Some students responded by leafleting her classroom with signs saying “Support Our Troops.”
The honored students were stunned.
“For people to not really show support… no one has to agree with your decision, but they can help you along with your decision,” said Evan Tuohy-Bedford, who enlisted with the U.S. Marines.
“Now it’s hard to see them as a role model if they’re not supporting their students,” said Ashley Jacob, who’s also enlisted with the U.S. Marines.
Students say Marybeth Verani talks frequently about her political views, and choosing this public forum now has principal Ken Jenks taking a closer look.
“I think there’s a sincere interest in fostering that dialogue, but I think the classroom is a better environment,” said Jenks.
First, these teachers should be immediately fired. End of story. To disrespect students in such a way is inexcusable, especially when these students are willing to fight to defend their freedom to be ignorant, rude, moonbat asses. Showing students how to exercise dissent? Please. It’s the most pathetic excuse possible. This teacher, Marybeth Verani, is so self-righteous and deluded that she actually feels like she did something honorable.
Considering the principal of the school considers the classroom an appropriate place to make politicial statements, though, they probably won’t face any kind of disciplinary action. What does it say about our education system when the classroom is considered a good place to make political statements? That’s called indoctrination, something that’s far too commonplace in our schools today.
As if this protest wasn’t disrespectful enough, there was also an honored guest at the assembly.
Heightening the reaction was the attendance of Yarmouth police Lt. Steven Xiarhos, who lost his son, U.S. Marine Cpl. Nicholas Xiarhos, to a roadside bombing in Afghanistan in July 2009.
Nicholas Xiarhos, a 2006 D-Y grad, was among the first group of students to receive a plaque recognizing their military service.
So the father of a graduate of this school who gave his life for his country was in attendance. And these teachers, these selfish idiots, clearly did not care about how it might make this man feel to see these two basically disrespecting the sacrifice his son made and the service his son gave. Clearly, these teachers didn’t care that this moment was not about them, their ideals, or their politics. It was meant to be about the students — and yet they came, crashed the party, and made it all about them instead.
What to many was a sign of respect for the students was to the protesting teachers a recruiting moment, said Verani, who noted that assistant principal George Morrison, a National Guardsman, attended in military fatigues.
“This was a captive audience,” she said, adding that the plaques should have been given out at an after-school awards ceremony that was not compulsory attendance for all students.
Verani and Koscher tucked their sign away and sat while the names of the six students entering the U.S. Marine Corps, Army and National Guard were announced.
They remained seated while the rest of those at the assembly gave the students a standing ovation.
“Standing and applauding is a sign of support for the decision these people have made,” Verani said. “I want them to be home and alive and well and going to college and dating and having kids and coaching Little League.”
The protest struck the wrong note with many attendees, Jenks said.
“Large numbers of students and faculty were upset,” he said. “This is a recognition ceremony, not a classroom debate.”
The majority of the students and faculty approved of the assembly and were proud of the students. They got a standing ovation, for cripe’s sake. Verani says one thing that is true: that standing and applauding is a sign of support. Virtually everyone at that school supported the six students enlisting into the military, except these two teachers. But they had to come along and spoil it for everybody.
The faux empathy doesn’t wash, either. These two teachers don’t give a damn about these students. They may claim that they want them home, safe, doing normal college kid things, but they fail to realize that some people are called to a higher purpose than just going to college — and that students don’t need their permission to enlist in the military. These students are just political props to them, an excuse to wave anti-war signs and act like they’re brave dissenters. They don’t actually care about whether or not these six students go to college and get married and have kids. They couldn’t possibly understand that if a brave, honorable few didn’t feel called to serve, then the rest of us wouldn’t have that safe, comfortable lifestyle that these two hold so dear. And when it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter what they want these kids to do. If the students want to enlist in the military, then it is their decision to make. It doesn’t matter if they want them to go to college. It’s not their choice.
If these teachers wanted to protest the military, then they have every right to. If they want to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, then they can. But there’s a time and a place to do that. An assembly honoring students enlisting, when the father of a fallen Marine is there, is not that time and place. It’s disgraceful, disrespectful, and disgusting. They should be fired and never allowed near a classroom again.
UPDATE:
I did a little research and got some e-mail addresses for the school.
First, here are the e-mail addresses for the two teachers who actually did the despicable deed. Feel free to give them a piece of your mind — but remember to be respectful and to use absolutely no profanity. Just because they are shrill, rude, disrespectful, anti-military, anti-American harpies doesn’t mean you should lower yourselves to their level. Keep a civil tone, please.
The following people you should e-mail — again, politely and respectfully — and demand that these teachers be fired. Remember that these people do not necessarily hold any kind of anti-military bias. One of them, George Morrison, is in the National Guard. But be firm and be direct.
This is nothing new about the self-righteousness of the left. I lived through it and now my children are dealing with the machinations and stupidity of some so-called educators. You are absolutely right that these teachers should be fired immediately, but they would prbably claim freedom of speech. Of course if any of the students in their classrooms exercised that right, these students would be belittled and failed instantly. Under hypocrisy in the dictionary they really should just write “leftist poltical adherent.”
CaptDMO says: Freedom of Speech …? Absolutely.
Freedom from consequences for intolerable behavior…?
Not so much.
Failing appropriate school board action, I encourage all
future students to show, um…solidarity by snacking on
Tacos, made by illegal aliens, with EXTRA hot sauce, about two and a half hours before becoming a captured audience member in the above named, and any like minded, “educators” classes.
It’s only natural…
Fiend says: I tried sending the two teachers an email, but it bounced back. I imagine they’ve shut down those addresses anticipating a flood of hate mail. It’s a real shame, too, because the message I sent wasn’t hate mail in the least. Brave enough to do it, too cowardly to deal with the consequences. That about sums up the modern left.
Mack Hall says: This would not have happened at Kirbyville High School.
In Texas (I don’t know about the laws in other states), disruption of an academic function is a criminal offense. These two nutters were, I hope, cuffed and stuffed.
Mack Hall
Viet-Nam veteran
Teacher
Fiend says: For those who may be interested, here’s the email I sent to both teachers, which bounced back.
“First off, allow me to say that this message will not, I daresay, be hate-mail. I suspect you’ve received a quantity of that already, and I don’t believe political discourse should be so base and uncivilized.
Having said that, I respect your right to freedom of speech. This country was founded on that principle, and it’s one of the many things that has made the United States great, and a great place to live. However, I feel that the timing of your protest was poorly chosen. The ceremony you felt compelled to interrupt had nothing to do with either the war in Iraq or Afghanistan. The ceremony was about six young people making a commitment to serve. By your actions, you made it about you and your views, rather than their upcoming service to our nation. Such shameless grabbing of the limelight is, frankly, offensive.
Furthermore, the young people whose service you so denounce go forward into their military careers to safeguard and protect your right to dissent. To cast aspersions on their choice reveals your actions as churlish and ungrateful. They are willing to lay down their lives for your right to speak your mind. However, with any right or freedom comes the responsibility to exercise it wisely. Perhaps next time, pick your moment with a little more consideration and forethought.
And lastly, for you to do what you did in the presence of a local law enforcement officer whose own son fell in the line of duty to safeguard your freedoms less than a year ago tells me that, despite my hopes above, you have no consideration or concern for the thoughts, views, or feelings of anyone but yourself. Put yourself, if you can, in his shoes for a moment. He was watching six young people choose the path his own son chose, and surely such a sight called up painful memories for him. Your actions were salt in the proverbial wound.
In closing, allow me to say that I will never call for you to be silenced. I will, however, ask that you show your countrymen the same kindness, courtesy, and consideration that you expect. Freedom is not free, either in winning it or exercising it. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this.”
It’s a pity the school doesn’t have the minerals to allow its teachers to see the consequences of their actions.
Just based on what you relate here — I haven’t heard anything about this incident elsewhere — I humbly disagree. It does not sound like the protesting teachers were disruptive. There is no mention of them heckling speakers or throwing fake blood on the military students or anything like that. They simply expressed their disagreement. That’s freedom of speech.
Of course, it’s interesting to speculate what would have happenned if it had been the other way around. Like, if the school had a ceremony honoring students who were going to work for ACORN or some other liberal cause or organization, and a couple of teachers had protested by standing up and holding signs reading “Stop Socialism”. I’m sure we would have heard about their rudeness and intolerance and how they were inciting violence.
But just because the other side tries to censor speech they disagree with doesn’t mean that we need to.
holly says: Hi there! I am the mother of one of the 6 students who was being honored. I’ve read many of the articles/forums on line and have to say I truly enjoyed your perspective of this incident! Thank you for publishing this as it really was so inappropriate for these teachers to do this! Both of the teachers are known for forcing their opinions on students, both in and out of the classroom. If you don’t agree with them, then you are wrong. Its been reported, and I hope its not true, but Koscher has supposedly said to her classroom that Nick Xiarhos committed suicide because of his decision to join the Marines. And Verani has supposedly said that it’s Nicks fault he died because she told him not to enlist. Really? It disgusts me that they tarnish the reputation of a fallen hero like that! And for Verani to say “I want them to be home and alive and well and going to college and dating and having kids and coaching Little League.” this is NOT your choice Verani! My daughter Ashley has known for a very long time that she wanted to join the Marine Corps. She refused to even apply to college as she didn’t want anything to even try to slightly sway her decision to join. She was pretty much an honor roll student her entire high school career (well until ‘senior slump’ kicked in) and was also a 3 sport varsity athlete, to include being the only girl playing on the boys lacrosse team! I’m glad this incident has made national headlines! Fox and Friends interviewed my daughter live yesterday morning and she has received so many emails, even as far away as Belgium! Anyway, I’ll stop ranting on now, I just wanted to thank you for posting this article on your website! Holly
SicSemperTyrannus says: One principal.
Four (count ’em) assistant principals.
One assistant to assistant principals.
One administrative assistant.
That’s a lot of overhead, in my opinion.
Trosp says: Jay commented –
“Just based on what you relate here — I haven’t heard anything about this incident elsewhere — ”
What is that?
“It does not sound like the protesting teachers were disruptive. There is no mention of them heckling speakers or throwing fake blood on the military students or anything like that. They simply expressed their disagreement. That’s freedom of speech”
Your name is Jay.
Well, this is the scenario that you want to have if I’m not mistaken –
Those two teachers are waving their hands saying hello to the audience with their placards saying “end war”. By that scenario, should the audience applaud.
Well, majority did not approve. It’s a freedom of speech. With the majority ruling.
Yr nm s Jy. Snds lk rpst’s nm. lt f rpsts n my cntry hs tht nm.
Freedom of speech…
Absolutely inappropriate. Comment disemvoweled!
Excellent posting on this revolting story. I’ll not gild the lily but will instead provide a link from my own blog to this.
Therese Z says: Does nobody understand the value of ceremony anymore? Those two selfish idiots (who I am positive are from my own horribly selfish generation) could express themselves all they wanted, outside of the events that are important to all collectively, parents, students, the town: the graduation ceremony.
But NO, they had to express themselves RIGHT NOW.
I’m embarassed for people my age.
Richard Phillips Sr says: These email address don’t work. I tried emailing the principle and a few others. They don’t work. Please correct them.
Thanks
caitlin judge says: i saw the whole thing. i was right behind the teacher, in fact shes my world history teacher.
and yea i dont feel againist them. im not with the teacher or the students, im with myself.
The principal here is simple.
If you want to voice a dissenting opinion,
Hire your own hall.
Don’t hijack someone else’s.
of course the leftists are notorious for violating this principal.
Would either of those ‘teachers’ be so understanding if students in her class held up signs saying “Abolish the NEA” and “Support Merit-Based pay”?
I think not….
Son of Bob says: Frankly, this overgrown hippie routine has gotten old. There is a time, place and proper etiquette for protest. The leftists’ hatred of the military is disgusting, and there’s no intelligent excuse for this type of demonstration. I hate most government agencies (with the exception of the military, which actually serves a valid purpose), but would any intelligent individual not think I was a complete idiot for standing up with a sign protesting students who chose to go into the left’s beloved government service? No, I would have been removed as a disruption…just as these two morons should have been. And, if they are so clearly of the opinion that it is part of their job to force their “personal” political opinions into every situation at their place of employment they should be fired, just as they would be at any other place of employment where their personal politics became a distraction.
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