Teacher faces 'weapons violations,' termination for showing children tools

A school in Barack Obama buddy Rahm Emanuel's city of Chicago is accusing a teacher of "weapons violations" for showing tools to a class of second-graders for a curriculum that required a "tool discussion." The Rutherford Institute say it's just too much, and they have written to Principal Valeria Newell Bryant at Washington Irving Elementary School in Chicago demanding that the case against teacher Doug Bartlett be dropped. "While we understand your desire to maintain a safe, healthy learning environment for your students and teachers, we submit that this goal is undermined when school officials view common, useful items in the hands of qualified, responsible teachers, as 'weapons' rather than tools," a letter to Bryant, signed by Rita M. Dunaway of the Rutherford Institute said today. The civil rights law organization said the school should respond no later than the close of business Friday. "We request that you immediately dismiss any and all disciplinary actions against Mr. Bartlett," the letter said. Bartlett, the report said, is being charged with possessing, carrying, storing or using a weapon after he displayed such garden-variety tools as wrenches, pliers and screwdrivers in his classroom. The "discussion" was called for by the curriculum in the school. "Despite the fact that all potentially hazardous items were kept out of the students' reach, school officials at Washington Irving Elementary School informed Doug Bartlett, a 17-year veteran in the classroom, that his use of the tools as visual aids endangered his students. Bartlett now faces disciplinary action and possible termination," the institute reported...more

Hell, If he'd a brought a pair of post hole diggers they probably would've declared him a terrorist.