School Bans Recording After Teacher Caught Preaching

Kearny High School in New Jersey has instituted a ban on recording devices in the classroom after a student used such a recording to prove a teacher was preaching in the classroom.

A junior at Kearny High School in New Jersey, Matthew LaClair, 16, complained to his principal after the teacher in his American history class, David Paszkiewicz, told students that evolution and the Big Bang were not scientific, that dinosaurs were aboard Noah’s ark and that only Christians had a place in heaven. He started recording the comments in September because, he said, he was afraid school officials would not otherwise believe that the teacher had made them. Matthew said he was ridiculed and threatened after his criticism became public.

The ban comes after "several students complained to the school board that their voices had been broadcast on the Internet and on television news programs without their consent" and requires students to get permission from an instructor before recording in a class.

While it refuses to discuss specifics any actions taken regarding Mr. Paszkiewicz, the school says it plans to institute a training program for teachers regarding the preaching of religion in classrooms. They are still in the process of finding the consultant to conduct those sessions.

In addition to the first training session, the board's policy will include presenting yearly refresher courses on the topic for all teachers, as well as introductory training for all new teacher hires.

via Obscure Store