Teachers Learn Fate For Showing Beheading Video
Posted: Fri May 21, 2004 7:56 am
Two Educators Placed On Administrative Leave
FORT WORTH, Texas (KXAS TV) -- Northwest School District officials Monday announced that they were placing two teachers on paid administrative leave for allegedly showing their students video of an American being beheaded by his Iraqi captors.
District superintendent Keith Sockwell said that the teachers had used "poor judgment," but said he believed both were reliable.
The teachers allegedly showed the entire graphic video to juniors and seniors in three different classes during a period of two days.
"We certainly think it was very inappropriate," Sockwell said. "I just have to keep telling you this was not appropriate."
While some parents and students are sticking with the teachers, some parents agree that it was not the right thing to do.
"It's over the top," one student's father said.
Those that defend the teachers for showing the video are quick to point out that students were given the option to not watch it.
Pamela Harris, 17, did watch.
"It was a teaching matter," she said. "I mean, we're in war, and that's what happens, and he was showing us."
"I don't think they should get fired or anything else. It's history. It's part of life that's going on now," Pamela's mother, Vickie, said.
Student Kristy Vanderwalt didn't think the video was a problem.
"I don't think it's a problem at all that kids saw it. I think that we're all old enough to realize, and if you are sick to the stomach or you don't think that you can handle it, then you are almost an adult and you should be able to say, 'No, I don't want to watch it.' And if you watch it, then you have to deal with the consequences," Vanderwalt said.
One senior said many students had already seen the video, which is available on some Web sites.
FORT WORTH, Texas (KXAS TV) -- Northwest School District officials Monday announced that they were placing two teachers on paid administrative leave for allegedly showing their students video of an American being beheaded by his Iraqi captors.
District superintendent Keith Sockwell said that the teachers had used "poor judgment," but said he believed both were reliable.
The teachers allegedly showed the entire graphic video to juniors and seniors in three different classes during a period of two days.
"We certainly think it was very inappropriate," Sockwell said. "I just have to keep telling you this was not appropriate."
While some parents and students are sticking with the teachers, some parents agree that it was not the right thing to do.
"It's over the top," one student's father said.
Those that defend the teachers for showing the video are quick to point out that students were given the option to not watch it.
Pamela Harris, 17, did watch.
"It was a teaching matter," she said. "I mean, we're in war, and that's what happens, and he was showing us."
"I don't think they should get fired or anything else. It's history. It's part of life that's going on now," Pamela's mother, Vickie, said.
Student Kristy Vanderwalt didn't think the video was a problem.
"I don't think it's a problem at all that kids saw it. I think that we're all old enough to realize, and if you are sick to the stomach or you don't think that you can handle it, then you are almost an adult and you should be able to say, 'No, I don't want to watch it.' And if you watch it, then you have to deal with the consequences," Vanderwalt said.
One senior said many students had already seen the video, which is available on some Web sites.