Teacher Viki Knox the subject of gay rights protest
BY BOB HOLT
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Some parents and gay rights activists are calling for the dismissal of Union County High School teacher Viki Knox after she posted anti-gay comments on Facebook.
The Christian Post reports that Knox posted an image on her Facebook page of a display at Union which promotes October as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month. She said she was “pitching a fit” over it, and she described homosexuality as a “perverted spirit” and a sinful lifestyle, saying, “I know sin and it breeds like cancer!”
According to NBC Philadelphia, gay rights activists Garden State Equality plan to protest at a school board meeting Tuesday night to urge the Union Township board take action against Knox.
Union Township school board president, Francis Perkins told NJ.com that the board won’t take any action on the Knox issue at Tuesday night’s meeting, nor address it publicly. "We’ve been getting emails from all over the world," he said.
Garden State Equality wrote on their Facebook page, “it is wrong for a teacher to spew anti-LGBT hatred on Facebook in her official capacity as a teacher. And in that role of teacher on Facebook, she communicated her bile to students. That is why the school should take action.”
The controversy has renewed discussions about social networking in school districts. Millburn has an "Acceptable Use Policy" regarding the use of district-provided computers and technology. Facebook is blocked on the Millburn school district’s computers, and teachers are encouraged to use district e-mail accounts for communications with students and parents.
The New Jersey Education Association has written 14 "Tips for Twitter and Facebook,” and advises teachers never to post about their job or students.
According to the Advocate, Knox used Twitter to criticize the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, writing, “God is not pleased and neither am I!"
Comments (1)
Viki Knox
1Tuesday, 18 October 2011 15:41
bob123
Paramount for Union Board of Ed is avoiding being on the wrong end of a lawsuit, backed by the ACLU & Defense Alliance Fund, alleging violation of First Amendment rights & wrongful dismissal, This teacher needs to have impressed upon her that the opinions she does express do have tragic consequences when they embolden violent bigots to punish homosexuals as a religious duty, which occurs hundreds & probably thousands of times every year in America. The best people to tell her are her own students. Because a teacher faced with losing the trust & respect of her students should either change or find some other occupation.
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