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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTeacher removed for 'dangerous' science projects; supporters rally
Students and parents have rallied around Greg Schiller after his suspension in February from the downtown Cortines School of Visual & Performing Arts. Supporters have organized a rally on his behalf at the campus scheduled for Thursday, gathered hundreds of signatures on a petition calling for his reinstatement and set up a social media page.
Schiller was ordered to report daily to a district administrative office pending an investigation after two students turned in science projects that were designed to shoot small projectiles.
One project used compressed air to propel a small object, but it was not connected to a source of air pressure, so it could not have been fired. (In 2012, President Obama tried out a more powerful air-pressure device at a White House Science Fair that could launch a marshmallow 175 feet.)
Another project used the power from an AA battery to charge a tube surrounded by a coil. When the ninth-grader proposed it, Schiller told him to be more scientific, to construct and test different coils and to draw graphs and conduct additional analysis, said the student's parents, who also are Los Angeles teachers.
A school employee saw the air-pressure project and raised concerns about what looked to her like a weapon, according to the teachers union and supporters. Schiller, who said he never saw either completed project except in photos, was summoned and sent home.
Both projects were confiscated as evidence, said Susan Ferguson, whose son did the coil-gun project.
L.A. Unified School District administrators have told Schiller that he was removed from his classroom six weeks ago for supervising the building, research and development of imitation weapons, said union representative Roger Scott.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-teacher-suspended-20140409,0,1851167.story
Editorial -- LAUSD should let this science teacher teach
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-ed-science-fair-teacher-suspension-20140411,0,5014213.story
Since weapon design and manufacture is a major Los Angeles industry, Schiller should be praised for giving his students marketable job skills.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Schiller was the teachers' union representative on campus and was dealing with disagreements with administrators.
Oh now I understand...................
yeah and fuck up the kids while you are witch hunting admin freaks( who can not fairly win in arbitration obviously)
Schiller teaches Advanced Placement biology, psychology and regular and honors biology. The AP exams, which allow students to qualify for college credit, are in May.
"The class is now essentially a free period," said 17-year-old psychology student Liana Kleinman. "The sub does not have a psych background and can't help us with the work."
Though Schiller initially prepared lesson plans for the substitute, district officials directed him to stop in an email.
"This is really hurting my students more than anything else," Schiller said. "I would never do anything to set up a situation where a student could be harmed."
Schiller initially prepared lesson plans for the substitute, but the district directed him to stop in an email. Schiller also coaches the school's fencing team, but administrators have determined the team can't compete safely without him there.
one way to win grievances I guess
this just payback for union activities IMO but the media loves a story without that kind of slant....
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eppur_se_muova
(36,266 posts)derby378
(30,252 posts)Infuriating. See why I bristle at PC thought?