WV teacher faces scrutiny for controversial, racially-charged tweets

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: WSAZ


(Twitter photo of Durstein)

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Huntington High School teacher is on paid leave because of controversial tweets.

Social Studies teacher Mary Durstein was asked to leave school Monday after Cabell County school officials took complaints of her tweeting what could be considered racially offensive statements.

On a photo post that called President Obama a Muslim (expletive deleted), Durstein commented "Exactly!"

Another tweet reads "Who cares if we offend Muslims ... At least they keep their heads on tact. They're the enemy!"

Read more: http://www.wsaz.com/content/news/Huntington-High-teacher-facing-scrutiny-for-controversial-tweets-410175655.html

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According to the article, she also runs the Young Republicans Club at the school.
Yeah, I'm as shocked as you.

Here are her greatest hits:


Good job by the kids at the school, for screen grabbing her hate and notifying the board.
Here's their site:
https://www.cabellschools.com

[lapfog_1]

1. "on tact"???

she should be fired for not being able to write correct.

[C Moon]

10. That was my first thought.

[Dorian Gray]

21. Ha ha

I was going to say the same thing.

The poor youth being taught by that.... thing.....

[IronLionZion]

25. Fascist: Your going to the camps!

Liberal (chuckling): You're

[Ligyron]

33. Damn auto correct?

Naw, she's probably a moron for not checking first, if nothing else.

[Archae]

2. Good friend of mine in Baltimore calls this "West Virginia stupid."

He's given me other examples.

[Tanuki]

17. I am from West Virginia and not stupid. There are plenty of stupid people everywhere.

What this teacher did is reprehensible and I hope she will be terminated from her position, but please reconsider gratuitously insulting an entire group of people.

[pstokely]

36. problem is the smart people are leaving WV

leaving many dumb people there

[LanternWaste]

57. That's quite the allegation.

That's quite the allegation. I've little doubt you'll rationalize the dramatic lack of evidence supporting your allegation, thereby strengthening your bias even more... it's human nature to do so, and quite trendy and hip as well.

There's most certainly a cool t-shirt, heck- probably an animated sit-com validating your premise.

[BigDemVoter]

37. I grew up in similar surroundings in a poor state.

The people certainly weren't any dumber than anywhere else. . . We've had so many dinner conversations about this. We finally concluded that the poverty and poor financing of the schools "helped" create an environment that was very rich soil for ridiculous conspiracy theories. Furthermore, it appears that few people ANYWHERE have any idea of how government works.

What's interesting to note is that Appalachia can thank Democrats for providing the first "wave" that helped lift people out of abject poverty (FDR and then Johnson). The problem is that many people were left behind.

WV will be hurt very, very badly by the incoming administration. Its natural environment has been damaged past the point of repair with mountain tops completely chopped off for strip mining and its streams and rivers polluted. There will be NO assistance in providing further environmental protection. People are going to lose badly needed medical coverage just at at a time when they need it most.

But I digress. . . . This "teacher" is but a SYMPTOM of what's wrong with West Virginia and the rest of the red states. If this is being taught in our schools, and there is NO reason to think it isn't, what ISN'T being taught?

Lastly, this may be a stale warning, but THIS is how Germany began with its own persecution of Jews. Germany started in the schools by teaching that Jews were "different", "dangerous", "non-German". . . a "threat". . . .

YES, this woman should be fired immediately.

[Drum]

44. I too am from WV...than you for your comment! n/t

[Hortensis]

45. Not from WV, but +1000.

After all, that's what this very reprehensible person is doing. Hope she finds another profession.

[Nitram]

31. Archae, that's a common insult applied to West Virginians. I have some good friends in

West Virginia, and would suggest that the epithet is neither appropriate nor funny. There are idiots in every state.

[Archae]

35. Believe me, I know.

I live in Wisconsin, and we get a lot of flack for some of the idiots "up nort'," and the corruption and rank stupidity in Madison.
Here in Sheboygan I think we have the stupidest drivers.

There's also "Florida Man," (and woman.)

My sister in Oregon described to me the racism and stupidity in an area of Oregon, I can't remember where it is now.

Like you said, there is stupidity in every state.

[flying_wahini]

55. At least it's not Texas stupid, right?

As a native Texas I see this all the time on DU and everyone piles on in agreement.

Now WV people know how it feels. Sorry about all that - there isn't any kind of demographic
To explain all the stupidity of Trumpers. And unfortunately they are everywhere.

[lunasun]

3. Social studies teacher...... Hmmm to be a fly on the wall in that class

[iluvtennis]

4. She should be fired...teacher should know to keep personal agenda separate from school agenda nt

[SunSeeker]

5. "heads on tact"? Good grief. She can't even spell.

She should be fired for incompetence, let alone her toxic racism.

[Iris]

13. What was,she trying to say? N/t

[Blue_Adept]

16. intact

Plus, you know, autocorrect does screwy things. Sometimes you have to make some allowances for that as opposed to thinking they're utterly stupid.

[hatrack]

24. Especially when you show yourself to be utterly stupid, as she did . . .

.

[mopinko]

48. it is utterly stupid to let autocorrect write your posts for you.

it's called proof reading. if you are a teacher, and not proofreading what you wrote, you are not cut out for the job.
it seems to be a deep dark secret that you can edit even after you post.

[Blue_Adept]

53. when you do things quickly, mistakes happen

It's not like she was writing a thesis or anything.

I'm a writer by trade but there are plenty of quick mistakes made in texts I send to people or tweets I make when done from my phone as opposed to when I'm at my desktop.

But some just want to see ultimate evil in things and feel superior in even more ways.

[alp227]

6. Take me home, country roads,

where the racists belong...

[rpannier]

7. Even the president of the young republicans at her school

thinks what she did is stupid
That's saying something

[Feeling the Bern]

12. No, they support it. They are like roaches. The light was shined on them, so they panicked and

scattered. As soon as the light is off, they will go back to being the racist douchebags they are. Young racist Republicans grow up to be old racist Republicans.

[JI7]

9. this wouldn't be happening if Obama didn't push TPP

[Coventina]

15. Sarcasm? N/t

[flying-skeleton]

11. She's auditioning for a job ....

She's auditioning for a job in the Trump administration !!

[handmade34]

14. as a former

SS teacher... this is what is wrong with our country

when teachers are this ignorant... students suffer and do not get the education they need to function as productive and healthy citizens

[Sunlei]

18. WV so firmly in RW control, they're into next stage RW mentors teach discrimination & cruel hate.

cruel hate with a 'happy face' is disgusting!

Mary Durstein suspended with pay? wtf west V.school board?, this person should be fired immediately. Cabell Schools needs a new "social studies" department with better teachers.

so·cial stud·ies
/ˈsōSHəl ˌstədēz/
noun, plural noun: social studies
various aspects or branches of the study of human society, considered as an educational discipline.

[oberliner]

19. The governor of WV is a Democrat

As has been the case for the last 12 years.

There are nasty racists in every state regardless of which party is in charge of government.

[leftynyc]

22. So is one of their senators

Joe Manchin - who I think is an asshole but was elected as a Democrat.

[IronLionZion]

27. WV has conservative Democrats

You don't want to know what their republicans are like

[oberliner]

38. Understood

But I guess my point is that there are RW folks and nasty racists in every state, unfortunately. I don't think this situation is necessarily related to WV having right-wingers in government.

[Nitram]

32. Actually West Virginia is largely Democratic. The coal issue pushed them into the Trump camp.

[pstokely]

39. It hasn't voted Dem at the Presidential level for several years

Last edited Tue Jan 10, 2017, 11:14 AM - Edit history (2)

but it was reliability Democratic until 2000

[Tanuki]

41. Very true.....West Virginia was one of only a small number of states where Dukakis won

in 1988. West Virginia's Democratic vote was 7 percentage points higher than the national average in that election.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_West_Virginia,_1988

[heaven05]

49. yeah, right

Last edited Tue Jan 10, 2017, 03:02 PM - Edit history (1)

Ugly is coming and I mean UGLY!!!!!!!!!!!! We ain't seen nothing yet. These types have been living in the pus filled scabby underbelly that ameriKKKa has always carried on it's cultural body. Trumpfuhrer scratched that scab open and this type flowed out with the pus. Coal is a cover used to explain away this denizen who is and has been always present in the ameriKKKan underbelly and who's use of racial stereotyping is now deemed by the culture/society at large as acceptable "normal" behavior.

[geek tragedy]

51. it's largely culturally backwards DINOs. Republican Presidential nominee has won by at least 13%

there since 2004:

Bush: +13%
McCain: +14%
Romney +27%
Trump +42%

Abortion, homophobia, racism etc are the prime voting motives there

[paleotn]

20. West Virginia....

...why is it always West Virginia? Lack of genetic diversity possibly?

[MrModerate]

29. Because the wackos in Florida and Texas were busy this morning. n/t

[hatrack]

23. Better "reach out" to her, so that we can "understand her feelings", right?

[Vinca]

26. She should also face scrutiny about her qualifications to teach. "On tact????"

[MrModerate]

28. Fire the bitch. Next! n/t

[Lulu KC]

30. I am also shocked

by the barbs against West Virginia and rural people in this thread. I've met stupid people in every state I've lived in, and have two brilliant cousins who were raised there and attended public schools. It's stereotyping and it's never flattering, regardless of whether coming from a liberal or a conservative. Isn't that part of what is offensive about her? (In addition, of course, to her utter stupidity and cruelty.)

[The Great Escape]

40. DU is sometimes a great source of incest jokes

I think that "regional smears" used to be a TOS violation on DU. I cannot find that in the rules any longer. The teacher was an evil West Virginian, who's bad behavior was exposed by other West Virginian's.

[Lulu KC]

63. No question about that part n/t

[BigDemVoter]

34. I'm not the least bit surprised.

I grew up in similar surroundings, and it's a miracle I learned anything worthwhile.

This is what we are battling-- ignorant, mean and STUPID. But let's not be deluded in thinking it's limited to WV only.

[Tikki]

42. She looks like a palin wanna-be and we know how children....

under her care turned out.


Tikki

[Cha]

43. It should be unpaid leave.. how embarrassing.. asked to leave school

Did she think no one would see her stupid ignorant racist droppings?

Fired.

[Wuddles440]

46. I'm sure that she's now on....

the radar screen at the Trumpenfueher's Eagles Nest (aka Trump Tower) as they're always looking for "big league talent". Betsy Devos will probably scoop her up by the end of the day. Unfortunately she's not the exception as a right wing, Social Studies teacher - seems like I'm encountering more of them lately.

[heaven05]

47. THIS

is teaching our children????????? looks like a palin clone to me

[BobTheSubgenius]

50. "...could be considered..."???

Treating the story this way is a variant of false equivalency, or the perceived need to give even the most blatant some wiggle room, a benefit of the doubt. Ironically, you could say that the most anti-PC mf's like this derive aid and comfort from poorly-considered PC.

Also...A Young Republican cell at a public school? Does this happen often? How does it happen at all?

[guillaumeb]

52. Please tell me that she is an English teacher in West Virginia.

Hoping she will be looking for a new job soon.

[Blue_Adept]

54. Because we tweet the same as how we perform in our jobs?

Seriously? I'm not defending the content of what she wrote but people are making some bizarre leaps here.

[guillaumeb]

56. Because she is a racist Islamophobe.

And she freely chose to comment on a public board and reveal her racism and Islamophobia. And public employees generally are expected to adhere to certain standards of public conduct. I know, I worked for the Federal Government for 37 years.

This was not a private conversation, it was a public conversation.

[Blue_Adept]

60. Yes, tackle the content

Going after spelling? That's just childish and distracting.

[guillaumeb]

61. Agreed, but if she is a teacher one would expect/hope that she

would be reasonably fluent in English.

And if she is fired, I would imagine that she will immediately complain about political correctness and explain that it is she who is being persecuted for simply speaking her mind.

[heaven05]

58. THIS

is teaching our children????????? looks like a palin clone to me

[YOHABLO]

59. Social Studies teachers just might be the problem.

[adigal]

62. Humph...where I work, you'd get in trouble for tweeting that Trump is racist

So nice to see her taken to task.