West Virginia high school teacher suspended over poorly-spelled anti-LGBT Facebook rant

[meegbear]

Source: RawStory.com

A high school science teacher in Parkersburg, WV got suspended for four days after he published a badly-spelled rant against the school’s gay-straight alliance on Facebook. According to Queerty.com, David Foggin compared acceptance of LGBT people to drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco and poaching deer.

Alongside a flier announcing a meeting of the Parkersburg South High School Gay-Straight Alliance, Foggin wrote, “Club meeting at PSHS!! Rally around them and show ur support. We are also considering a drunks-t totaller (sic) club, drugged/sober club, smokeless tobacco vs smokes club, street racing, and deer poaching clubs. Please donate and support us. Thank u!!! I think I hear the drag already zinging.”

The Parkersburg News and Sentinel reported on Wednesday that Foggin would be suspended for the rest of this week, returning to class on Monday, March 31, after the school district’s spring break.

Wood County Schools Superintendent Pat Law told the News and Sentinel that the school board will review the matter after spring break to decide whether to pay Foggin for the days he was not in the classroom.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/21/west-virginia-high-school-teacher-suspended-over-poorly-spelled-anti-lgbt-facebook-rant/

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Douche

[MADem]

1. I think his contract doesn't need to be renewed. nt

[ancianita]

36. In Chicago he'd go through a due process dismissal after a professional breach of ethics charge.

[jsr]

2. David Foggin:

[snort]

12. I'm shocked by his appearance.

He doesn't look like a typical redneck douche bag at all.

[valerief]

14. Right. He doesn't look like he'd enjoy shooting anyone, er, anything.

[Ken Burch]

32. OR having sex with his cousin,or with sheep, or with his cousin AND sheep at the same time

No, nothing like that. No siree bob.

[blackspade]

3. Mr. Foggin, irony calling!

[cosmicone]

4. I have always wondered if homophobes

have secret fantasies about same sex people and they react violently to them.

I work with a lot of LGBT people and I have never understood the hate that some people have for the otherwise nice and competent folks. Their sexual orientation is their private business and no one else's ... why is it so hard for the homophobes to get it?

[7962]

5. I've wondered the same. I see you may not agree, but why such a visceral reaction?

And some of them will go ON and ON about it. Most gay people I know have no desire to push anything on anyone, but some of these anti-gay folks are just kinda creepy.
Its the same with vegetarians. In the local paper there are people who write regularly about the health benefits of eating a plant based diet. And you can count on some idiot writing in who is very upset by the fact that changing your diet is even being suggested! I'm not a vegetarian, but my brother is and he can cook a 7 course meal and you'd never miss the meat. But I dont understand that stern reaction by some. I guess its another communist plot.....

[cosmicone]

7. It's Obama's fault and

the liberal media that want everyone to be gay and vegetarian hahahaha.

[7962]

20. Haaaa! I'd do one of those laughing faces but I dont know how!

[Scootaloo]

8. Could be

My feeling is that it's tied to a belief in "gender roles," that either sex must behave in certain, prescribed fashions, and any deviance from those standards is "wrong." I haven't yet seen a dedicated homophobe who isn't both a misogynist and straight-out authoritarian on other issues as well.

[snort]

13. I think that they fear being seen or treated by another

Man in the same fashion they see or treat Women.

[nomorenomore08]

23. And obviously, the men who *don't* mistreat women wouldn't have that problem.

So there you go.

[jaded_old_cynic]

37. ^^^^This^^^^

nt

[RKP5637]

28. Agree, I too think there is often an overlap into other rigid authoritarian areas. n/t

[johnp3907]

15. Interesting study here:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201106/homophobic-men-most-aroused-gay-male-porn

[MoonchildCA]

16. I think it could be so.

I've always thought that it might be why they think it's a choice--because they have some tendencies which they are suppressing.

[RKP5637]

27. One of my friends has a theory that a fair number of homophobes are severely

disturbed by things they might have done in their youth when hormones were raging. They well might have had experiences they want to suppress, hence, they strike out, such as, "I'm not one of them, look at how straight I am, how could I be." And, they well might be quite straight, however, their inner self has deep unresolved conflicts they probably are not aware of.

I find it very strange behavior. IMO, most whom get all out of shape over sexual orientation, or sex in general, often have some pretty disturbing thoughts wandering in their minds, hence, their need for endless psychological projection.

Therefore, following this line of reasoning, ... one can often explain why some straight people are homophobes and morbidly preoccupied with LGBT.

[bvf]

41. Bobcat Goldthwait

had an excellent take on this (for us old-timers up in years enough to remember):

He did an impression of a redneck beating up a gay guy and ranting. The rant quickly resolved into phrases like "...and I find you kind of attractive..."

BTW, what does that fact that this guy's post was badly spelled have to do with anything?? Would it have been any less heinous otherwise?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Article doesn't say if he was suspended for bad spelling or bad attitude. nt

[Wilms]

9. That's what I'm wondering.

[tblue37]

31. His spelling is typical texting style, though, rather than actual misspelling.

The problem is that a teacher should realize texting style is not apprpriate for a teacher to use in public posting.

Of course, neither is obnoxious bigotry.

[weissmam]

10. another southern white male

with religion stuck up his ass

[Ken Burch]

33. ...literally...

...just sayin'...

[progressoid]

11. And a science teacher too!

Probably creation science.

Mega-douche.

[blkmusclmachine]

17. Dude should stick to teaching Sunday school

[Hoppy]

18. Post withdrawn

Last edited Fri Mar 21, 2014, 09:43 PM - Edit history (1)

[graegoyle]

19. I have always thought...

...a person should only be interested in another's sexual orientation if they are interested in a romantic relationship with that person.

[RKP5637]

29. You have a very valid point IMO. Homophobia is really in an abstract way a form of sexual

attraction. It might not be overt, but it is nevertheless a form of strong attraction. Some homophobes obsess over the same sex, it is a fetish and preoccupies their lives in an unhealthy manner.

[JustinMcKown]

21. I'm the GSA advisor

I'm the faculty advisor to the GSA club in question. I also teach English at Parkersburg South. I'm so very saddened by the hardships and chaos the students have endured this past week. I'm proud of the way the members of the GSA responded. They realized the difference between standing up for their rights and starting a fight. They've experienced many negative comments and are exhausted and ready for Spring break. Some encouraging words would be great for them right now. https://www.facebook.com/parke...

This is not a McKown vs. Foggin thing or a GSA vs. Foggin thing inspite of the Ad Hominem attacks on me. https://www.facebook.com/photo...

The man in the picture is not me. It was a funny photo that I posted from an awkward Christmas photo site. The idea that Mrs. Foggin would post an attack on me is ludicrous. It's also deeply saddening as she is further perpetuating a sense of bullying and homophobia by assuming the man in the picture is a homosexual or a crossdresser. Apparently for some, a silly pose and an ugly sweater = gay. This is further proof that a GSA needs to exist in this area. Please keep it classy as I do not wish to speak ill of anyone. I only want people to see that prejudice can be overcome in a positive, loving way.

The local paper did run a story about the positivity of the group in the community and that the club is continuing what they've always done: education, prevention of isolation, and the creation of safe school environments. Here's the link for the article:http://newsandsentinel.com/pag...

[muriel_volestrangler]

24. Your links don't work, because they're truncated with '...' at the end

You need to enter them in full.

[msanthrope]

25. Welcome to DU!! Pls fix your links! nt

[nomorenomore08]

26. You're a good man. Thank you for trying to make a difference in these kids' lives.

[Kali]

30. links (same post with functioning links in raw story comments)

Some encouraging words would be great for them right now.https://www.facebook.com/parkersburgsouthgsa

This is not a McKown vs. Foggin thing or a GSA vs. Foggin thing inspite of the Ad Hominem attacks on me. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203396247214865&set=p.10203396247214865&type=1&theater

Here's the link for the article: http://newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/585154/McKown--Foggin-debate-is-unsafe-for-students.html?nav=5061

[Hoppy]

22. The kids are lucky to have a teacher like you.

[DeSwiss]

34. David Floggins! You're the WINNER of the DeSwiss Daily/Annual Bag O' Shit Award CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Now flush this asshole.

K&R!

[Initech]

35. Epic fail!

[Pterodactyl]

38. Teachers who can't spell should be fired. Same with math.

[armed_and_liberal]

39. Must need a really big pot..

to poach a deer. Must be one of them southern delicacies.

[skypilot]

40. Why do they always look like this?

I've lost count of how many times I've clicked on a link to a story like this and come across yet another picture of some bald-headed guy with a white goatee.

[MountainLaurel]

42. And now he's running for sheriff

http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/585037/PSHS-teacher-suspended-for-Facebook-post.html?nav=5061