Opinion

Overreaction at Bartlett High School

Posted December 07, 2013 3:40 am

The Nov. 26 article about the Bartlett High School teacher who was put on leave after criticizing choices the school implemented in their grading system led me to question the reach and power that administrators have over the teachers and students.

English teacher Gary Lorber was practicing free speech by voicing his opinion on the subject, and the school did not approve of this, albeit he could have gone about the situation a bit more tactfully resulting in not as big of a backlash.

One of the problems that the school had with Lorber was the letter he sent to parents, saying if they disagreed they should let the administrators know. There is nothing wrong with this. Lorber tells the parents that changes are happening in the school that they send their children to, and is giving them an opportunity to voice their disagreement if they choose.

He gives them an opportunity to practice their First Amendment right to freedom of speech, which he has been practicing. To take Lorber out of teaching for a day is an overreaction, when the administrators simply could have discussed the situation with him without impacting his classes and his students.

Angela Bonokollie

Glen Ellyn

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