On The Front Lines
Rutherford Institute Protects Middle School Teacher's First Amendment Right to Voice Pro-Peace Sentiments in Classroom
Principal Apologizes to Teacher, Assures Her of Right to SpeakCOVINGTON, Ga. -- Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have succeeded in protecting the right of a Georgia middle school teacher to speak freely about the war in Iraq with her students and display a peace poster in her classroom.
In response to a complaint by a parent, the principal at Veterans Memorial Middle School in Covington, Ga., Gary Mistovich, ordered middle school teacher Elaine Kotler not to discuss any viewpoint on the war in Iraq except those that are favorable to the military, President Bush and the Bush administration's position on the war. According to Kotler, Mistovich intimated that she could lose her position if she did not adhere to this policy, stating that if she continued to talk about the peace movement, she "might be happier elsewhere." Mistovich held a faculty meeting the following day, reiterating his remarks and making it clear that the school's policy was to only allow expression of pro-war positions. Mistovich also stated that no materials critical of the pro-war position, such as the peace poster displayed in Kotler's classroom, were to be permitted. Rutherford Institute attorneys sent a letter to the school principal and the Newton County School Superintendent informing them of Kotler's and the faculty's constitutional right of free speech. In intervening on behalf of Kotler's First Amendment rights, Institute attorneys demanded that the school officials inform Kotler and the faculty of their right to speak freely regarding their views about the Iraqi conflict at appropriate times and places without interference from or retaliation by the administration. As a result, Mistovich apologized to Kotler and assured her of her and the faculty's right to speak freely about their views on the war with Iraq.
"Our schools should be bastions of free speech, the very thing our troops are fighting for," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. "Elaine Kotler is a good example of one person taking a stand and making a difference, not only for herself but for countless others."
The Rutherford Institute is an international, nonprofit civil liberties organization committed to defending constitutional and human rights.
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