Teacher fired over classroom complaints

Mark Vath was dismissed from his position as an English Language Arts teacher at Laurel Hill School during his probationary period. The day before his dismissal, Vath facilitated a discussion including spirituality.
Read the full story: www.wkrg.com/n...

[@user-dn4jh3ef8n]

Wait until these students get into the real world and college, they will be woefully unprepared

[@chrisbeck7266]

Well, probably no college.

[@KrystalAri]

They'll be screaming about not being able to afford anything while also not wanting to work. They'll be 35 still living with their loser parents while angry at the world.

[@WNHTCT]

Can’t get teachers, but you fire a teacher over the outrage of ignorant, unworldly kids…..good job!

[@irishrose3774]

I hope he gets legal help & sues the school board. It was a simple discussion.

[@rw7632]

Don't need a reason to terminate while under probation.

[@lauracollins3451]

Religious discussion in public school is not part of being a English teacher.

[@cherylmysliwczyk5716]

The kids should have got in trouble for walking out.

[@rebeccapaul6455]

My kid certainly would have.

[@pearlsswine]

Oh, I bet you wet your pants whenever you see students walk out over "muh gun reform" and "muh don't say gay".

[@tgirl1012]

One kid walked out teach kids not to be followers

[@00Caleb00]

So….WHAT WERE THE CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS MADE DURING THE DISCUSSION???? This is TERRIBLE journalism.

[@bradyjones8263]

Maybe you should listen to the video again.

[@00Caleb00]

@@bradyjones8263 They never said what the controversial statements were. They just said what the conversation was about and that alone doesn’t warrant complaints or ppl walking out of class.

[@pfflyer3381]

They(the school) gave none for the story, however it was mentioned that's the troubling part was other religions were discussed? Where Christianity wasn't exclusive! Inclusion is unwanted? Trophy Christian child AmeriKKKa! Brainwashing form brith! Our worse inheritance! Conquistadors to maga!

[@lar7905]

OooCaleb ...Rights of passage ...Do you know what Right of passage ,,,relating it to Catholicism , Judaism , and Buddhism . They probably have different goals that each religion emphasizes in order to become an adult . I for one would have wanted to hear his lecture but I am 75 and I still like to learn things . Full disclosure : Though brought up a Christian I am now a non believer . But Mr Vath's class intrigued me . Watching from New Hampshire where I see a lot of quirky things, to say the least ,happen in Texas . I hope Texas gets rid of Ted Cruz and Greg Abbott real soon .

[@jamespringle9821]

When I was a kid, if I walked out of class I'd get my ass beat. It was just a discussion.

[@angie4774z]

Sorry that happened to you. Abuse really messes us up.

[@cbsparr]

​@@angie4774z getting your butt spanked for being a brat and walking out of a class is not abuse. Love how being a victim is sought after and glorified now.

[@richmondmancil9264]

@@angie4774z wow. Weak

[@ScottAlanBecker38]

@@cbsparr Lame sauce take, son.

[@cbsparr]

@ScottAlanBecker38 sure, sport.

[@randywdc1]

My how times have changed. I went to a Christian school and part of our curriculum was the study of other denominations and religions. We're failing kids today by not teaching and reinforcing critical thinking.

[@ItsWhatever2517]

This is another case of the admins caving in to the parents.

[@pearlsswine]

Yes, how dare the parents not have control over what their own children learn. How dare the State not have utter control over what people learn.

[@esteearie]

Lawsuit may teach those parents a lesson.

[@DemocratsUnite]

I hope Merrick Garland opens a civil rights investigation. This educator is being villainized for asking students to open their eyes.

[@WTillman]

So little information was presented in this report.

[@riannadominguez396]

Ok?!😩 I thought maybe it was just me, glad it wasn’t lol 😅

[@michaelpatterson5385]

Lack of intelligent discourse is the reason we have such unwavering division all the way to Washington DC. My best friend and I ( he's Jewish, and I am Catholic) have great discussions about our respective religions. Parents, good luck with your child in your basement for the rest of your lives!

[@lauren6509]

It's crazy how the very same demographic we'll talk about "PC culture" and how people "can't have an opinion anymore" but they fired a man after a discussion meant to show kids how to be critical thinkers.

[@pearlsswine]

The side that preaches "muh tolerance" and "muh diversity" are the ones that hate people with a different opinion lol. One teacher gets fired for promoting anti-Christian ideas and you're suddenly mad. The thousands of people who got fired for expressing ideas that you don't like - no qualms there lol. Everyone knows that if this teacher was fired for promoting abstinence, you'd be wetting your panties.

[@brandonrobinson529]

Outrageous

[@NB-ky5ol]

They gave a very big description of what the questions were about, but didn’t exactly say with the questions were terrible journalism

[@joestueckrath5275]

He’s got a case against the district.

[@rw7632]

Not while under probation.

[@joestueckrath5275]

@@rw7632 you seem to not realize that there something else going on here.

[@rw7632]

@@joestueckrath5275 Employers do not require a reason to let someone under probation go. A simple "we no longer require your services" will do. It sounds to me like the "boss" handled it correctly from the schools point of view. I'm not saying it's right or wrong. Just the facts.

[@joestueckrath5275]

@@rw7632 not if it’s based on discrimination or bases of speech they can’t

[@rw7632]

@@joestueckrath5275 Well that would make you wrong and my 50 years of mgt. experience right.

[@smorris281]

He was only trying to be inclusive. Christianity is not the only religion practiced in this country. I guess inclusion is selective.

[@jonnyfendi2003]

Yrs because Islam is so inclusive… your daughter would be wearing hijab if Muslims owned this school

[@jenniferhill9924]

@@jonnyfendi2003it is. Did you know that Islam recognizes Jesus as a prophet? Sounds pretty inclusive to me. You’re just a bigot.

[@davidthaler7018]

@@jonnyfendi2003. And is Christianity so inclusive that LGBT members are welcomed with open hearts, arms, and minds?

[@MoparMarty814]

Sadly he is lucky he wasn't arrested. Times are weird.

[@mariasoto6468]

We are living in a day where right is wrong and wrong is right. The students proved it here with their disrespect and right alongside them were their parents. If you do not like the subject handle it in a professional manner. We are loosing teachers left and right and you the parent will have to home school them. See how that goes when your own bratty kids walk out on you!!!

[@rebeccapaul6455]

One k8d walked out on supposed principle and the rest followed to get out of having to learn anything. Shameful.

[@mikaylaakridge4635]

@@rebeccapaul6455is it very shameful indeed, in this day and age you can’t tell or show anybody shit because they’re too weak minded or easily offended about almost everything. Honestly the children should’ve all gotten detention or some type of punishment for just walking out of class. Too many times where we reward doing the wrong thing as a posted to making sound choices. Sad day we live in.😢 Feel bad for the teacher he was just doing his job the best way he can.

[@st1nkyfr3sh2]

hi people! I graduated from thus school may of 2024, this video is taken the year after. this school is genuinely horrible. the principal is biased and only cares about the sports, she is rude, she regularly lies to students and parents to their faces and asks them to leave when called out. the town is run on religion and no one actually cares about proper education, just publicity. I hope this man finds a good job at a school who will actually appreciate his efforts instead of this shitty excuse of a school with its shitty staff (mostly the higher ups, there are some teachers there that put their whole souls into their students and I appreciate everyone one of them who made my experience at laurel Hill less of a suicide mission.)

[@davidjackson2690]

Cool story.

[@getshorty7549]

The principal of this school is actually undercover lesbian - everyone knows this but no one is saying anything. She has women all over the state and they travel to such events as Lesbixxx and Twirling Titties. She puts up this front of conformity to distract people from what she’s actually up to = 👅 🐈 💦. Oldest trick in the book.

[@estherbrown4084]

If the school, its principal and its town were to care only about publicity and little to nothing else, imagine how they may behave if a bookmobile (a.k.a. a mobile library), that features books of Chinese and other new religious movements and books by sociologists of religion, partly out of inspiration by the online magazine Bitter Winter, were to visit such a town in solidarity with the terminated man.

[@davidjackson2690]

@@estherbrown4084 Taoism, Hinduism, New Age B.S weren't the cornerstone of this nation. The result of the rot they bring is evident.

[@edwsc3]

I believe every WORD you've spoken !!

[@safetythirdified]

Weak parents. Weaker kids.

[@georgerohrberg4279]

I am betting that those same parents that wanted him fired celebrate putting the 10 Commandments back in schools. Hypocrites

[@RokushoHasashi]

So much for Freedom of Religion 😒

[@lauracollins3451]

Religion is not part of public school English class. He shouldn't have went into it.

[@rebeccapaul6455]

Social Studies was always my favorite class and National Geograhic still my favorite magazine. I LOVE learning about people's cultural and religious differences. What in the world is wrong with our society? This gentleman needs to leave Florida and never look back. Shame on the principal. SHAME!

[@davidbudka1298]

He needs a constitutional lawyer. He needs to be reinstated right away!

[@suzanneroberge494]

I think that man will win his lawsuit.

[@d.b.mcginnis5802]

As a fromer educator (community college) who taught American government, when discussing civil liberties (1A - religion), I would talk about the other religions, Americans are woefully uneducated when it comes tk other cultures and their religions. He did nothing wrong if all he was doing was discussing the other religions and not proselytizing.

[@charleszeitler8536]

I guess it's not about critical thinking in education anymore.

[@bacchuslax7967]

My parents would’ve been notified I left and they would’ve brought me right back in. No discussion

[@raamin141]

The kids nor the parents deserve him as a teacher that can guide young minds to be critical and analytical thinkers. School and public education isn't designed for this. This country wants a scared, consumer workforce. He doesn't realize it yet, but he's better off moving on to something to make the world a better place. Teaching isn't a respected or noble profession anymore.

[@williamgallaway1904]

I thank this teachers constitutional rights have been violated .

[@whatithink9917]

Leave Florida 😮

[@seandonahue8464]

Dogma demands compliance.

[@greydovegardens7688]

Just teach the approved curriculum. End of story.

[@antm64]

I might be able to better understand these kids had this been a Catholic private school. As a public school, I'm pleased to hear that this teacher talked about various religions from around the world. I agree with other comments...he needs a lawyer to represent him.

[@edwsc3]

Im Positive thats exactly what happened ! SUE that school district ! Firing this NICE Man ! SHAME on YOU !!!

[@glennhubbard5008]

There was a day when students were unable to fire students.

[@Johnarchiebald]

You know who should be fired ? The people who made this video. I’ve never seen multiple students walk out of a classroom

[@ClaireXLeon]

it happened. i was there frfr

[@danniereardon7425]

Sure you were

[@sharonburton9663]

I feel he was inclusive for all religions, the board should be ashamed

[@tammyrhemann2167]

Sad and cruel that parents complain on some topics and other things. Who are they to judge?

[@larryg.9187]

... Absolutely asinine, to be fired over a First Amendment right ... Freedom of Religion, includes the right to either choose Which Ever Religion you desire... Or, to choose None ... That's Freedom of Religion ... Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hinduism, Jim Jonesism, etc, etc, etc... Or, none of the above... To force one religion is Fascist ...

[@jr6pc]

I did not believe what the majority of the students in my class believed," does not sound like a discussion it sounds more like him pushing his religious views or lack of on the students. This is not teaching.

[@dianegill3622]

I'm surprised that these kids actually talked to their parents. Usually what happens in school stays in school. Kids ignore parents unless they want money

[@jo8726t]

Hmmm. Can we talk about anything?? Sad!

[@stephendupuis6062]

What did you learn in school today Teddy? Well, mom, I learned we could leave whenever we disliked what they were teaching us. Good honey. I’m so proud of you for learning nothing.

[@willieverusethis]

This is why so many teachers are boring. They don't want to lose their jobs if they offend someone.

[@garbonzojones5348]

I've had students walk out for all kinds of reasons. One time was because the class had lost access to the classroom Chromebooks for misuse. 2 of them stormed off to report me to the office when it was the office who'd asked me to remove their access. Another time because the class wss being so disruptive I stopped the lesson and waited for them to calm the hell down. 2 students went to report me for "not teaching", and came back with letters of apology the admin had forced them to write. Kids are dumb. And admin should not be supporting their idiocy.

[@williampelfrey9159]

Everything is backwards. Sue the school system

[@joshuaharper4439]

Pretty sad when teachers now have to feel like they have to rock on eggshells and these kids need to be kicked out of school. They think they can just do whatever they want or act anyway they want nowadays and what sad is the parent are fine with it. The parents and the students need to grow up, need to be go back to where it used to be back in the day now everything has just gone to the crapper

[@MGTOWforthewin]

Ah so the local monotheistic deathcultist adults didnt appreciate the teacher openly talking about them in relation to other paths...enlightening to say the least...

[@ddrogue474]

Mob mentality! Monkey see monkey do. I am a Christian, i believe that teacher had every right to include the other religions in his teaching. The parents have the responsibility to bring up the kids, bring them to church, teach them their beliefs at home. That is bordering on suppressing the freedom of speech! That teacher needs to sue the school district!

[@carolynwalker4593]

The students probably wanted to skip classes that day and this was their way out! 😮

[@rebeccapaul6455]

Absolutely my first thought.

[@lauracollins3451]

Why is he discussing any of that? He's a English teacher in a public school not a Theology teacher.

[@Ttravel65]

Sue them

[@TheGenepotter]

Home of the hoboes? Who picks these mascots?

[@Goldenheart2911]

There are always two sides to every story. 💛

[@nedsackmann2215]

We need Paul Harvey to tell the rest of the story😂but those days are gone.😢

[@AprilTeniente-eu1mj]

That’s not right, teacher!

[@zoren1900]

Wow, because of that?

[@romeysiamese6662]

I never talked about religion in the classroom as a teacher. Teaching was hard enough with the curriculum I had. If kids brought up religion…I told them to talk to their parents about religion . church⬅️➡️state

[@hellogoodnite8447]

It was the kids who brought up religion as examples of rite of passage which was the subject.

[@Jodirky]

⁠​⁠@@hellogoodnite8447 And the teacher has authority over the classroom like they said save that for outside of school. . .

[@smorris281]

When I was in school almost 20 years ago, my teachers had hard hitting discussions with our classes, it wasn’t a problem. We would talk about religion, politics, social issues and no one ever got upset. We could disagree, but respect other peoples opinions.

[@romeysiamese6662]

@@smorris281 yes maybe then you could. I know it’s pathetic now…everyone takes offense at a conversation. Students, record, report and administration are so fearful of losing $$$$$$$ teachers are fired.

[@John-ct9zs]

As much as I love modern technology, technology has ruined kids. Letting kids have their own personal smartphone or ipad in the classroom is a HUGE distraction. This is like me bringing a small pocket TV to class back in the 90s, or an old school laptop to class. NO ONE would have stood for it back then. But today, it's OK. And parents argue for it, saying they need to be in touch with their kids. Technology has empowered kids in a way previous generations simply weren't because we didn't have the technology to video and upload our teachers and classmates to social media. Also the vast information these kids have at their fingertips.

[@user-so5xd8ek3i]

Get a good lawyer and sue them...

[@nikolai9140]

Thats gonna be a huge lawsuit

[@smorris281]

Probationary period or not, where was the union during all this?

[@nikolai9140]

@smorris281 bruh just had a similar thing happen to me and basically the union said during probation your an at will employee and we can't do shit

[@user-mr2eo9we3n]

😂 back in the day “allegedly” the female counselor had relations with another teachers husband. This school is full of hypocrisy. My child attended there years ago and oooh the stories the students told me 😮. 😂

[@Lisa-di1wi]

He was supposed to teach English and not religion. If he wants to teach religion, then he should go teach at a religious school instead.

[@txnmia8613]

This is the worst part of Florida, politically, so this story is not surprising at all. This is the area matt gaetz represents. That should tell you everything.

[@Fripperies3]

So don’t teach there is more than just what you think you know.

[@tinytim4657]

He should know better- he’s in Florida

[@WNHTCT]

He’s in America. Americans tend to be small minded and bigoted when it comes to other religions…. If you haven’t noticed

[@tellurye]

Their mascot is "the hoboes"? Let that sink in...

[@Aliyah-j7q]

Yes?

[@johnlopez3996]

Wouldn't the classrooms be shaped like railroad cars if they are called hoboes?

[@Aliyah-j7q]

@@johnlopez3996 no

[@johnlopez3996]

@Aliyah-j7q Many hobos used to ride the rail cars as a means of travel.

[@Aliyah-j7q]

@@johnlopez3996 ok sorry I didn’t know

[@juanitanoju2984]

Poor reporting. Insufficient evidence.

[@DeborahEllia]

Flori-duh? Well, that says it all.

[@heathercloete7450]

Depends what he said in "the discussion". For a classroom of students to walk out it must have been seriously offensive to those students.

[@tindee3052]

Yea I’m thinking this is what happened

[@tellurye]

Well, Id like to hear the whole story. People are snowflakes, so we cant take sides until we know more info.

[@Jodirky]

Doesn’t really depend on anything. Yeah the conversation IS indeed inappropriate because it can cause conflict and make people combative.. just like it did … As you can see…. Doesn’t really matter what he said. . . Besides the fact no kid should be walking out of class! These kids are out of control and think somebody owe them something.

[@00Caleb00]

@@JodirkyWalking out of class isn’t ridiculous if a teacher says something incredibly offensive. Not saying that’s what definitely happened here but if it is the case…then they have a right to leave an environment where they’re being insulted.

[@Jodirky]

@@00Caleb00 It’s ridiculous TO ME like I said. Bye Bye pink skin. . You know you like to cuss out your mother and run away.

[@angie4774z]

Students for student’s education. Love it!

[@StephanieMT]

He discussed religions other than chrisitanity said it in the video

[@awajiangirl]

Everyone is entitled to have an opinion its part of free will and freedom as an American. As well as the ones who are free to disagree.

[@rebeccapaul6455]

Why should the students free will cause this man to lose his job?

[@kippwieland6464]

Florida must be full if Philistines.

[@rebeccapaul6455]

Must be? Absolutely is.

[@poptartdom]

Not enough information to judge the situation.

[@mykula780]

This is what happens when you make a generation of children everybody gets a trophy

[@user-ov6bv9cn1o]

The only thing I don’t like is religious relativism. I’m Christian and Russian orthodox not a Bible thumper. I’ve read about other religious philosophies, particularly the Chinese and Japanese, just to understand their cultures better, but no one is going to force me or my kids to believe that there are many roads to God and heaven. Period.

[@riggs20]

I think there is more to be told here. There’s a good chance that the teacher was belittling certain religions and students took offense. It seems unlikely (but not impossible) that the kids up and left just because he was talking about rites of passage in different religions.

[@davidjackson2690]

I used to live a few blocks from this school. What does he "teach".

[@Aliyah-j7q]

@@davidjackson2690 history

[@laurafranich4807]

​@@Aliyah-j7qI thought they said language arts

[@Aliyah-j7q]

@@davidjackson2690 yes sorry that is what I meant

[@chrisbeck7266]

I give you Theocracy!

[@Topjake1492]

3 sides to every story: His, The Schools and THE TRUTH!

[@idkidk8278]

Oh well

[@garywilsonwilson893]

Snowflakes. Put in their little safe zone.

[@prall0915]

His only mistake was moving to Florida with the crazies. Go home, sir. Run

[@DR-wp6gy]

Congratulations to those young atheist.

[@1nlillatiger]

Florida the fascism state

[@kaymathis7894]

So he was fired because of religious nuts

[@ELITE_cryptycYT]

I put this on god he’s my teacher or was Ik the girls that made a complaint there names are caprie Lea and Shelby

[@stephanimorris7302]

But if you want to talk about gender studies they'd be fine

[@donnadrane4977]

Not in Florida, they wouldn’t. Isn’t there a law that forbids even mentioning anything other Adam and Eve?

[@tyeshad.pierce4555]

This is the reason I do not discuss religion with people. I thought you weren’t supposed to discuss religion in schools..?

[@rebeccapaul6455]

Used to be called Social Studies.

[@robertomele-casillas8692]

That teacher learned something important you don’t discuss religion in school classrooms because you don’t know how your students would react to the teacher's lesson plan. I pray this teacher finds a new teaching job and sticks to something else that doesn’t involve talking about religion.

[@ocaladan]

He didn’t follow the curriculum. In Florida, that can cost you your job. Sorry folks, this is teaching in Florida. You go off the path, you are on your own.

[@rebeccaoprea9917]

How old were the students?

[@BabbaIsKool]

Well.. He was a 8th grade teacher so..

[@Aliyah-j7q]

@@BabbaIsKool no he teaches 6-8

[@Aliyah-j7q]

@@rebeccaoprea9917 his class he got fired from was 8th grade tho

[@Aliyah-j7q]

Stop I fell so bad I am on of his students

[@warspartan420]

Judging by your Grammer he wasn't a good teacher

[@ryanmoran5625]

@@warspartan420 grammar* man come on how are you going to correct someone on their grammar and make a mistake yourself, that's ridiculous. Besides, half of the time students falling short of certain things are due to them not taking the class serious enough, it usually doesn't have to do with the teacher at all. Literally go to any middle school and you'll see what I'm talking about.

[@Jodirky]

@@warspartan420 Judging by your “grammar” you didn’t have a good teacher or a parent. 😂

[@Gurkha73able]

@@warspartan420 Its grammar, not Grammer. Duh.

[@Aliyah-j7q]

@@warspartan420 he isn’t a grammar teacher he is a history teacher

[@BabbaIsKool]

oh fun! This happened near me

[@NatalyGarcia1999]

Don’t worry teacher,god will find you another teaching job,one that will the best.😇Those parents will wish their children luck with evil habits in the future.😈

[@cathymalcom1586]

Sooooo very. SAD!!! 💞🙏

[@daniellehand9412]

Cant talk about God have to push LGBT agenda

[@donnadrane4977]

Not in Florida! No mention of LBGTQ is allowed.

[@kurtisbell6201]

How did he become a teacher with a cocaine possession and a theft charge

[@jayryan7473]

Who cares about anything from somebody's past? He met the standards to get the job in the first place.

[@KE-zk4kc]

Where was this mentioned?? This post a joke?

[@FruitMeat]

⁠@@jayryan7473 Oh just like our politicians and our Supreme Court judge? 😂😂😂😂 Keep thinking those “standards” are good enough for hiring. . .

[@Jodirky]

@@FruitMeat 😂😂😂😂

[@smorris281]

@jayryan7473 If you feel that way, perhaps you think it’s ok to let pedophiles be teachers too?