0:45 One day after the deadly insurrection in Washington, a Pennsylvania school district announced it was suspending a teacher who, the district asserted, was And the rest are too afraid to stand up and do whats right, Moorehead said Thursday night. Allentown School District board of school directors voted Thursday to fire Jason Moorehead, who was a middle school social studies teacher at the Allentown School District. He also wrote a comment that read "wrong on so many levels, but hilarious" on another controversial meme. Jason Moorehead, who taught at Raub Middle School, addressed the school board Thursday night after a unanimous 9-0 vote to terminate him. The freedoms ensconced in the First Amendment are among the most celebrated in the U.S. Constitution. But those freedoms are not absolute, and over the years, the U.S. Supreme Court has established that government bodies such as school districts may fire employees for what they say if it gets in the way of the agencys mission. 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", "When the district finally admitted to me privately that I had done nothing wrong and that I could return, they refused to let the community know that I am safe, to alleviate both their fears and my fears about returning," he said. The court said public employees may be fired for speech that is not public in nature. They could face penalties ranging from fines to prison time. 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Period.. He failed to return. In one, he stood before a sea of Trump banners wearing a Make America Great Again hat and carrying a Revolutionary War flag. The teacher was not identified, nor was the school where he works. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Former Pennsylvania state representative Rick Saccone also referenced storming the capitol in a social media post that day, but told the Tribune-Review he didnt mean it literally and only went to Washington to peacefully protest and express grievances about the way the election was handled. He resigned from his position at Saint Vincent College that week, saying he didnt want all this terrible media kerfuffle to tarnish the school.. Shapiro signs bill requiring insurers to cover preventive breast, ovarian cancer screenings for high-risk women at no cost, Kutztown Folk Festival announces event dates, new attractions, Pa. 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WebA Pennsylvania teacher was suspended this week after taking part in Wednesdays riot at the U.S. Capitol, pending an investigation, the Allentown School District said, according He took a few photos showing he was there. Paul Lancaster Adams, a labor employment attorney, said some states have laws that protect or limit off-duty conduct. The reaction fell on both sides, some saying it was his First Amendment right to attend a rally, others saying being a teacher usurped that right. Rachel Carr was fired from her job as a driver for PennDOT after she posted in a local Facebook group about her frustration with school bus drivers in the area after one pulled out in front of her truck. Seventy people had been arrested as of Thursday night, including 13 Pennsylvania residents. The Allentown School District has 22 schools and more than 16,000 students enrolled, according to theFuture Ready PA Index. Moorehead said he was never at the Capitol when the violence erupted and only attended Trump's speech about a mile away. He has never been charged with a crime. ALLENTOWN A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the Stop the Steal rally which later turned to a deadly insurrection on Jan. 6 has been fired for refusing to return to work. Market data provided by Factset. A mob of pro-Trump extremistsstormed the CapitolWednesday in an attempt todisrupt Congress from certifying the Electoral College results. A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the Stop the Steal rally which later turned to a deadly insurrection on Jan. 6 has been fired for refusing to return to work. Mr. (Associated Press). Allentown School District board of school directors voted Thursday to fire Jason Moorehead, who was a middle school social studies teacher at the Allentown This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Capitol rioting: Trump, McEnany condemn storming of Congress. District Solicitor John Freund told lehighvalleylive.com on Friday that Moorehead was initially suspended. He said his address and phone number have been posted online. Venturing into highly polarized politics of racial justice also cost a middle school teacher in Georgia her job after she wrote a racist social media post about a Black Lives Matter demonstration during a local Halloween parade. When asked if he broke any laws, Moorehead was clear. That to me is too close to what the First Amendment is about in terms of protecting the democracy by protecting political speech, Zirkel said. I love the kids and great relationships with kids there," he said. The court further narrowed protection in 1983 in the case of a New Orleans assistant district attorney who circulated a questionnaire to co-workers asking their opinions on transfers, morale and supervisors in the office. Partly to mostly cloudy, brisk, and cool. The Social Studies teachers controversial social media posts had drastic consequences. In 2015, a federal appeals court ruled that former Central Bucks High School East teacher Natalie Monroes comments caused enough of a disruption in the classroom and her ability to perform her job because numerous parents told the district they didnt want her to teach their children that it outweighed her First Amendment claim. Ive been bullied and I dont want my family, my co-workers, my students to feel they shouldnt defend their First Amendment protections.. 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He and his lawyer speak with CNN's Michael Smerconish. It is also mindful that as teachers, they must exercise discretion in how they exercise those rights so as to preserve their credibility as educators of young people.. Moorehead was officially reinstated in July 2021, after the investigation found he had violated the districts social media policies, but not its outside activities policy. "While we all have the right to express ourselves, it is important to do so respectfully," Parker wrote. Are other banks to follow? For example, a teacher cannot ask to search a bag that looks weird and bulgy for drugs based only on the look of the bag. The notoriety has also cost him the trust and respect of students. If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the Stop the Steal rally which later turned to a deadly insurrection on Jan. 6 has been fired for refusing to return to work. FOX News contributors Dan Bongino and Sarah Sanders react to the day's events on 'Hannity'. 2022 The Associated Press. But images he posted on social media quickly made the rounds, and on Jan. 8 he was placed on paid suspension by the district. And I, I wanted to make how the media looked at different protests differently," he said. His attorney said in a Jan. 23 telephone interview, Mooreheads participation in the Trump rally challenging the presidential election results that preceded the attempted insurrection is protected by the First Amendment. Three others, including Benjamin Philips, 50, of Ringtown Pennsylvania, died of apparent medical emergencies during the chaos. Being a teacher means he is a He urged staffers to "think carefully" about the information they share online, noting it could affect students and community members. ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. ", First published on July 29, 2022 / 8:15 PM. The teacher has sued for defamation and the civil lawsuit puts the spotlight on the hot-button issue of politics and the workplace. Perry Zirkel, a retired Lehigh University professor and expert in education law, said a school district would be unable to justify terminating a teacher on the basis of endorsing a political candidate, even one as controversial as Trump, who is facing impeachment for a second time for inciting his followers to storm the Capitol. Im being fired for refusing to come to a place that is unsafe, a situation you guys created., Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The single word This, has become shorthand for expressing agreement with a quoted statement in many internet forums. Looking for something special to get your mom for Mothers Day? Asked what he was trying to convey with the posts, Moorehead said he was not mocking Black Lives Matter or antifa. In 1977, the court ruled that the First and 14th Amendments do not provide blanket protection in the case of a teacher who had argued with co-workers and cursed at students. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Schools cannot discriminate against you based on your sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Moorehead called the violence at the Capitol Building disgusting and is steadfast on the fact that he was on a bus to head home when the Capitol Building was stormed. Because of the emotion and controversy stirred by the events of January 6, 2021, the teacher has been temporarily relieved of his teaching duties until the school district can complete a formal investigation of his involvement, the district said in a letter on Jan. 8. Morning Call reporter Peter Hall can be reached at 610-820-6581 or [email protected]. "Is this the kind of person that we want in our school district spending time with our children and influencing minds and hearts?" The Allentown School District will conduct a formal investigation into the role that one of its teachers played in the U.S. Capitol riot. "Now, when you're a government employer, the law says that you have a right to first amendment right to freedom of speech, very different than in private sector," he said. Copyright 2022 TheAssociated Press. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Allentown School District called the allegations false. Five people died in the violence around the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, including a Capitol Police officer and a 50-year-old Pennsylvania man and ardent Trump supporter who suffered a medical emergency at the protests. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Chicagoreal estate agent, Libby Andrews, was also fired after posting on social media from the Capitol, her former employer announced. One person, Jason Jenkins, even called out the district's investigation. The FBI has arrested more than 100 associated with the siege so far, and many companies have taken to Twitter to confirm the firing of their involved employees. Instead theyre trying to figure out what to do now and its double down, dig in the heels.. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Malofiy said he believes district officials reacted rashly to the outcry over Mooreheads social media posts from the Trump rally and said his client has been made a victim of cancel culture, in which people are penalized for their political beliefs. Youve made it impossible for me to return. Doing my civic duty, he commented. The after-school programs Ive done, the amount of summer school activities Ive done, the sports Ive done. His termination was in no way connected to his activities on that date, the districts attorneys John E. Freund, III, and Brian J. Taylor said in a statement. Does it make it more difficult for the school district to operate? said Hobie Webster, a Pittsburgh employment lawyer who represents school districts. In another, he stood in front of a hot dog cart waiting for lunch during (what CNN will hopefully call) a mostly peaceful protest while at the Capital.. Moorehead was officially reinstated in July 2021, after the investigation found he had violated the district's social media policies, but not its outside activities policy. Mr. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Period," he said. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. The termination came because of the abandonment of his position, the solicitor said. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Teachers union President Mark Leibold did not respond to multiple messages seeking comment. Error! Lawmakers gathered again Wednesday night and certifiedJoe Biden's victoryearly Thursday morning. Legal Statement. "And there's so many issues that matter to me on both sides," he added. The district has received notice Moorehead plans to take legal action in Lehigh County Court, but a complaint has not yet been filed. The best states in the country excel in areas such as economy, fiscal stability and opportunity. ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the "Stop the Steal" rally which later turned to a deadly insurrection on Jan. 6 has been fired for refusing to return to work. The district cited social media postings from Moorehead in its initial decision to suspend him with pay and open an investigation into his actions that day. We understand that many members of our community are upset by the image, the letter states. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. All rights reserved. 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