Southlake school leader tells teachers to balance Holocaust books with 'opposing' views

[RestoreTheJoy]

I can see that. It would be a good study in understanding things like propaganda, state control of education and religious institutions, the power of visual and written media to change people’s minds, and how dehumanization works. Little by little. The Holocaust didn’t begin with the camps. It ended there.

If that is the plan, ok. We need to better understand how things like this happen, anyway. Because human nature hasn’t changed. We’re still stupid, easily influenced, excessively inclined towards extremes, and greedy.

No kidding. Looking around at the state of my country makes that so clear.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

It was very poorly put. Poorly enough that one wonders about the intent. But assuming for the sake of the discussion that it was well intended there are many things that often get incorporated into Holocaust viewpoints. Often actually things directly in opposition to what a book says that become part of the narative taken away.

Ideas like:

It was entirely a German thing.
The Jews were alone in being persecuted. Both in the sense of being the only ones and that no one tried to help them.

That and things being omitted like:

The economic situation in Europe, especially Germany.
That by the time things became obvious it was too late for the average person to take any action.

I don't even believe it should have been included, as the rest of the comments I read indicated that it was to apply to current events or events that were controversial. The Holocaust is not an event that is controversial. The evidence is there.

 

[essentialsaltes]

LINK

Seven months after teachers at the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake went public with their concerns about an administrator’s advice to balance books on the Holocaust with titles that show “opposing” perspectives, district employees this week discovered that a new clause had been added to their annual employment contracts, listed under the heading: “Non-Disparagement.”

“You agree to not disparage, criticize, or defame the District, and its employees or officials, to the media,” it read.

Helpful tip for the clueless: This is what government censorship of free speech looks like.

 

[Ana the Ist]

LINK

Seven months after teachers at the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake went public with their concerns about an administrator’s advice to balance books on the Holocaust with titles that show “opposing” perspectives, district employees this week discovered that a new clause had been added to their annual employment contracts, listed under the heading: “Non-Disparagement.”

“You agree to not disparage, criticize, or defame the District, and its employees or officials, to the media,” it read.

Helpful tip for the clueless: This is what government censorship of free speech looks like.

That's typical for a government employee...not allowed to trash their employer.

 

[DaisyDay]

That's typical for a government employee...not allowed to trash their employer.

Typical of military and appointees, but not regular government employees. They have 1st Amendment rights. And this isn't about trashing, but even criticizing.

 

[essentialsaltes]

That's typical for a government employee...not allowed to trash their employer.

On the contrary, government employees have free speech rights concerning "matters of public concern", even if they stem from their employer.

 

[Ana the Ist]

On the contrary, government employees have free speech rights concerning "matters of public concern", even if they stem from their employer.

Your telling this to a federal government employee currently under a gag order.

If I were allowed to tell you things I know to a fact that impacted your life and other Americans...I would. Unfortunately, I have my own responsibilities. I'm not risking my job on the off chance that you and probably 2/3rds of the nation wouldn't dismiss or otherwise ignore verifiable evidence right in front of your face. I've seen what they do to whistle blowers, info leakers , and the like.

This is a teacher and an employment contract. They make considerably less than I do and frankly, if they don't like the contract, they don't have to sign. It's just letting them know what they will be fired for....the sort of thing you defend every employer (except the NFL apparently) doing.

Don't want to play ball? Kick rocks. I've been arguing we should be protecting free speech (outside the workplace) from employer retaliation for years...posters like you argue against it. What possible argument can you make for this flip flop?

Typical of military and appointees, but not regular government employees. They have 1st Amendment rights. And this isn't about trashing, but even criticizing.

See above.

 

[cow451]

LINK

Seven months after teachers at the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake went public with their concerns about an administrator’s advice to balance books on the Holocaust with titles that show “opposing” perspectives, district employees this week discovered that a new clause had been added to their annual employment contracts, listed under the heading: “Non-Disparagement.”

“You agree to not disparage, criticize, or defame the District, and its employees or officials, to the media,” it read.

Helpful tip for the clueless: This is what government censorship of free speech looks like.

This sometimes later called “disgruntled former employee suing”.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I've been arguing we should be protecting free speech (outside the workplace) from employer retaliation for years...posters like you argue against it.

Moi?

 

[Ana the Ist]

Moi?

Hate Speech

Supporting suppression of speech, censorship, loss of employment, etc....

Lemme guess....you took up your new position around 8am?

 

[essentialsaltes]

Hate Speech

Supporting suppression of speech, censorship, loss of employment, etc....

Lemme guess....you took up your new position around 8am?

No, hate speech is notorious and inflammatory. And is utterly unlike criticism of your government employer.

 

[Ana the Ist]

No, hate speech is notorious and inflammatory.

It's considered free speech under SCOTUS ruling.

What possibly doesn't constitute hate speech?

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

No, you're sane. It's the Texas law that is confused.

Maybe the school should be looking for books that give a different perspective on the assassination of JFK - that it didn't really happen and that all the video and medical evidence was faked.

 

[essentialsaltes]

It's considered free speech under SCOTUS ruling.

Yes, so it's protected from government interference.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

LINK

Seven months after teachers at the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake went public with their concerns about an administrator’s advice to balance books on the Holocaust with titles that show “opposing” perspectives, district employees this week discovered that a new clause had been added to their annual employment contracts, listed under the heading: “Non-Disparagement.”

“You agree to not disparage, criticize, or defame the District, and its employees or officials, to the media,” it read.

Helpful tip for the clueless: This is what government censorship of free speech looks like.

Helpful tip for the legally clueless: In reality, a non-disparagement clause is part of every NDA in existence as well as most employment contracts.

From a legal site:

"There are many different situations where you might find a non-disparagement clause in an agreement, from litigation settlement to a contract to work with someone who is notoriously difficult. This clause contains a big work that effectively means you won’t talk badly about the other party. These clauses are legally enforceable and are often enforced, so it’s important to understand what it might mean to you before signing the agreement.

In fancier terms, disparagement means to discredit, dishonor, or lower in credit or esteem. In essence, when you sign an agreement with a non-disparagement clause, you won’t say anything that results in a perception of the person or company you’re speaking about having less worth. If you’ve signed a non-disparagement clause for your employment, you can’t then go around discussing how the products your employer makes are worthless. If you’ve agreed to represent a company in a marketing contract and signed a non-disparagement agreement, you don’t want to talk about how hard they are to work with or how the event they’re marketing is going to be a total flop. You’re not saying anything that is untrue or malicious, you think you’re stating the truth to your friends, but it discredits the other party, you’re in violation of your agreement.

https://www.virtuslaw.com/2017/07/26/non-disparagement-clause/

 

[ViaCrucis]

Well, we have the photographic and video evidence that it happened. To defend Holocaust denial would be irresponsible.

The existence of hard evidence has never stopped people from claiming all the evidence is made up and wrong.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[essentialsaltes]

Helpful tip for the legally clueless: In reality, a non-disparagement clause is part of every NDA in existence as well as most employment contracts.

Not, it would appear, for public school teachers and other government employees.

 

[Sketcher]

The existence of hard evidence has never stopped people from claiming all the evidence is made up and wrong.

-CryptoLutheran

Very true, but I believe this particular incident was likely caused by the unscrupulous reading of either the law or more likely, a summary of the law and then passed down. Glance at the e-mail, emphasize CYA over common sense, and there you have it.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

Not, it would appear, for public school teachers and other government employees.

Should have read a little further on wiki there: The case was later distinguished by Garcetti v. Ceballos, where the Court held that statements by public employees made pursuant to their employment have no First Amendment protection.

 

[rjs330]

Interesting. Should we have an opposing view on J Crow Laws then? Or civil rights?

I dunno, sometime this stuff can get a bit silly.