The Turner Diaries

[ZOGling whigger ass-clown]

I'm ass-to-mouth with you Cousin Randy, my gliberal whigger butthole fag butty

I'm ass-to-mouth with you Cousin Randy, my gliberal whigger butthole fag butty


http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2013/...63833466569976
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8334#post8334

Randy, You can reach me at abgame65@aol.com or read my blog at ansonburlingame.wordpress.com. Nothing yet on my blog as I don't know enough, yet, to make a public comment.

As you may be aware, I am deeply interested in public education and have written, in blogs a lot, and occassionally in columns in the Globe on such matters.

I have no idea what is really going on today with you and R-8 but am deeply interested in such matters. I have said exactly that in a private email to the chairman of the local BOE calling for speedy resolution, in public of the charges and rebutals to each one.

I am sure you as a long time writed in public will make your case and I for one will listen very carefully and respectfully to both sides.

Obviously, you have been accused by someone of being a "rogue teacher". Who made such accusations, I have no idea nor the substance of them, either.

but I for one will be watching carefully and closely as this matter is resolved.

May the "right" side win in the coming fray is my only wish.

Good luck as you are for sure going to be fighting against "city hall" of a sort.

Anson Burlingame

10:22 am 22 April 2013

[Librarian]

Students Hope to Bring Suspended Joplin Teacher Back

Students Hope to Bring Suspended Joplin Teacher Back

By Kelly Reid, Reporter
Updated: Apr 22, 2013 3:13 PM PDT


http://www.koamtv.com/story/22046153...n-teacher-back
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8337#post8337

A tenured Joplin Area School teacher is placed on administrative leave...and students are asking why.

Randy Turner, an 8th grade Communications teacher at the Joplin Middle School was placed on administrative leave on April 8th. The students in his class have had a substitute since, and they say learning is not the same. A bond between a teacher and a student can make a huge impact on a child's willingness to learn.

One of Turner's students, Clarissa Scalia broke down in tears while thinking of her favorite memories of Turner's class."He was the only one that would actually help me and everyone else thought I wouldn't be good at it, but he was the only one that would believe in me." she said in relation to her Quizbowl experience.

Up until recently, Turner has been making an impact on Joplin 8th grade students, until he was recently placed on administrative leave, which has parents now wondering why.

Mackenzie Robinson's daughter, Taylor is currently a student in Turner's class. She said she was shocked when she found out the news that he was no longer in the classroom. "He has been nothing but an excellent teacher, he keeps an open line of communication between parents and I know my daughter as well as several other students just absolutely love him. I haven't heard one student say a single solitary thing about him, or a parent for that matter." she said.

Turner is a well known social media advocate, with his own blog and many books published and available for purchase.

A statement released from Joplin Superintendent Dr. C.J. Huff says:
.

"A complaint was received by the Joplin Schools on April 4th. An investigation by the Joplin Schools administration began within 24 hours of receipt of that complaint. A 28-page Statement of Charges was delivered to and received by Mr. Turner on Thursday, April 18, 2013 as a result of that investigation. As this is a personnel matter, the District will not disclose the details of the Statement of Charges."

.


But his classmates aren't standing for it. Robinson's daughter, Taylor along with her classmates including Scalia, Madison Riddle, and Alexandra Steltz have created a Facebook page called Project Turner, in honor of their favorite teacher, and in hopes of drawing attention to bringing him back into the classroom.

"We just keep updates on what we're doing and we're trying to save him, and help him get his job back." Robinson said.

As our story aired, the page had just over 130 likes . . . Currently it has over 300.

Turner says he plants to address the media after he speaks with his attorney and the Missouri National Education Association Representative.

For more information on Project Turner, their page can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/TurnerProject

[jewplin Glob]

Joplin teacher on leave after employee complaint, district investigation

Joplin teacher on leave after employee complaint, district investigation

By Emily Younker
Globe Staff Writer
April 22, 2013

http://www.joplinglobe.com/topstorie...-investigation
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8351#post8351

JOPLIN, Mo. — An investigation by the Joplin School District of an employee’s complaint has led to the dismissal from the classroom of a teacher at East Middle School.

Randy Turner, an eighth-grade communication arts teacher, was placed on paid administrative leave on April 8 after the school district received a complaint from a district employee on April 4, according to a statement emailed to the Globe on Sunday from Superintendent C.J. Huff. After an investigation into the complaint by the administration, a 28-page “statement of charges” was given to Turner on Thursday, Huff said.

Huff declined in a telephone interview to specify the nature of the complaint or to release details of the “statement of charges,” saying it is a personnel matter.

Turner did not immediately respond Sunday to messages left at two phone numbers listed for him. A former newspaper reporter and editor, he also maintains a blog that covers crime, education and political issues at the local, state and national level.

His dismissal sparked the creation of a Facebook page called “Project Turner,” which has gathered support from students seeking to bring their teacher back to the classroom.

Huff said the investigation included “a review of any and all evidence” related to the complaint as well as interviews with people who might have had relevant information. Speaking in general terms, he said the people who were interviewed could have included district employees, students or parents.

Huff said the district followed standard procedure in placing Turner on paid leave, which means that the employee is being paid according to his contract and is still employed by the school district, but is not working.

“Any time we’ve done an investigation where there are concerns, it’s not unusual to send an employee home on paid administrative leave pending the investigation,” he said.

Under the school district’s due-process procedure, Turner can request a hearing in front of the Board of Education, at which time he would be allowed to “state his case,” Huff said. The board would review any evidence against him and then determine whether to continue his contract, Huff said. If a hearing is not requested, the board still would meet to consider whether to continue the contract, he said.

Many of Turner’s students are using their “Project Turner” Facebook page — which was created Friday and had received more than 130 “likes” by Sunday evening — to garner support for him, according to Mackenzie Robinson, president of the East Middle School PTO. They also are brainstorming ways to show their support, including designing and wearing T-shirts to school, she said.

“This is a teacher that has made a very high impact on these students’ lives, and they want to fight for him,” said Robinson, whose daughter is one of Turner’s students and also one of the students behind the Facebook page. “He’s done nothing but influence them in a positive direction to express themselves in their writing.”

Meanwhile, Turner launched a campaign Thursday — the same day Huff said he was given his “statement of charges” — on the online fundraising platform Kickstarter.

On the page titled “Let Teachers Teach,” he proposes a two-book series — with the tentative titles “The War Against Teachers” and “Teachers Fight Back — and seeks to raise pledges in the amount of $40,000 by May 12 to fund the project.

In the first book, he writes, he says he will use his background as an investigative reporter “to detail the forces that are conspiring against the classroom teacher, both through original reporting and by offering anecdotal evidence from teachers in their own words.”

The second book “will feature the stories of teachers, many told in their own words, who relate their successes and failures in trying to find ways to do their jobs, help children and maintain their dignity in a climate that sometimes makes it nearly impossible to accomplish any of those things.”

He describes a self-published novel published in July 2012, “No Child Left Alive,” as having struck a blow “for the cause.”

That novel, published as an e-book, contains numerous passages of a graphic, sexual nature. It is a fictional account about a school administration obsessed with preparing students for state testing at a cost of not allowing teachers to actually do their jobs.

Scott Meeker, Globe enterprise editor, contributed to this report.

[Cousin Randy Turner]

The Joplin School District's charges against me

The Joplin School District's charges against me


http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2013/...ts-charges.htm
http://www.whitenationalist.org/foru...=8371#post8371

As most Turner Report readers are aware, I was removed from my classroom at Joplin East Middle School April 8, placed on paid administrative leave.

Last night, as I read over the 28-page list of charges against me, I grew both angry and depressed. Angry because this is no way to treat a gliberal whigger butthole fag. Depressed because I'm guilty as hell of all charges and specifuckations.

Finally, I began detailing the charges on my Facebook page.

I am going to take a different approach for this blog and simply repeat the way I reported it on Facebook last night and early this morning:

I have already written my first blog post on my situation (other than the KOAM video). I am awaiting suggestions on it.
Basically, though the charges against me are "immoral conduct" because I posted the Daily Kos article that I linked to on Facebook last night on a website called Room 210 Discussion that I started at South so students and former students can have discussions about the kinds of issues we have always discussed in class. The site was never used as a classroom website and never really caught on, but I did not shut it down, nor did I shut down another failed website called Room 210 for Teachers. THe Daily Kos article, which I will link to again in a few minutes, had a part toward the end that said that encouraged people to download and discuss No Child Left Alive. Every once in a while, I copy and paste one of my articles into some of my lesser websites, in case someone comes across it on a search engine.

By putting it on Room 210 Discussion, the charges say, "Mr. Turner posted class materials on the Room 210 Discussion blog so that students would have to visit the blog in order to fully participate in class."

I would be surprised if any of my students have ever heard of Room 210 Discussion, unless, of course, the ones who were interviewed during the investigation were told about it by the HR person. It is not a part of my class nor has it ever been. I tried to tell that to the HR person, but she said, "You will get your chance to talk later." I am still waiting for that chance.

(More to come)

***

Toward the top of page two, the charges say, "The book, No Child Left Alive, written by Mr. Turner, contains the following sexually explicit and violent passages;" I do not intend to repeat those. I have never said there is not sex in the book. It was never intended for young readers, which is why it is the only book I have written under my real name, instead of Randy, the name I go by.

Pages 2 through 17 of the charges is simply one paragraph after another taken from the book, no additional charges. Some of them are sex scenes, although there is nothing that comes anywhere near to pornographic (something that should be apparent to those parents who have downloaded it since all of this started." Some are simply high school students talking with each other. Some of it is violence (there is a school shooting incident toward the end of the book.) Some of it is language. The language and scenes are appropriate in the book, but I am not going to put them on Facebook.

***

Continuing, the charges say, "Mr. Turner encouraged his middle school students to read his books, including No Child Left Alive, in order to discuss them in class." That never happened and they are fully aware it never happened.

***
"Although the District recognizes Mr. Turner's right to privately author and publish creative works, providing inappropriate materials of a sexually explicit nature to children is immoral conduct and negatively impacts his ability to be a positive role model as a teacher in the District.

***

Also from the charges, "Mr. Turner's immoral conduct as described herein renders him unfit to supervise and teach children. His integrity and respect have been compromised by his actions, and his continued employment would adversely impact the students, the educational environment and the District as a whole."

***

Continuing the charges, all related to my putting the Daily Kos article on Room 210 Discussion: "Mr. Turner's immoral conduct as described herein is contrary to justice, honesty, modesty, and good morals so as to render him unfit to serve as a role model for children."

***

That was all from the first charge. The second charge, which begins on page 18 is "Willful or Persistent Violation of Board Policies." "Mr. Turner willfully and/or persistently failed to obey the school laws of the state or the published regulations of the Board of Education by providing and promoting obscene material he authored entitled No Child Left Alive that contains graphic depictions of sexuality, rape, domestic violence, and school violence to 12, 13, and 14 year old children through his blog for his middle school communication arts class."

Again, Room 210 Discussion is not my classroom blog, nor has it ever been. We use three blogs, EMS Roundabout, which is the Journalism Club blog, Mr. Turner's Corner, my classroom blog, and Room 210 Civil Rights, which I created to go along with the third quarter research project.

The charges continue, "Mr. Turner's actions as described above are in violation of Board Policy AC (Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, which prohibits sexual harassment."

"No Child Left Alive, which Mr. Turner made available to middle school students through the Room 210 Discussion classroom blog, contains communications of a sexual nature, including comments about sexual activity in violation of Board Policy AC.

"No Child Left Alive, which Mr. Turner made available to middle school students through the Room 210 Discussion classroom blog, includes written descriptions of physical conduct based on sex in violation of Board Policy AC."

***

According to the charges, I also violated the policy about staff/student relations. That is explained on page 20. "Mr. Turner engaged in conduct that violates Board Policy GBH by violating other board policies, including, but not limited to Board Policy AC, and by making No Child Left Alive available to middle school students through his Room 210 Discussion classroom blog.

"The actions of Mr. Turner in making No Child Left Alive available to middle school students through the Room 210 Discussion classroom blog demonstrates a failure to maintain professional boundaries by communicating with students about sexual topics in violation of Board Policy GBH.

"Mr. Turner further engaged in conduct that violates Board Policy GBH by using a means of electronic communication in a manner that was not authorized by his supervisor.

"Mr. Turner engaged in conduct that violates Board Policy GBH by making No Child Left Alive available to middle school students through the Room 210 Discussion classroom blog, thereby using electronic communications to communicate with students regarding matters of a sexual nature."

***

The next part, which I am not going to print word for word indicates that since Room 210 Discussion "bears the imprimatur of the district," that I am responsible for what is on there.

***

According to the charges, I also violated district expectations which require me to "refrain from using profanity." Mr. Turner violated Board Policy GBCB when he posted on a classroom blog made available to students, and encouraged them to read for discussion purposes No Child Left Alive, which fails to provide quality instruction, contains sexually explicit and age-inappropriate content, and contains profanity."

***
The charges also accuse me of teaching about human sexuality, which says you must "present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior in relation to all sexual activity for unmarried students because it is the only method that is 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and the emotional trauma associated with adolescent sexual activity."

***
I forgot to mention on the last one that I was supposed to do have done that "when I posted No Child Left Alive, by failing to adhere to District policy and procedure on the Room 210 Discussion blog.

***

I am also in trouble because I did not ask for approval to assign No Child Left Alive for discussion (which would have been hard to do since I didn't assign it in the first place). "Anyone wishing to distribute unofficial material must first submit for approval a copy of the material to the principal or designee 24 hours in advance of desired distribution time." I violated Board Policy IGBDA, they say, "when he posted, made available to students, and encouraged them to read for discussion purposes unofficial material in the form of No Child Left Alive on the Room 210 Discussion blog without obtaining prior authorization."

***
From page 24 (we are nearing the end) "Mr. Turner violated Board Policy IIA when he posted, made available to students, and encouraged them to read for discussion purposes No Child Left Alive, which fails to meet the district's high standard for quality instructional materials and fails to advance the goals of the District on the Room 210 Discussion blog.

"Mr. Turner willfully or persistently failed to obey the school laws of the State or the published regulations of the Board of Education by providing and promoting obscene material he authored entitled No Child Left Alive that contains graphic depictions of sexuality, rape, domestic violence and school violence in 12, 13, and 14-year-old students through his blog for his middle school communication arts class after he had notice of policies that would prohibit him from doing so without District authorization."

***

As I reach the middle of page 24, finally all of the nonsense about No Child Left Alive is over Now we turn to Scars from the Tornado, which coincidentally i also posted an article about on Room 210 Discussion. (Why I picked those two times to post on Room 210 Discussion and Room 210 for Teachers, I don't know, but I did." All of Page 25 is a repeat of this story, which appeared in the March 13, 2013, Turner Report:
http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2013/...m-tornado.html

***
The charges the note that I copyrighted the book that "Scars from the Tornado is for sale to the general public on Amazon.com for $3.99 and is also available at some retail locations.

"Mr. Turner instructed his eighth grade students to write the stories, essays, and comments that were late incorporated into Scars from the Tornado."

"Mr. Turner then compiled his students' work into a book that he has marketed for personal gain.

"The parents of students in Mr Turner's class did not give permission for Mr. Turner to publish their children's classroom works."

***
.

These are called signed parental permission slips.

.

***

No one ever asked me about any of these things. During the 10 minutes I was interviewed, the only question about Scars from the Tornado I was asked was if I had ads for it on my classroom blogs (they were probably talking about Room 210 Discussion, I thought they were talking about EMS Roundabout and Mr. Turner's Corner." After I said yes, I was immediately placed on paid administrative leave.

As for the other allegations, the writing was not a classroom assignment, it was voluntary writing for a contest, for which prizes were awarded (out of my own pocket, I had better add).

***

I am charged with conflict of interest for copyrighting the book, which the school says is its property and for "when he attempted to use his position with the District to cause patrons and students to purchase Scars from the Tornado on amazon.com."

This makes me angrier than just about anything I have seen (and I am plenty angry about all of this).

1. If profit was my motive, I certainly would not have given away 1,111 free e-copies.

2. On Facebook and on the Turner Report, I asked readers for suggestions on how proceeds from the book should be used. I mentioned the Joplin Fire Department's Christmas for Kids, other projects, and finally I really loved the idea Sheri Cornett came up with to form a Scars from the Tornado Foundation with those who contributed to the book serving as the board of directors and giving money to other schools who are faced with tragedies similar to the Joplin Tornado. I talked this over with Bud Sexson, with other teachers, and I wrote about it both on Facebook and on the Turner Report. I also talked the idea over with my students, who were in favor of it.

3. I have yet to receive a cent from Amazon.com The book was published in March and no money will arrive from that source until sometime next month.

4. Bud Sexson was also told, as were readers of the Turner Report and my Facebook page that in my efforts to raise money for the book, I lost more than $4,000 to Google. This was also written on the national Daily Kos.

5. And though I hate to mention this, in case he is reading, I also owe $250 now and $250 later to the book's designer, David Hoover.

6. In other words, I have not made a dime off Scars from the Tornado and the people who made these charges already know that.

***
The 28 pages ends (and isn't it about time) by saying, Mr. Turner engaged in a conflict of interest in violation of Board Policy GBCA when he caused his students to create work product that he used to publish and students created for class for personal gain without School Board or parent authorization after he had notice of policies that would prohibit him from doing so."

Again, I have not made a dime off Scars from the Tornado. If this book was such a bad thing, then why did my principal not tell me I couldn't write it during any of the at least four times I talked with him about it?

***

And that, Facebook friends, is why Joplin School Administration thinks I should lose my job after 10 years.

***

Did I mention that for what some of you have just been reading, I was escorted out of the building and to my car, just after school ended and while buses were loading by the school's police officer (and stupid me, I forgot my jacket so I had to be escorted back into the building and then escorted back to my car.)

***

The interrogation of me on Monday, April 8, before I was escorted out by the police officer (and I don't blame him, he was doing his job) took only 10 minutes and part of that was spent telling me I could not record the conversation and then being asked to remove my I-phone from my pocket, turn it off, and leave it on the table."

***

Much of the end of the time was spent telling me what I could and could not do while I was on leave. For 28 pages of charges, I probably was asked about six or seven minutes worth of questions. I was not allowed to explain about Room 210 Discussion, nor was she interested, and I was never asked the Scars from the Tornado questions.

.

Posted by Randy at 9:30 AM THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

[Cousin Randy Turner]

My frustration with my current job situation

My frustration with my current job situation


http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2013/...rrent-job.html
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8392#post8392

I really don’t know what to do with myself. I'd kill myself but then a lot of you people out there who I've lied about and shit on would rejoice to hear about me blowing my pin-sized brains out.

I don’t want to admit that. It feels like a declaration of weakness and, in all likelihood, will be seen as such. Us gliberal whigger butthole fags love to whine our way to alienation.

Ever since I was escorted out of East Middle School Monday, April 8, by our school’s police officer, moments after being told I was being placed on paid administrative leave, I have spent hours and hours wrestling with how to handle this situation. Should I continue to stalk some of you gliberal whigger gaywad future butthole fags behind the backs of your idiot reactionary parents and the skrule bored or clean up my act -- at least until after I've pulled the wool over the eyes of them idiots on May 9th? I don't think I can suck up my deceit like I did the Neosho Forums Admin's cum in a McClellan Park restroom back before it was "Gone With The Wind" on May 22, 2011 any more.

I have joked about it on Facebook and in a few conversations, simply because that is the way I deal with setbacks. That and making a cumplaint to jewbook about Pastor Lindstedt's rude homophobic remarks and trying to get him kicked off like the Skrule Bored is trying to kick out this little red gliberal whigger butthole fag skrule teacher. I don’t want to let people know that I am worried to death about losing a job I love and worried that the steps that have been taken against me could end up marking the end of my teaching career. I'm really fucked when it cums down to it because I'm guilty as hell.

Though I feel like a young man, let’s face it -- I’m 57 and I have a pacemaker. Schools aren’t going to be lining up to add me to their faculties. Certainly not when they have to worry about me being a rogue teacher needing to be fired because I simply cannot obey the laws passed by the legislature or the directives passed by the local elected Board of Edjewmacation.

More than anything I am frustrated about the steps that have put me into this position. Frustrated because I simply don't have enough insight to realize that it was myself who put myself in this position. I'm such a sociopath.

I am frustrated that the question-and-answer session that led directly to my being placed on leave was barely more than five minutes. I simply wasn't smart enough to figure out the less said the better and had to give even more reasons to get rid of my worthless lying sleezing ass.

I am frustrated that I was never even asked if I had made a profit off Scars from the Tornado. Not that it mattered since it was a stupid book made from a collection of idiot essays written by my students that if it wasn't for the fact that it was whining about the jewplin tornado holohoax nobody would really give a shit. A more careful investigation would have shown that I have not and that I have made every effort to be open and honest with my students, their parents, and the taxpayers of the Joplin School District about what I would like to see done with that money. Like contributing to the North America Man-Boy Love Association. Ha, ha, ha. Just kidding.

I am frustrated that a book that says so many positive things about the Joplin School District and should be one that any school district should be proud of is being treated like it is part of a criminal activity. Well, time to go to the bathroom with my subscription copy of "Black Inches" and dealing with it.

The frustration extends to the accusations centering on my book No Child Left Alive. I wonder why a few more moments couldn’t have been taken by the human resources director to hear my side of the story. I can't seem to understand that her job was to simply find out whether or not the charges could be proven or not. It was of the nature of a preliminary hearing in which the only thing necessary was to show that the charges weren't totally baseless in order to proceed. She clearly says I will get my opportunity to tell my side, but should that opportunity have to wait until my job is on the line at a do-or-die hearing? I don't have a problem with my enemies having no more due process of law for their lives and liberty, but when it looks like I'm about to be removed from a public teaching job then that's different. I'm special. D-g's own Gliberal Whigger Butthole Fag. Room 210 Discussion is not a classroom blog and I have not talked to my class about it for years. It mentions East Middle School at the top only because, for a brief time three years ago, I considered trying to set up a discussion blog. I did not do it and I have not pointed my students in the direction of that blog. You can trust me. It's not as if I've ever lied.

An investigation that was seeking the truth would have found that out rather quickly.

An investigation that was seeking the truth would never have led to the Board of Education and a vote that is clearly not in the best interests of the Joplin School District.

One of the people who left comments on my blog said some kind things about me- things that I deeply appreciate.

It is true that I am usually one of the first ones to arrive at work each day and one of the last to leave. In 36 years of working, I have only missed four days. Three of those came last year and it took a pacemaker implantation procedure to pull me out of class those three days. When I am working at a job, whether it be at newspapers, where I worked 22 years, or the last 14 as a classroom teacher, I have never cheated my employers. I show up, I do my job, and I do it well.

I have always considered it to be part of my job to help younger teachers deal with the day-to-day problems they face. Young teachers, like the students who sit in their classrooms each day, are the hope of the future.

In the 10 years I have spent in this district, I have probably done as much as anyone to emphasize the positive, whether it be on my Journalism Club website, my Mr. Turner’s Corner, which is the only classroom website I have, or in The Turner Report.

In 5:41: Stories from the Joplin Tornado and Spirit of Hope: The Year after the Joplin Tornado, I wrote stories that specifically pointed out nothing but positive things about the Joplin School District.

In 10 years in this district, I have never once received a bad evaluation. My fellow teachers thought enough of me to name me one of the first two teachers at South Middle School to receive the Golden Eagle Award, something that is given to the top teacher, as voted by his or her colleagues. There are others I thought were more worthy, but of all the honors I have received in my years in journalism and education, the Golden Eagle Award is the one that means the most to me.

That year, I was also a finalist for the Joplin School District’s Teacher of the Year Award.

For 10 years, I have done my best to be a positive force for the children of the Joplin School District. You will find few people outside of those who have brought this action against me who would disagree with that assessment.

For all of that, I deserved more than five minutes with someone who clearly had already decided the outcome of the interview.

For all of that, I deserve to have this hearing canceled and be put back into my classroom,

Instead, my time as a teacher may very well have ended with a police officer leading me out of the building.

Can this really be the message the Joplin School District wants to send?

[jewplin Glob]

Your View: Contradicting ideology

Your View: Contradicting ideology

By Rylee Hartwell and Laela Zaidi
Special to The Globe
May 2, 2013

http://www.joplinglobe.com/editorial...cting-ideology
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8419#post8419

JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin School District prides itself on its integrity and support of creative teachers.

Our former eighth-grade communication arts teacher, Randy Turner, was recently placed on administrative leave. Turner is an experienced journalist, is active in social media, published various books, and continues to write for online publications such as The Huffington Post and Daily Kos.

However, Joplin administrators recently went against their own principles that they claim to enforce. Joplin Schools wishes to encourage engaged, creative methods of teaching through “21st-century learning.” Instead of celebrating Randy Turner’s accomplishments, he is being punished for his work outside of the classroom. If Turner is let go, the district will lose one of its most enthusiastic and dedicated teachers.

As former students, we have seen firsthand the benefits of taking one of the only writing intensive classes the district can offer.

Turner allowed open, interactive discussions within the classroom. He taught in an objective manner, but nevertheless, inspired students to express their views without judgment. Those who were lucky enough to attend East Middle School (formerly South Middle School) have continued to express their gratitude for having a teacher who truly cared. In fact, Turner’s class has inspired many students, such as us, to continue writing beyond our middle-school years in online publications, as well as print media. By taking Turner’s class we learned words have the power to make a difference in our community and the importance of activism. This is a lesson that hundreds of students have carried with them long beyond their time at Joplin schools.

If the school district fires Randy Turner it will be turning its backs on its students. By firing Randy Turner, Joplin Schools will contradict its own ideology and lose an inspiring teacher and friend.

Rylee Hartwell

JHS sophomore,

Laela Zaidi

JHS junior

[Librarian]

The Turner Case and a Stone Wall

The Turner Case and a Stone Wall

by Anson Burlingame


http://ansonburlingame.wordpress.com...-a-stone-wall/
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8446#post8446

Early last week the Globe reported on the removal of Randy Turner from his classroom and being placed on leave with pay pending further investigation, action by R-8 and maybe a hearing before the Board of Education. Simply because of my interest, strong interest, in matters related to public education in Joplin and nationally, I began to carefully watch and listen to all public information related to that case. In no way did I attempt to run any “back channels” to find out more. I merely wanted to await further public information and of course will attend any public hearings on the matter.

As for being pro or con, I was and remain NOT pro or con on the specifics of this matter. I am very neutral on the matter, but did see important issues, far beyond just Randy Turner and R-8 as being at stake.

Not unexpectedly, the matter did not stay “quiet” after Globe reporting, publicly, for very long. The first public comments came from Randy Turner himself, which surprised me. I thought anyone preparing for a formal hearing on such a matter would stay quiet, work with attorneys and prepare a good case to be presented later on. But Randy Turner chose not to do so, stay quiet, publicly. You can read his NUMEROUS blogs, articles defending himself, including leaking “secret tapes” that he was told not to record in the first place. Legal to do so, probably, make such a recording. But SNEAKY, you bet, at least in my view which matters not a bit in the overall scheme of things.

Then here came the “local liberal” and union man, with a public blog trying to make this a union issue. I commented, on that blog, for sure, in disagreement.

So two public web sites, the Turner Report and the Erstwhile Conservatve Blog, (look’em up for yourself) went viral, against R-8, etc.

I responded with two blogs of my own discussing what I believe to be BIG issues related to this case. But I did not take a firm position, pro or con on the details of any dispute. I tried to keep the “high ground” and not get into the details of the matter to be adjudicated.

I did however drop a couple of comments on the Turner Report blog site. Well here it came, that onslaught of “anonymous” disdain from some 21 people commenting on that blog. I responded to those comments but my responses were never POSTED on Turners Report. I emailed Randy Turner and asked that my comments be posted and received NO REPLY to that request. I call that a stone wall.

As well, I emailed Turner with some private questions to him to help me determine if he in fact was a “good teacher”, as he claims he is and is supported by some students, parents, and yes, some anonymous loudmouths. I told him in the email any replies he made would be held private, but I reserved the right to publish the questions asked. NO RESPONSE been received, again. Another stone wall, in my view.

I post below the email (in part only) sent to Randy Turner, over 48 hours ago. Take it for what it is worth. But despite his efforts to defend himself publicly and his refusal to reply, publicly or privately to issues related to that defense, I will remain neutral pending the outcome of a BOE formal hearing in the coming days.

Randy,

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

You are being supported, publicly by some students and parents, claiming that you are a great teacher, etc. Obviously there is NO WAY I can evaluate such claims and just asking you if you are such, a great teacher, does little to resolve my ability to reach my own conclusions on that point. Thus a few detailed questions:

1. How long have you taught in Joplin MIddle Schools and approximately how many students, during those years have you actually taught? Of course by that I mean kids that started and ended a semester class.

2. Of that total number of students, how many were found to be less than proficient in English or whatever it is called on State tests? Were YOUR students about “average” meaning 50% or so less than proficient, or did your students routinely excel as at least proficient in their ability to read and write English?

3. As well, of the total number that passed through your classrooms over those years how many became dropouts before graduating from high school?

4. Of that total number that “passed through your classroom” over the years did you assign a FAILING grade to them for a given class? By failing grade, I of course mean those that received no credit for the class in which you ultimately failed them, grade wise, an “F” I would assume being such a grade?

5. Of that total number of failing grades assigned by YOU as the teacher, how many were “overturned” by your superiors, principles, asst. principles, etc.. By overturned I mean they DIRECTED you to change the grade assigned, or gave some “outside help” to such students and then assigned a different and passing grade for each student so assisted?

Now the above are pretty straight forward questions and I would assume “approximate” answers COULD be provided by you, directly. NO NAMES for sure of students, etc. are so requested, just the roll up of numbers if you will.

Finally, here is a more subjective approach to such issues.

1. Of the total number of students taught by you in Joplin Middle School, how many actually went DIRECTLY to college after graduation from High School?

2. Of the total entering college, immediately after graduating from High School, how many actually GRADUATED from college, in four years or less?

. . . . . . .

.

========================
.


NOTE: There was more in that email but are not pertinent, directly, to providing a means to assess the claim of “being a good teacher”.

I remain completely distant from trying to assess all the various, specific claims made against Turner, as he has reported them, publicly. I will await the hearing to make up my own mind in that regard.

But ONE of the defenses might well be that “Turner is a good (great?) teacher” and is only being steamrolled by the “system”.

Well I can read the R-8 investigation when it is made public or revealed in more detail at the hearing to make up my own mind about “steam rolling”. But no way can I decide whether or not Turner is a good teacher, which he and his defenders claim, publicly, and in many cases only anonymously, the latter being, well I refuse to cuss in this blog on this matter!!

I would also have kept my own public mouth closed had Turner NOT made his partial defense public. But in defending himself publicly and then stone walling further questions or comments, well to me that is wrong and thus this blog.

I have used two disparaging words against Turner’s actions in this matter. One is “sneaky” and the other is two counts of stonewalling questions. As well defending a position in a public blog and not allowing rebutal’s or other points to be posted publicly is…… You pick your own word. Cowardly is my choice however.

So yes I am judging Turner personnally now. But in terms of his case before the BOE, I have heard his defense, so far, and will judge the MERITS of that case coming from the R-8, but only when it “comes” publicly. For sure I won’t just take “Turners Report” as all the information I need.
.

This entry was posted on May 8, 2013 at 2:46 pm

[Meercat #5]

Them ZOGling gliberal whigger bloggers can't stand disagreement now can they?

Them ZOGling gliberal whigger bloggers can't stand disagreement now can they?


http://ansonburlingame.wordpress.com.../#comment-5223
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8459#post8459

So Dwain Bwain Graham isn’t the only local blogger to not post “approved” comments? Geez, what is it with the left and free speech these days?

They sure as hell want it for themselves but when they don’t like what they see . . . well . . . wee…wee…wee…. all the way to the crying towel.

I’ve thought about commenting on Turner’s blog but after hearing your experience I can see no need because I assure you after reading the crap that he calls a “book” my comment would certainly meet the same fate as they do on DB’s little circle jerk.

Geoff Caldwell Says:
May 8, 2013 at 3:47 pm

[Cousin Randy Turner]

Students under 18 will not be allowed into my hearing without a parent

Students under 18 will not be allowed into my hearing without a parent

. . . If I can't get me a mob of idiot gaywad gliberal whiggers and whiggresses to defend this gliberal whigger butthole fag, then I'm fucked!!!

http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2013/...e-allowed.html
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8542#post8542

If anyone wonders why I haven't given an interview to the Joplin Globe since I was escorted out of East Middle School by a police officer April 8, the article posted online pretty much says it all. The reason is because yes, I'm pretty much guilty of all the charges and specifuckations and much prefer to 'try' the issue here -- on my blog where I can delete and censor any contrary opinions.

Reporter Emily Younker has made numerous efforts to get me to talk, both through e-mail and by phone over the past six weeks. I have politely declined all of those requests. I know how them reporters from the lie-papers make shit up and fail to tell the truth. After all, that is exactly how I did it back when I was a reporter, then editor of the Carthage jewspaper. I'm scared that that skank will do to me what I did to others back when I had the power to do so.

Today's article, just like the first and only other article the Globe has published about this situation, is heavily weighted toward administration's side of the issue. Which is as it should be since being guilty as hell of the charges I know enough to keep silent and thus lose by default.

The superintendent issued a statement on the situation in which he stated, for no apparent reason, that there were 28 pages of charges against me and if you want to know what Mr. Turner has been charged with, you are going to have to ask him.

At one point, I offered to provide the Globe reporter with information off the record so that she would have a better understanding of what is going on here. She said she did not do things that way. Off the record, that is. This reporter will have to stick with reporting the facts which are laid out, which means that I'm obviously guilty. Since there was no point in telling the truth and thus proving that I am guilty of that charged, I decided to cut my losses and so I ended the conversation.

The question remains if she doesn't do things that way, why is there a mention in both of her articles that No Child Left Alive contains "graphic sexual content." Which it does. Did she download the book, plug in the vibrator and ride away in wettt sextassy while trudging past muh gliberal whigger butthole fag manifesto, and then offer her own opinion of it or, and this seems much more likely, she accepted a description of the book from someone in administration and then dropped it into both of her stories, something which benefits the administration's efforts to paint me as a gliberal whigger butthole fag pornographer, a description that does not coincide with those of other gliberal whigger butthole fag people who have actually read the idiotic self-serving manifesto pretending to be a book.

The reporter is also misleading the Globe readership when she quoted me as saying, "I don't have any plans to comment." She left ouf the part where I told her I had already made my statements on the Turner Report where the Administration's charges are not posted, only some of them, with my own self-serving comments and those idiots who agree with me are left intact and she could use any or all of what I have written. Apparently, my side of the story is only worthwhile if it comes in response to her questions, while administration can simply issue a news release and it goes straight to page one. That's the way I ran things when I was an editor, it didn't really matter what my victims said or did, and so I'll whine like a pussy now that the shoe is on the other cloven-hoof foot.

If there was any justice according to my way of 'thinking', the administration should have to prove that I assigned this book and deliberately tried to get students to "download and discuss" it before they can start reading graphic passages during the hearing. As a guilty criminal I like to think that I get to decide how to run a hearing when I'm the one on trial. This looks to be another method of cutting down on the number of little gaywad gliberal whigger butthole fag people who will show up to support me.

Cum-cum, cum-cum.
.

Posted by Randy Cousin Randy at 1:54 PM, Tuesday May 21, 2013

[jewplin Glob]

Hearing slated for Joplin East Middle School teacher set for Thursday

Hearing slated for Joplin East Middle School teacher set for Thursday

Minors not allowed without adults because of ‘graphic content’

By Emily Younker
eyounker@joplinglobe.com
May 21, 2013


http://www.joplinglobe.com/topstorie...t-for-Thursday
http://stumbleinn.net/forum/showthre...459#post380459
http://previousdissent.com/forums/sh...2519#post32519
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8544#post8544

JOPLIN, Mo. — An East Middle School teacher who was removed from his classroom last month following an investigation by district officials will go before the Board of Education this week.

Randy Turner, an eighth-grade communication arts teacher, will have the opportunity to address the board during an open hearing on Thursday after having been placed on paid administrative leave on April 8.

Turner was placed on leave — a standard procedure — after the school district received a complaint about him from a district employee on April 4, according to Superintendent C.J. Huff. After an investigation into the complaint by the administration, a 28-page “statement of charges” was given to Turner on April 15, with a set of additional charges delivered to him earlier this month, Huff said.

Turner has declined several requests to comment on the record to the Globe on either the charges or the hearing itself.

“I don’t have any plans to (comment) at the moment,” he said again this week in advance of the hearing.

Huff also has not specified the nature of the complaint or released details of the charges, saying it is a personnel matter. He has said the investigation included a review of evidence related to the complaint as well as interviews with people who might have relevant information.

While not making any details of the complaint public, the notice of the hearing states that children younger than 18 will not be permitted into the hearing unless accompanied by a parent or guardian because of “graphic content” expected to be discussed.

During the hearing, Turner will be able to “state his case” to the board, which will review the evidence and ultimately decide whether to continue his teaching contract, according to Huff.

Rylee Hartwell, a Joplin High School student, said he and another former student of Turner’s have organized a rally for the teacher alongside Duquesne Road near the administration building on the morning of the hearing. He said their objective is to get Turner returned to his classroom. He said Turner taught a “very writing intensive” class at East Middle School and also supported the creation of a student newspaper at the middle school.

“My impressions of Mr. Turner are simple, and they’re that he’s a good man,” said Hartwell, now the assistant editor of the high school newspaper. “He got me to a place where I know that there’s great power within my words.”

Turner’s dismissal sparked the creation last month of a Facebook page called “Project Turner,” which has gathered more than 600 “likes” from students and others seeking to bring their teacher back to the classroom. An online petition on change.org asking that Turner retain his position has collected more than 300 signatures.

A campaign launched by Turner on the online fundraising platform Kickstarter that sought $40,000 in pledges for a two-book project had raised $171 when it closed earlier this month. In proposing the project, Turner described a self-published novel published in July 2012, “No Child Left Alive,” as having struck a blow “for the cause.”

That novel, published as an e-book, contains numerous passages of a graphic, sexual nature. It is a fictional account about a school administration obsessed with preparing students for state testing at a cost of not allowing teachers to actually do their jobs.

Hearing

Randy Turner’s hearing will be at 9 a.m. Thursday at the administration building, 3901 E. 32nd St. It will be conducted in an open session before the Board of Education, which also has scheduled a closed session for legal and personnel issues and identifiable student and personnel records.

[PastorLindstedt]

Randy Turner should be fired

Randy Turner should be fired


http://www.joplinglobe.com/topstorie...t-for-Thursday
http://stumbleinn.net/forum/showthre...460#post380460
http://previousdissent.com/forums/sh...2520#post32520
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8550#post8550

Let's say that there was a teacher who wrote on his blogs that they thought that jews were the literal spawn of Satan, that non-whites should be barred from immigration to this country and those already here expelled or killed, that Adolf Hitler was a great White man and that the Great Tribulation/Civil War II is absolutely necessary so that Whites may survive as a race. All of which beliefs -- and then some even more radical -- I hold.

But I don't expect to get a job as a public school teacher holding those views, much less being allowed to spread them to a captive audience. Even less, being allowed to contact your children after hours via Facebook, Twitter, and other social media so that I can indoctrinate your children without your knowledge. much less the permission of the public school officials, both elected and appointed, to keep a shield of approved curriculum between teachers and students.

Why don't you read Randy Turner's blog? In it you will find that Turner has a big problem in understanding that he isn't allowed to contact underage students via social media without the knowledge and approval of parents and school administration. When people like myself called him on this, Turner simply censored any such comments and put his blog on moderation. Anyone actually reading Turner's blog could predict Turner being caught, tried, and fired -- as is going to happen. Even Turner finally has figured out as much and is trying to "spin" this as a First Amendment issue when it is not.

There was a Facebook law passed a couple of years ago, and both Turner and the teacher's union and Jay Nixon -- all of whom don't think that any of you have a Constitutional right to keep or bear arms or have private information that they don't get to scan and store but that somehow they have a 'right' to a public job -- screetched and caterwauled, and whined once it was passed because it had criminal penalties for rogue teachers like Turner who can't leave them kids alone via the Internet after school hours. They filed bogus lawsuits and gutted the Facebook Law. But still, local school boards have the discretion to fire teachers who are cyberstalking public school students after hours. Whether some students like these attentions or not is irrelevant. It is parents and the public school authorities who determine what teachers are to teach and the hours and places of instruction -- not teachers. When Randy Turner bellers about "Letting Teachers Teach!!!" those of us who know Turner immediately ask, "Let Teachers Teach -- What Exactly?" Some of you really don't want to know.

Turner thinks he is really smart and slick. So at his preliminary hearing he didn't obey the instructions given him as policy. So further charges were made. Why don't some of you working in private business deliberately disobey the boss and then put up on your blog how you fooled the dope and then see how long you have a job?

When Turner was a reporter and editor of a local paper, he abused his power in every way that he could. Someone sued Turner for libel and the owners of the newspaper booted him out for his crimes against truth and their own credibility and profitability. Shouldn't a position in which the consumers are literally a captive audience be protected against Turner? Someone who couldn't make it because of a lack of honesty as a reporter and editor certainly should not be allowed to be a teacher inserting its own 'morality' into the minds of the naive young.

The school board has Turner dead to rights. Turner dare not answer these charges either on his blog, to a reporter with the Joplin Globe, and likely not before the Board of Education. Turner will be fired today. He's getting off lucky. Sixty years ago Turner would have been tarred and feathered.

Hail Victory!!!

Pastor Martin Luther Dzerzhinsky Lindstedt
Church of Jesus Christ Christian/Aryan Nations of Missouri

[jewplin Glob]

Content of book, students' access to it at issue in hearing for suspended teacher

Content of book, students' access to it at issue in hearing for suspended teacher

From staff reports
May 23, 2013


http://www.joplinglobe.com/topstorie...pended-teacher
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8557#post8557

JOPLIN, Mo. — A standing-room only crowd is present at the hearing this morning to decide the fate of suspended Joplin Middle School teacher Randy Turner, who has asked for the hearing before the board of education.

Among the issues is an allegation that Turner posted a link on a blog to his book, “No Child Left Alive,” a fictional account of a school administration obsessed with preparing students for state testing at a cost of not allowing teachers to actually do their jobs. That novel, published as an e-book, contains numerous passages of a graphic, sexual nature.

The blog was intended to be something for students and former students, the district contends, an allegation that Turner disputes, according to an attorney who accompanied him to the hearing.

District officials also allege Turneer recorded a personnel meeting with the school’s human resources director even though he was told it was against district policy to record that meeting. Turner’s attorney argues that under Missouri law Turner was allowed to record that conversation as long as he was present.

Turner was removed from his classroom and placed on administrative leave last month after an investigation by school district officials triggered by a complaint to the district.

Turner was placed on leave — a standard procedure — after the school district received a complaint about him from a district employee on April 4, according to Superintendent C.J. Huff. After an investigation into the complaint by the administration, a 28-page “statement of charges” was given to Turner on April 15, with a set of additional charges delivered to him earlier this month, Huff said.

Turner, who has yet to testify today, has declined several requests to comment on the record to the Globe.

While not making any details of the complaint public before the meeting, the notice of the hearing states that children younger than 18 will not be permitted into the hearing unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian because of the “graphic content” that is expected to be discussed.

[Librarian]

A Message To The Board Of Education

A Message To The Board Of Education

by Anson Burlingame



http://ansonburlingame.wordpress.com...ge-to-the-boe/
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8564#post8564

I requested that the below message be sent to all members of the Joplin Board of Education, before the hearing in the Turner Case is adjudicated on May 23, 2013.

My request to so send it was NOT recommended by an attorney representing the Joplin BOE out of fear that it might unduely influence the members of that BOE. I accept that recommendation made by the attorney, though I must admit why private citizen input is deemed inappropriate as long as it does not call for a “verdict” one way or the other, is a question to consider, in public matters.

In all likelihood, no members of the BOE will read this blog so I am comfortable posting the message herein, before the scheduled hearing. I offer it as a matter for public discussion, herein, however.

This case is NOT just about R-8 and Mr. Turner, in my view. It goes to the heart of the challenge for public education, all over the country, today. WHAT and HOW should we teach students in K12 public education is the issue. TRASH, which the book No Child Left Behind is in my view, is NOT appropriate for 12, 13 or 14 year old students, particularly when it is one sided TRASH.

Whether Turner did influence or attempt to influence students with TRASH is yet to be determined. But I defy anyone to tell me that lousy book is not TRASH and thus has no place in the classrooms or attempted exposure to students outside the classroom as well.

Here is my now not so private message to the local BOE on that matter:

.

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+

.

> Dear Members of the Joplin Board of Education,
>
> This message provides my own input as a private citizen in Joplin for your
> consideration as you adjudicate the issues related to the matter now
> scheduled for a hearing on May 23, 2013, the “Turner Case”. For sure I
> make NO predetermined conclusion before what will be an impartial hearing involving
> critical local, but national matters as well, related to public education.
>
> To me it all boils down to the question of was Mr. Turner a “good teacher”
that made a mistake, maybe. I have no insight whatsoever into documents
> not yet before the public eye. But I have read press reporting, public
> blogs written by Mr. Turner (and others) and one book written by Mr. Turner,
> No Child Left Alive.
>
> I support Freedom of Speech for sure. But any speech to which
> impressionable young minds are exposed must be done under adult supervision
> and effective guidance, primarily within homes, but also within our public
> education system. Our schools must teach students to make decisions for themselves.
>
> Older students can of course be exposed to more difficult and “sensitive”
> matters.
>
> Espousing particular positions on public matters is not appropriate by our
> schools or teachers within the schools. Balance, both sides of political
> or social positions must be provided and then judge how students learn,
> both sides of a position, and then make up their own minds one way or the
> other.
>
> Good teachers routinely achieve such an important part of good education,
> helping students to really think through all sorts of problems, critically,
> and reach their own conclusions. Good teachers provide balance and judge
> then how students decide matters, matters appropriate for their age and
> maturity, for sure.
>
> Of all decisions that I have seen come before your Board over the last
> several years, this one is the most difficult to decide, in my view. But
> it is a matter of grave importance, in my view, deciding what and how to teach
> our students such that they can learn to make up their own minds, later on
> as adults.
>
>
> Respectfully,
>
>
> Anson Burlingame

[Cousin Randy Turner]

I would like to thank muh gliberal whiggerette gaywad ass-clown pedo-fluffer posse

I would like to thank muh gliberal whiggerette gaywad ass-clown pedo-fluffer posse.


https://www.facebook.com/rturner229/...51660803061171
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8571#post8571

Thanks to all of you for your support today and these past few weeks. It was a grueling 12-hour session, I could not have asked for a better attorney, better defense witnesses, or better supporters.

When I arrived at the administration building today, I couldn't find the parking place marked "accused" and all of the spots in the front were filled, so I had to drive past the rally in favor of me. I would have enjoyed seeing that even if it were for someone else. There is something inspiring and completely American about people willing to hit the streets to fight for a cause.

Rylee Hartwell and Laela Zaidi did a wonderful job organizing the rally. I don't know when I will have a decision, but with all of the support I have had this week, I feel like I am a lucky, lucky man.

Have sum free gliberal whigger butthole fag porn: No Child Left Alive.

[jewplin Glob]

Joplin Board of Education to decide fate of East Middle School teacher

Joplin Board of Education to decide fate of East Middle School teacher

By Wally Kennedy
wkennedy@joplinglobe.com
May 24, 2013


http://www.joplinglobe.com/topstorie...ate-of-teacher
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=8572#post8572

East Middle School teacher Randy Turner (right) on Thursday listens to testimony
during a hearing to determine his job status with the Joplin School District.

.


JOPLIN, Mo. — After hearing nearly 10 hours of testimony from more than a dozen witnesses and accepting more than 45 exhibits into evidence, members of the Joplin Board of Education voted to move behind closed doors Thursday night to decide whether Randy Turner, a communication arts teacher at East Middle School, will continue to teach.

Termination charges against Turner include allegations that he engaged in immoral conduct, that he intentionally violated district policies and that he made available to middle school students material that contained inappropriate sexual content.

Turner was placed on leave — a standard procedure — after the school district received a complaint about him from a district employee on April 4, according to Superintendent C.J. Huff. After an investigation into the complaint by the administration, a 28-page “statement of charges” was given to Turner on April 15, and a set of additional charges was delivered to him earlier this month.

The school district’s human resources director, Tina Smith, on Thursday said she interviewed students in Turner’s classes and inferred that he might be “grooming” his students, a reference to behavior often exhibited by child predators.

Turner was accused of tagging by name proportionally more girls than boys on his Facebook page by Klista Rader, director of information technology for the district. She said that “stood out as odd.”

Turner would later testify that he had never tagged anyone on his Facebook page.

Huff testified that he would be more at peace knowing there were no “victims” of Turner’s out there. Holding back tears, Huff said that as the parent of a 13-year-old girl, he could not put his head on a pillow at night “and not bring these charges before the Board of Education.”

No parents or students testified against Turner in terms of his moral character or his ability to teach. The parents and students who did testify said he was an outstanding teacher capabIe of lighting a fire in students who had not shown an interest in writing.

One parent said she wished she had more information about a permission slip she signed to let Turner publish student writings in a recently released book, “Scars from the Tornado.”

The hearing, which began at 9 a.m. and concluded at 9 p.m., started with excerpts from a book — “No Child Left Alive” — that Turner said he wrote as a satire about the distressing state of public education in this country. The excerpts, read by administration attorney Shellie Guin, included graphic, but not explicit, references to sex.
.


http://www.scribd.com/doc/143317372/...Charges-Signed
.

Turner said he used the sexual content to reflect what really is happening in the schools. He said some of the scenes were inspired by experiences of teachers.

Turner said the book was written for adults and was never intended to be read by middle school children. He said he inadvertently posted on a blog — Room 210 Discussion — that the book was either available for purchase or could be downloaded for free. The blog at one time was used for classroom purposes by students, but it had not been used in more than two years.

District officials said posting the notice on the blog made it available to students. Whether any student read the book was irrelevant, school administrators said; the act of making it available was the problem.

The district also accused Turner of posting information on his Facebook page and through his Twitter account that the book was available. The district said Turner’s Facebook page and Twitter account are followed by students.

In all, the district said, Turner on 17 different occasions let students know about the existence of the book that he had testified was never intended for children.

The district did not produce any students who said they had read the book.

Parents who had read the book at the instruction of Turner’s attorney told the board that the book was a satire and that many of the themes expressed, such as the lack of classroom discipline and bullying, were genuine issues. The sexual content, they said, was irrelevant to the theme of the book.

The parents said they would not want the book to be read by children.

Turner’s lawyer, Nancy Watkins, of St. Louis, contended that the district itself had permitted middle school students to be exposed to sexual content that was inappropriate. The attorney cited an instance in which a guest speaker at East Middle School recently talked about how his sister was being raped by a baby sitter and that he had permitted himself to be raped to protect her.

One parent said her 12-year-old son did not know anything about rape until he attended that assembly.

Other charges included Turner’s secret taping of a phone conversation with the district’s human resources director after she had told him that such recordings were not permitted by district policy. Turner’s attorney said the district policy cited by human resources director was incorrectly interpreted by the director. The attorney said Missouri law does not prohibit people from secretly recording a conversation to which they are a party.

When Turner aired the recording on YouTube, he did so to defend himself, the attorney said.

If the board chooses to terminate Turner’s contract, it must reveal the vote to do that within 72 hours of the decision.

Student rally

ABOUT 40 STUDENTS AND PARENTS turned out at the Joplin School District administration building before the hearing on Thursday. Most of those attended the hearing and stayed throughout the day.
.

Jerad Fisher (right), a Joplin High School graduate, and others on Thursday morning show their support
for East Middle School teacher Randy Turner during a demonstration near the Joplin School District’s administration building
on East 32nd Street. (2 of 2)