We all know that the First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects our right to speak freely. And it does. You have the right to say whatever you want to say. Even hate speech is protected by the first amendment. However, what is not protected is your decision to spew racist comments on social media, especially as it pertains to your job — you could get fired. While you do have the right to say stupid and hateful things, but your job is not protected. You make comments and statements at your own risk.  

For example, yesterday, the country had a #daywithoutimmigrants as a protest against the Trump Administration and its draconian immigration policies and travel bans.  Kids were asked to stay home from school and that’s where we meet our “free speech moron of the day” teacher, Geoffrey Geer of the Jurupa Unified School District and who lives in Fontana, AKA Fontucky!

Geoffrey thought it would be a good idea to run amuck on twitter about how awesome it is at school yesterday without all the immigrant “failing” and “disruptive” students!

The entire pathetic exchange can be found here.   

The sad thing about this teacher is that he should know who follows him. Many of his followers were other teachers and counselors on this exchange, former students, who were crestfallen to learn of the hatred in their former educators’ hearts.  This is a post made by one of the students:

G L added 4 new photos.  

“It may be gone now but ladies and gentlemen l I present to you our beloved teachers from Rubidoux high school. My heart is so broken, I loved these teachers and this is how they feel about us and our people? I understand you don’t agree with the protest or the way it’s being done but to just openly say those comments about students I can’t even be angry my heart just hurts. We all looked up to people who think of us as lazy drunks .. man Rubidoux your people are hurting.”

Many contacted the district and are asking for the immediate resignation or firing of these folks.  The posts as well as the profiles have all been taken down since yesterday.  At one point, the teacher did offer an apology, but my guess is that it is too little and too late.

This morning the district had this Comment, “Six Rubidoux High School teachers have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into alleged racist comments toward the immigrant community,” said Superintendent Elliott Duchon.  

You, as an individual, can say whatever you want. But let this be another lesson about the paradox of free speech. We continue to learn from Spiderman comics: with great power, comes great responsibility…

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Leticia Chavez-Garcia

Leticia Chavez-Garcia is a Mother, Grandmother, former Middle School Teacher, former Member of a School Board of Education and an Education Advocate for hundreds of parents and students in the Inland Empire. Having become a mother at 15, Leticia knows what it’s like to be a single mother trying to navigate the education system. Leticia received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and Public Administration from California Baptist University and a Masters’ Degree in Education Technology from Cal State Fullerton in her 30’s. Leticia has used her knowledge and experience to help hundreds of families as an Education Advocate in the Inland Empire and currently works as an Education Specialist.

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