Mr. D

On Monday of last week one of the most inspiring teachers I have ever known was suspended for a week, because he brought in an article for his students to read. This article was about animals and their homosexual tendencies which is fact, not a controversial issue. The article was an optional assignment and if a student didn't want to read it, he/she was not forced to. The article's opening paragraph was graphic, yes, but this was just the so called "attention getter". This was in no means something to get suspended over. A parent called the board and complained about this article which resulted in his suspension.

Here's the link to the article:
http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/the_gay_animal_kingdom/

Last night was the board meeting to decide whether or not Mr. DeLong got to keep his job. The meeting started at 6 and I got there around 5:30ish. There was already a heck of alot of people there. Throughout the next half hour more people began showing up. The door opened and about 80 to 90 people crammed in the little room to hear the meeting. The members came in and called the meeting to session and asked for executive session and made us all leave the room. At this point I'd say there was atleast 100 students there. News Channels 2 and 5 were there interviewing everyone and it was pretty chaotic.
Everyone sat outside the building freezing their butts off until about 7:30 when we were informed that we could only have 1 speaker for all of us for public comment. We chose our speaker and then we sat outside until 10:30. I'm telling you what, the board members drug this meeting on sooo long. Everyone was so cold and so hungry but refused to leave. I went home and grabbed blankets and food for the people around me who were still there.
After we finally got to speak and everything they called us back in at 12:30.
seriously from 6:30 to 12:30 we all sat outside the building in support for Mr. DeLong.

Here's the link to the newstory:
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=188783

Mr.DeLong is by far my favorite teacher, I have learned so much from him and not just about english. I learned about life, and I couldn't have asked for a better person to educate me. Today as I'm walking down the hall on my way to lunch he is at his door once again and he looks and smiles and says "Hey Megan!" I could tell he was so happy to be back. I almost began to cry. Everyday that man is in the hallway offering a greeting and smile to anyone and everyone. Even if you weren't in his class.
He has inspired so many people, I know he changed my life.