The Other Shoe

Last week I wrote at length about the murder of Nick Berg .  I wrote that I had felt a moral obligation to watch the horrific video, a moral obligation to bear witness to his death. It truly made me heavy of heart to endure the viewing and, worse...almost...the hearing of Berg's final moments, and I'm pretty tough.

I opined to friends that I thought every American who could stomach it should view the video as well, so that we might all understand the nature of those who have made themselves our enemy, and the enemy of all civilization. This, however, is not what I had in mind (registration required):

Two Northwest High School teachers have been suspended for showing students the video of American Nicholas Berg being beheaded in Iraq, Northwest district officials said Tuesday.

The video was shown to some juniors and seniors Friday and Monday during a total of three class periods, including a social studies class, said officials at the school in far north Fort Worth. Students said it was also shown in a health, science and technology class.

Northwest Superintendent Keith Sockwell said the teachers' judgment was "very inappropriate." He declined to identify the teachers, who are on paid administrative leave.

"I'm not sure how the DVD got into the classroom. But, apparently, students were allowed to view that video, and it appears all of the way through," he said.

Thinking back to my own high school days, I cannot imagine a more inappropriate venue to show such a film. I do not believe the environment of a high school classroom is conducive to the level of seriousness demanded by the subject matter. I do not, however, think that this is a matter suitable for disciplinary action against the teachers. Neither do most of the students involved.

Some Northwest High students, including those who had viewed the video, said they thought the teachers' suspension was an overreaction. The video was shown in at least one health, science and technology class in conjunction with a current events day Friday after a student downloaded it, students said. Teachers gave students the option to leave the room, said student Jenny Butterick, 16.

Erin Bennici, 18, said she watched the video in her health, science and technology class. She said she and her classmates were mature enough to handle the material. Students in the class often discussed the war and also looked at pictures of Iraqi prisoners being abused, she said.

"It's disappointing to see this happen to our teacher," Bennici said. "She's a really good teacher, and she's always pushing us and motivating us."

Butterick's father, Charles Butterick, was surprised that the video was shown at school. He said that his daughter is mature enough to watch the video but that teachers should have asked for parental permission before showing it.

Definitely.

Linda Gunnels, whose son is a senior, said showing the video might be appropriate if students are seniors.

"It's part of what's going on, and it's a fact of life," she said. "It did happen."

That's right. It did happen, it does show us the nature of those who have declared war on us, and it behooves us all to keep this knowledge in the forefront of our mind when considering the issues involved in this war.

But...next time?

Permission slips first.

UPDATE (May 20): It appears as though sanity has prevailed, incredbily.

Two Northwest High School teachers who showed students a video of an American being beheaded in Iraq will resume their teaching duties at the end of the school year, officials said Thursday. U.S. history teacher Andy Gebert and health, science and technology teacher Michelle White were both placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday. They will not be fired because "the administration did not believe a recommendation for termination was appropriate in this instance," Superintendent Keith Sockwell said at a news conference.

District administrators had been criticized for suspending the two teachers. Larry Shaw, executive director of the United Educators Association, had asserted Wednesday that the district had no guidelines governing violent news footage.

But Sockwell said the district's employee handbook does have guidelines, and that all employees must acknowledge in writing that they have read this handbook. These guidelines, provided to the media by the district at the press conference, specify that videos shown to classes must be pre-approved by department heads and the principal.

Department heads. That seems a singularly poor choice of words under the circumstances. Nevertheless, justice is served.

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