Topic category:  Other/General

by Jim Kouri, CPP

An elementary school science teacher, who's a Democrat nominee for the legislature, got a slap on the wrist from school officials when he showed 8th grade students a vulgar slide show that repeatedly refers to President Bush, members of his staff and conservative personalities as “a--holes.”

The teacher's presentation also included the "S-word" and showed someone “flipping a bird.”

Steve White of West Limestone High School in Lester, Alabama, got off with only a “slap on the wrist,” according to the Athens local newspaper, the News Courier.

The video is in a slideshow format accompanied by a song that repeatedly uses obscenities. Along with images of Bush, the show includes Secretary of State Condolezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, columnist Ann Coulter and Fox News Channel hosts Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly, according to reporter Landon Howell, who viewed the video.

One parent told reporters that she was shocked when she heard her 13-year old son and his friends talking about the video and using the "vulgar language contained in it." She said other parents were outraged that a science teacher was politicizing his class and using obscene language in a video created to denigrate the President and other Republicans and conservatives.

School board member Darin Russell said the board learned of the controversy a month ago, but it was handled only by Superintendent Barry Carroll as a “personnel matter,” the News Courier reported.

But when reporters questioned Limestone County Superintendent Barry Carroll, he said Thursday that he talked with West Limestone High School teacher Steve White about showing the film.

"It's a personnel matter, and it's been handled," Carroll said. "Both I and Principal Stan Davis discussed the matter with him. He's not on suspension or anything like that."

However, Carroll refused to specify how he handled it.

Some parents are saying that's not good enough and that the teacher, principal and school superintendent should be forced to resign or at least answer questions instead of hiding from the news media.

Now that the story is gaining national attention and West Limestone High School is receiving additional complaints from parents about offensive material shown to students by teacher Steve White. The school superintendent is saying the matter is "under investigation" and that he may place White on administrative leave.

White ran against Rep. Tommy Carter, D-Elkmont, in 1994 for the District 5 seat. During that Democratic primary, the Alabama Democratic Party ordered a new election because of balloting errors. Carter, who won the initial primary by 27 votes, criticized the party for that decision and tried to stop the new election. In the new election, Carter won by 1,633 votes.

One GOP activist, Charles Burke, told reporters covering the story that he's not surprised at White showing 12 and 13-year olds such profanity.

"You have to remember, the guy's a Democrat," he laughed.

In the past, White also forced one student say “John Kerry rocks” before leaving class one day, according to students in his science class.

Jim Kouri
Chief of Police Magazine (Contributing Editor)

Biography - Jim Kouri

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for a number of organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and crime magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer, Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional.