PIASA, IL (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
A popular teacher at Southwest High School in Piasa, Illinois is apologizing for an assignment he gave a tenth grade honors English class. Dan DeLong was suspended after giving the class an assignment involving a science article about homosexual behavior among animal species. Some parents complained and even called in state child welfare authorities to determine if the assignment amounted to child abuse. Early Tuesday morning, DeLong and the Board of Education of Southwestern CLJSD 9 issued a statement.
In that statement DeLong apologized for assigning material that was not age appropriate for sophomores. He will receive a notice of remedial warning and will returns to class on Tuesday.
Dan DeLong's Statement:
I, Dan DeLong, and the Board of Education of Southwestern CLJSD 9 have jointly agreed to issue the following statement: The Board of Education and I have decided that it would be in the best interests of all parties involved to mutually and amicably resolve matters brought before the Board so that the School District can begin to move forward and put this issue to rest. I want to first emphasize that the Board of Education and administration's concern was never about sexual preference or homophobic condemnation. Rather, the issue of concern was the age appropriateness of the material. The board members were never responsible for my suspension. The administration suspended me with pay, which is a type of administrative leave pending an investigation. agree with the Board that the material in my class was not age appropriate for my sophomores and for that, I apologize. I understand the Board has decided that I shall receive a Notice of Remedial Warning. On a personal note, what has disappointed me most overthis past week was that our community has been unjustly misrepresented as bigoted and narrow-minded. Having been raised in this community, I have been disappointed by such accusations. However, what encourages me tonight is the process we experienced at this meeting, a process I have always fostered and will continue to foster in my classroom: differing views coming together and demonstrating critical thinking skills by weighing evidence, listening with open minds, and considering all views before drawing conclusions. I appreciate the tremendous support I have received from students, parents, colleagues, and community members. They accurately represent what the Southwestern School District is all about. I look forward to returning to my classroom tomorrow morning. Dan DeLong
In that statement DeLong apologized for assigning material that was not age appropriate for sophomores. He will receive a notice of remedial warning and will returns to class on Tuesday.
Dan DeLong's Statement:
I, Dan DeLong, and the Board of Education of Southwestern CLJSD 9 have jointly agreed to issue the following statement: The Board of Education and I have decided that it would be in the best interests of all parties involved to mutually and amicably resolve matters brought before the Board so that the School District can begin to move forward and put this issue to rest. I want to first emphasize that the Board of Education and administration's concern was never about sexual preference or homophobic condemnation. Rather, the issue of concern was the age appropriateness of the material. The board members were never responsible for my suspension. The administration suspended me with pay, which is a type of administrative leave pending an investigation. agree with the Board that the material in my class was not age appropriate for my sophomores and for that, I apologize. I understand the Board has decided that I shall receive a Notice of Remedial Warning. On a personal note, what has disappointed me most overthis past week was that our community has been unjustly misrepresented as bigoted and narrow-minded. Having been raised in this community, I have been disappointed by such accusations. However, what encourages me tonight is the process we experienced at this meeting, a process I have always fostered and will continue to foster in my classroom: differing views coming together and demonstrating critical thinking skills by weighing evidence, listening with open minds, and considering all views before drawing conclusions. I appreciate the tremendous support I have received from students, parents, colleagues, and community members. They accurately represent what the Southwestern School District is all about. I look forward to returning to my classroom tomorrow morning. Dan DeLong
