Laconia school teacher finds out freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences

The Charlie Kirk assassination is the latest in a series of events that is pitting the country against each other in an online political war.

Usually the bickering goes back and forth on social media sites in a no win battle of slurs and insults that no one wins.

The Charlie Kirk incident has caused the biggest uproar since the attempted assassination on Trump, and in some cases, it may be causing an even larger battle.

While our first amendment gives us the freedoms to voice our opinions, it doesn’t however protect us from public backlash or in some recent incidents, the protection to stay employed after an employer gets wind of your statements.

The latter has shown it’s head in some recent cases over peoples statements on Kirk’s death.

Wausau River District Executive Director Callie Wulk was ousted from her job after posting the statement “Well Deserved” in reply to an article on Kirk’s death. Posts on the organization’s social media as well as calls received called for Wulk to be terminated amidst threats of a boycott resulted in her not only losing that position, but also as Vice President of the Board of Directors from Rise Up Central Wisconsin.

A statement issued by Wausau River District read, “We remain committed to serving the downtown community with integrity and respect.”

In Mississippi, a staff member at the University of Mississippi has been fired after posting what was deemed “insensitive comments” on the Kirk murder. A statement from the university didn’t identify the staff member but read “A University of Mississippi staff member re-shared hurtful, insensitive comments on social media regarding the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk. These comments run completely counter to our institutional values of civility, fairness, and respecting the dignity of each person. We condemn these actions, and this staff member is no longer employed by the university.”

In North Carolina, A Carolina Panthers employee was fired after making a social media post mocking Kirk’s death. The NFL team’s communications coordinator was let go after the statement came to light.

More locally, a Rosendale/Brandon School District teacher is in the middle of a firestorm of social media conflict after writing a short letter on her social media page saying Kirk was a “racist, xenophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic, white nationalist mouthpiece,” and stated she hoped Kirk’s children grow up in a world opposite what their father envisioned.

Social media posts say the teacher is a high school English teacher at Laconia High School.

A sampling of posts reacting to her statement are;

“WAKE UP Laconia School Board members. It is an absolute disgrace to see that someone that is trusted to teach are youth and help them grow into members of society posting on social media gloating about someone being assassinated while practicing a constitutional right at a college campus not only where he was murdered but where young innocent people could have had their lives taken also.”

“Should be fired immediately! Unreal”

“How does she still have a job?”

“Gotta get her away from our children! ASAP.”

“As a former student of hers, her political views have always been obvious in the classroom. & I have been graduated for 5 years. This is not a “new” occurrence for her. Multiple complaints brought to the school’s attention, only resulted in “getting talked to”. She needs to go.”

One person shared a response they got from School Superintendent Weber which said “She has been spoken to to remind her this is not a topic to be spoken about in the classroom. That being said, a person does not forfeit their first amendment rights on their social media page just because he/she is a teacher.”

A statement on the school district’s Facebook page reads “The Rosendale-Brandon School District has been made aware of a matter involving an employee’s recent social media post. The District is taking action to review the situation and has placed the employee on administrative leave. While the District recognizes individuals have protected speech under the First Amendment, it also has a responsibility to review any matter that may impact the learning environment for our students and staff.”

With Kirk’s death fresh in people’s minds, it’s apparent this will not be the last of conflict we will be hearing about this.