US: Students hold rally in support of teacher suspended for anti-gay rant
A protest has taken place in support of a West Virginia science teacher suspended for making homophobic comments on Facebook.
Earlier this month on Facebook Mr Foggin wrote in a mocked-up advert: “Club meeting at PSHS!! Rally around them and show ur support. We are also considering a drunks-t totaller club, drugged/sober club, smokeless tobacco vs smokes club, street racing, and deer poaching clubs. Please donate and support us. Thank u!!! I think I hear the drag already zinging.”
Last Friday morning, a large crowd of students, parents and other community members gathered outside the school to voice their support of Mr Foggin.
Less than a dozen turned out to speak out against the homophobic rant.
“This is stupid. He got suspended for no good reason,” one student told WTAP.
“It’s all about his personality. If you actually knew him, you wouldn’t be offended by that,” another student added.
“I’m gay myself and I didn’t see the problem with it, half the gay kids in this school don’t see a problem with it,” one student was quoted as saying.
Mr Foggin was put on suspension after high school administrators found out about the post, but he’ll likely return to the classroom soon. The students go on spring break next week, and the school board is set to review the suspension after that to decide whether the suspension is paid or unpaid.
‘It will be until spring break. He’s not in the classroom this week,” Wood County Schools Superintendent Pat Law said. “That’s up to the board as to whether to approve it or not.”
The incident is still under investigation.
