No Opinions Allowed!

Good Morning, Breakfastpoppers. Today is Monday, June 15, 2015. Our wise friend, Wasp Tevya is at the breakfast table this morning. Tevya is completely dismayed by the actions of the North Miami Senior High school district. They removed the principal, Alberto Iber, for doing what every American is entitled to do. Please join Tevya this morning for breakfast. He has freshly baked bagels smothered in cream cheese and lox. I will be adding to the pleasure by providing delicious Irish coffees for everyone. I hope the liquid refreshment will take the "sting" out of what Tevya is about to tell you.

Thank you all for coming to the table this morning. Albert Iber, principal of the North Miami Senior High was removed from his post by the school district. He has been assigned administrative duties because he did the unthinkable. Mr. Iber went online and defended the white police officer who waved a gun at black teens while responding to a call about an out of control pool party in McKinney, Texas. Apparently, Mr. Iber is not entitled to an opinion about an incident that most of the country was talking about. I had no idea that principals were forbidden from participating in the world on their own time. It never occurred to me that principals were not allowed to express views outside of the school that the district higher- ups found offensive. I am stunned to realize that free speech only applies to certain people in certain instances. Clearly, Mr. Iber, is not among the privileged few who are still permitted to express their own viewpoints. When did America stop being the land of the free? I don't think I got that memo.

The school district said that employees are required to conduct themselves professionally and personally in a manner that represents the school district's core values. I can only conclude that freedom of speech is not considered a core value. Keep in mind, Mr. Iber entered into a discussion about the incident on his own time in his own home. He did not get on the school public address system and tell the students what he was thinking. Nevertheless, he crossed a line and the district kicked him out of school. The Superintendent of Schools, Alberto Carvalho, defended removing Mr. Iber from his post by making an eloquent but ridiculous statement, "judgement is the currency of honesty." It has a nice ring to it, but what does it say about the judgement of the district office? The superintendent went on to say that insensitivity is both unacceptable and inconsistent with the schools district's policies. He further upset the apple cart by stating that the district has an expectation of common sense behavior. Okay, very nice words, but is it common sense to deny an employee the right of free speech in his personal life? Mr. Iber was not advocating pulling a gun on children as a rule of thumb. He was merely offering an opinion about the incident. The district has shown the students that free speech isn't free at all. In fact, the price of free speech can be more than anyone can live with. The superintendent should have said that Mr. Iber was removed because it is the district's way or the highway. That kind of statement would have been easier to understand and definitely more honest.

Principal Iber has a wonderful reputation. The students like him and he clearly cares about the kids in his charge. Who benefits by his dismissal as principal? The children won't be better off. Mr. Iber won't be better off. As is always the case, the district's decision attracted national attention. Many people came out in favor of Iber's dismissal. Many also opposed this attack on free speech. Personally, I find this incident and outcome very chilling. We are quickly turning into a world where free speech is being crippled by political correctness and public opinion. It's interesting that the "public" can express their views but "individuals" can't. I guess "mob rule" is acceptable and preferred. What's next? Are we going to ban the debate clubs in school? What is there to debate if there is only one approved stance on any issue. Common sense died a long time ago. Now free speech has one foot in the grave. It is a sad day for America.

Tevya's Song

Dear God, you made so many pc police

It's no sin to be pc

But it should be!