Nerd Mentality

'YOU BELONG IN HELL'
Kearny High preacher teacher uses classroom to condemn non-Christians
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

KEARNY - A Kearny High School student has accused a history teacher of crossing the line between teaching and preaching - and he's got the tapes to prove it.

Sixteen-year-old junior Matthew LaClair says he was shocked when history teacher David Paszkiewicz, who is also a Baptist preacher in town, spent the first week lecturing students more about Heaven and Hell than the colonies and Constitution.

"I would never have suspected something like this went on in a public school," LaClair said yesterday.

He said Paszkiewicz told students that if they didn't accept Jesus, "you belong in Hell." He also dismissed as unscientific the theories of evolution and the "Big Bang."

Paszkiewicz, a teacher at the high school since 1992, didn't return phone messages left for him at the high school; school principal Al Somma declined to comment.

But Superintendent of Schools Robert Mooney, who called Paszkiewicz "a wonderful teacher," said he was aware of the issues raised by LaClair - and the recordings - and said "corrective action" would be taken. But he refused to say what the "corrective action" would consist of or when it would take place.

As of yesterday, Paszkiewicz hasn't been disciplined in any way and continues to teach his class, Mooney said. In fact, LaClair says he's still in the class and that he's received good grades so far this year.

LaClair, who described his own religious views as "non-Christian," said he wanted to complain about Paszkiewicz to school administrators, but feared his teacher would deny the charges and that no one would believe a student's word against a teacher's. So he started taping Paszkiewicz in class.

"If I didn't have those CDs everything would have been dismissed," LaClair said.

On Oct. 10 - a month after he first requested a meeting with the principal - LaClair met with Paszkiewicz, Somma and the head of social studies department.

At first Paszkiewicz denied he mixed in religion with his history lesson and the adults in the room appeared to be buying it, LaClair said. But then LaClair reached into his backpack and produced the CDs.

At that point Paszkiewicz remarked, according to LaClair, "Maybe you're an atheist. You caught the big Christian fish."

"I don't hate this man," LaClair said yesterday. "But if you're going to preach your religion in a public school ... and lying in a meeting about it, then I think he must have some problem he can't deal with in a public school."

another link with audio
http://richarddawkins.net/article,335,Public-school-teacher-tells-class-You-belong-in-hell,Jim-Lippard

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1163655439107360.xml&coll=1

I'd say fire his ass. Public school is not a place to preach then lie about preaching. Doesn't it seem like a conflict of interest for a Minister to be a teacher at a public school?
___________________
The sounds of DKL screaming and yelling in agony is magical and relaxing.

Jay

Prove it

I LIVE in Louisiana, which is actual proof of hell.

The food is great, though.
___________________
Kung Fu treachery.

Xavius

Home School Nation FTL

You'd say that. The public education system sucks something fierce.
___________________
Kung Fu treachery.

Pojo

I LIVE in Louisiana, which is actual proof of hell.

The food is great, though.

HAHA! I live in Louisiana also. Very true, very true!

Daisy

You know, for being a superpower and all that jazz, we certainly don't seem to care about the future generations that will be running this country.

Its the sad truth. What else is sad is that public (and I'm sure private schools too) spend useless amounts of money on the gym equipment and sports. Physical Education is the biggest plot of bull**** I've ever seen, and whats worse is that most of the money schools make go to them.

Batist - The Frenchy formerly known as Majinbuu -

... and Knight of Cydonia. die. just die. die in a hellpit of fire from satan's ass.

Jay

I think that High schools at the public level are amazing. All of my teachers were great, and the overall experience was well worth any little things such as food (which you don't even have to eat). Then again I did take only AP and Honors classes, so maybe that's why my teachers were good

Yeah most high schools are basically horrible.

Jay

Meh, I think that if you apply yourself and elect to take difficult classes that require thought and a teacher that knows what he/she is talking about, then you're fine

He's right. While there are so many idiots in the school, some of the teachers are willing to... Do a good job. I have an English teacher who can barely even tie her own shoes, but a Biology teacher that kicks ass and knows his stuff. The kids dont pay attention though, and then they fail.

It doesnt just depend on the teacher, but the kids too.

Chrono

I'm lucky, and i have a pretty good public school. The kids kind of suck, but the majority of my teachers are awesome.

I fight with my physics teacher over whats better, virtua fighter or street fighter.

He's a Sega fanboy.

But i'd also hate to learn about religion, because it doesn't really effect me, i care about learning facts and stuff.

Most people may find learning about religions boring and in their minds inapplicable to their lives, but in actuality, learning about various religions helps to better understand societal decisions. Religion may have been skewed in a number of faiths, but as a study it helps broaden your mind. Merely dismissing it is as ignorant as the intolerance many so-called religious people showcase about others.

Kill tha Rare Killa

That teacher should be fired! ANd the superintendent is punishing the kid?

Agreed

Kill tha Rare Killa

I think that we need to create a system where we reward the good teachers. We also need to allow people to chose which public schools to go to, that way they can compete.

Kids can choose what school they want to go to, it's called Special Assignment. And for every student that passes the AP exam, the AP teacher for that class gets a bonus at the end of the year. So good teachers are rewarded, if they teach AP classes.
___________________