Introduction to the Incident
The Texas Education Agency is investigating more than 280 complaints of teachers who posted or shared “reprehensible and inappropriate” content about the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. Education Commissioner Mike Morath announced last week that the agency is reviewing such social media posts to see whether they could constitute a violation of the Educators’ Code of Ethics. He has said that he will recommend the State Board for Educator Certification suspend those teachers’ licenses, making them ineligible to teach in a Texas public school.
The Education Commissioner’s Statement
“While all educators are held to a high standard of professionalism, there is a difference between comments made in poor taste and those that call for and incite further violence – the latter of which is clearly unacceptable,” Morath said in a Monday statement.
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Review of Complaints
On Wednesday, the agency said it is still reviewing complaints and no sanctions have been imposed. Any educators that have been fired were terminated by local school districts, the agency said. TEA initially announced it was reviewing 180 complaints on Monday. The increase in complaints comes as state leaders have called for the removal of teachers and students who have mocked or celebrated Kirk’s death. Two students from Texas State University and Texas Tech University are no longer enrolled at the schools after videos of them circulated social media.
Governor’s Statement
In a video posted to X, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, speaking at a bill signing in Forney, said celebrations of Kirk’s death are a “problem in our society that we need to come to grips with.” “If we have members of our society, whether they be students or otherwise, who celebrate an assassination, we have dramatic course correction that we have to take in this state,” Abbott said. “And a place where we can engage in that course correction is in our schools, in our campuses.”
American Federation of Teachers’ Statement
In a statement Saturday, the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers condemned a “political witch hunt” against teachers who disagreed with Kirk’s politics. “These ‘investigations’ into teachers exercising their First Amendment rights outside their official duties silence dissent and encourage the purging of civil servants — both key tenets of the authoritarian playbook," the statement read. “We urge ISDs, colleges, and public universities to review the section on crumbling independent institutions as they consider how to move forward.”
The Incident
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot Wednesday as he spoke at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Authorities on Friday announced the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in the shooting. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said at a news conference that Robinson disliked Kirk and his views and that he had become more politically involved in recent years.
Actions Taken
A teacher and football coach at Klein ISD, near Houston, was fired after commenting on a Facebook post and calling Kirk “racist, homophobic, a misogynist, transphobic nasty person,” according to The Houston Chronicle. A Baylor University graduate student who was a student-teacher intern at Midway ISD in Waco was removed after allegedly writing “this makes me giggle” in response to reports of the shooting, according to KWTX.
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Conclusion
The incident has sparked a heated debate about free speech, professionalism, and the limits of acceptable behavior for educators. While some argue that teachers should be held to a high standard of professionalism, others see the investigations as a form of censorship and an attack on academic freedom. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how the Texas Education Agency will balance the need to maintain a professional and respectful educational environment with the need to protect the First Amendment rights of educators.
FAQs
Q: What happened to Charlie Kirk?
A: Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative influencer, was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Q: How many complaints is the Texas Education Agency investigating?
A: The Texas Education Agency is investigating more than 280 complaints of teachers who posted or shared “reprehensible and inappropriate” content about Kirk’s assassination.
Q: What actions have been taken against educators who made offensive comments?
A: Some educators have been fired or removed from their positions after making offensive comments about Kirk’s death.
Q: What is the American Federation of Teachers’ stance on the issue?
A: The Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers has condemned the investigations as a “political witch hunt” and argued that they silence dissent and encourage the purging of civil servants.
Q: What is the DMN Education Lab?
A: The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative that provides in-depth coverage of education issues and stories that affect North Texans.
