Geneva teacher reprimanded for gay slur

Geneva teacher reprimanded for gay slur
By Noreen Ahmed-Ullah
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
October 14, 2009 11:33 AM
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/geneva-teacher-reprimanded-for-homophobic-comments.html


Geneva School District board members have issued a warning to a teacher who made offensive comments about gays during a class.

At a school board meeting Tuesday evening, they told the teacher, David Burk, any further improprieties could result in dismissal.

Jordan Hunter, 17, a senior at Geneva High School, who is gay, made a written complaint last week against the teacher, saying he was "personally offended" by the teacher's comments, which included a derogatory slang term for homosexuals. The Tribune is not publishing the precise comment.

Hunter said he's disappointed at the outcome. He said the school's handbook for students warns that any student making an offensive or derogatory comment can be suspended for three to five days.

"He didn't even get the consequence a student would for doing the same thing," Hunter said. "I don't think it's fair."

Burk's attorney, D.J. Tegeler, said the teacher read a letter of apology in all his consumer classes Tuesday. In the letter the teacher said: "I used a very poor example and words to make my point. These words were inappropriate and I am truly sorry for my actions. The message I conveyed was insensitive and hurtful. That is not what I had intended."

The letter was signed by the teacher and addressed to his "Consumer students." The attorney also delivered the letter of apology to Hunter.

"Based on his years of experience, the board acted appropriately," Tegeler said. "Hopefully, it's a learning experience for everybody."

"Geneva School District is committed to creating and ensuring a classroom environment of dignity and respect," school officials said in a press release issued Wednesday.