Nov 9, 2009 7:50 pm US/Eastern
Students Rally Around Removed English Teacher
Facebook Group Created For Bronx School Of Law And Finance Teacher Accused Of Using Graphic Material In Lesson
Reporting
Cindy Hsu
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
A controversial lesson has landed a popular English teacher in hot water. As he defends himself to the Department of Education, hundreds of students are trying to save his job.
There's a lot of love for Greg Van Voorhis, whose students call him "Mr. V." He's Jay Stuart's favorite teacher.
"He understands students more than other teachers. He's a more relaxed, understanding teacher. I think the environment in his class helped us learn more," Stuart said.
During an English class at The Bronx School of Law and Finance Van Voorhis gave 11th graders studying for the Regents Exam a graphic and sexually explicit short story written by the author of "Fight Club" that appeared in Playboy Magazine.
Van Voorhis has been taken out of class and re-assigned as the Department of Education investigates.
Uziel Rivera was in the class, and said the Department of Education is overreacting.
"I'm already older, I already know about that stuff. He didn't give it to freshmen; he gave it to juniors and seniors he gave it, too," Rivera said.
Students have started a "Save Mr. V" group on Facebook, encouraging supporters to email a letter to Schools Chancellor Joel Klein.
But some parents like Louella Hatch, whose grandson attends the school said that kind of graphic material is not appropriate.
"Well, I really don't go for that. Well, I'm old fashioned anyway, but I don't like things like that," Hatch said.
Fellow English teacher Henry Martinez said the story was too graphic for his taste, but he understands what Van Voorhis was trying to achieve.
"I guess that was what he was trying to do," Martinez said. "He was trying to find material that was strong enough or material that was relevant to what they're reading and trying to transition that into a teaching moment."
The Department of Education is still investigating, and there has been no word on when Van Voorhis will learn his fate. Meanwhile, the "Save Mr. V" Facebook group now has more than 300 members.
CBS 2 HD tried to reach Van Voorhis for a comment, but he was unavailable.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments