Fourth-grade students in Williamston, Michigan, won’t be watching Donald Trump’s Inauguration speech during class time on Friday because their teacher feels Trump’s statements during the campaign compromise the historic event.
According to radio host Steve Gruber, Brett Meteyer, who teaches the elementary school students, sent a letter to parents explaining that students would watch the 2005 and 2009 inaugurations instead, and will cut off viewing of Trump’s inauguration right before the President-elect speaks.
Meteyer explained that Trump’s “inflammatory and degrading comments” during the campaign and his “casual use of profanity” make Trump’s speech a potential minefield, and since he does not allow his students to watch profane movies in class, he won’t risk Trump’s remarks.
Gruber says that students’ parents have responded with a letter-writing campaign, but it does not appear that Meteyer has changed his mind about letting his students view Trump’s speech. Gruber also mentions, on Facebook, that the school board and district superintendent have been contacted.
This isn’t the first time Meteyer has spoken out against Trump’s “hurtful language.” Although Williamston is a conservative town in mostly rural western Michigan, Meteyer thought it wise to lecture students on Trump’s campaign behavior the morning after he won the election, in the hope, it seems, of changing minds.
Trump’s speech isn’t only troubling midwestern public school teachers, however. According to a radio host in Wisconsin, teachers at a school district in North Carolina are requiring students to obtain a parent’s permission before they’ll be allowed to view the speech—but at least in North Carolina, teachers and administrators are being told to keep their personal opinions to themselves.
