From: nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com   
      
   On Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:11:20 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701    
   wrote:   
      
   >These protocol-communist teachers are allowed to tweet and protest and scream   
   >obscenities at and about the police all day, they can even put anti-ICE   
   >propaganda on the walls of their classroom, but one teacher takes the opposite   
   >viewpoint and he loses his job.   
   >   
   >How is that even remotely legal? The government is now telling its employees   
   >that they can only express their political opinions in public if they support   
   >the government's views?   
      
   I don't know the rules in IL. but if it's a right to work state (what   
   a name) there's nothing illegal about it. Though I suppose the union   
   could fight it but probably won't.   
      
   >Either prohibit political activism for all school staff or allow it regardless   
   >of opinion. Can't have it both ways. Not legally, anyway. Heidorn should   
   >contact FIRE or the IFF, see if they will take his case. I'd say the ACLU, but   
   >they rarely take a case these days if the client isn't a far-left   
   >'progressive'.   
   >   
   >----------------------------------   
   >   
   >   
   >https://nypost.com/2026/02/15/us-news/james-heidorn-speaks-out-   
   fter-losing-career-over-two-word-online-post/   
   >   
   >A veteran Chicago-area gym teacher was pushed out of his job over a two-word   
   >social-media post in support of ICE and calls the experience devastating and   
   >surreal.   
      
   To be clear it wasn't the post. It was the community reaction to the   
   post that got him fired. Which is certainly unfair, if that is all he   
   did, but also understandable as I'm sure the school just wanted the   
   controversy gone and this was the quickest solution.   
      
   >James Heidorn, a "beloved" longtime educator at Gary Elementary School in West   
   >Chicago, came under heavy fire by hysterical community activists and local   
   >lawmakers when he wrote "GO ICE" on Facebook last month in response to a news   
   >story about local cops pledging to cooperate with immigration enforcement.   
   >   
   >"This process has been professionally and personally devastating and surreal,"   
   >Heidorn told Fox News Digital on Sunday. "I've spent 14 years building my   
   >career, pouring my heart into teaching kids, building relationships and being   
   >a positive role model. To see it all upended over two simple words where I   
   >expressed my personal support for law enforcement felt like a severe blow to   
   >my career."   
      
   He was also clearly oblivious to where he lived/taught and how people   
   are reacting to any mention of ICE. Of course a  Hispanic community   
   would react badly to saying such a thing.   
      
   >Heidorn's "GO ICE" posting had sparked an outrage brushfire in his heavily   
   >Hispanic school district, culminating with the teacher being placed on leave   
   >and then dragged in to meet with HR on Jan. 22. The phys ed instructor briefly   
   >quit before rescinding his resignation later that day and was going to return   
   >to school the following Monday as the investigation continued, but the   
   >torch-and-pitchfork brigade already had already been whipped into a frenzy.   
   >   
   >Illinois state Sen. Karina Villa, who in September was caught on video chasing   
   >ICE agents down the street, condemned the teacher's "disturbing" Facebook post   
   >while claiming she stood in "unwavering solidarity" with families who were   
   >upset by it.   
   >   
   >Before the investigation even ran its course, West Chicago Mayor Daniel Bovey   
   >posted a video of his own on Facebook denouncing Heidorn's pro-ICE post as   
   >"hurtful and offensive" to many in the community. "The issue is we have   
   >trusted adults who are the ones that care for those kids when they can't be   
   >with their mom and their dad. So to have someone cavalierly rooting on-- as if   
   >it's a football game or something, yeah go-- events which have traumatized   
   >these children... that is the issue," Bovey said.   
   >   
   >Bovey even arranged for a "listening session" for members of the school   
   >community-- complete with a Spanish translator-- in which parents and locals   
   >raked Heidorn over the coals, calling his post cruel and claiming kids do not   
   >feel safe as a result.   
   >   
   >"First, this started with a two-word comment on my personal Facebook page   
   >supporting law enforcement-- nothing more," Heidorn said. "It wasn't directed   
   >at any student, family or school community. Second, I was placed on leave and   
   >faced intense pressure before any full investigation or fair process could   
   >play out, which it led to my resignation. Third, I lost my career, my income,   
   >and the chance to close out my time with my students properly-- no farewell,   
   >no goodbyes."   
   >   
   >The ousted educator told the outlet that the hardest part of being pushed out   
   >of his job was the loss of close relationships with students he cultivated   
   >over the years-- which included pupils from all backgrounds. "Emotionally,   
   >it's been a roller coaster that has me feeling a great deal of shock, loss and   
   >deep sadness over losing daily contact with my students. Feelings of anger and   
   >frustration at how quickly things escalated without real dialogue, and grief   
   >for not getting to say a proper goodbye to the kids I cared so much for. I've   
   >had sleepless nights. But I'm trying to stay focused on my family and the   
   >support I've received from people who know the real me."   
   >   
   >After a hearing with school officials, Heidorn resigned a second time before   
   >he could be fired. As a result of the uproar, Heidorn also lost his gig   
   >coaching soccer at a nearby private school,and he will be required to explain   
   >to jobs he applies for why he resigned from Gary Elementary School, leaving   
   >his future in education up in the air.   
   >   
   >"I really don't know what is next for me, as the teaching profession has been,   
   >up to this point in time, all that I ever wanted to do. It is all I have ever   
   >studied for and teaching is what has defined me, even advancing my education   
   >with a master's degree in educational leadership because I wanted to become   
   >the best teacher I can be," Heidorn said.   
   >   
   >Some supporters in the community have rallied behind Heidorn, even launching a   
   >GoFundMe page on his behalf, calling him a "beloved physical education teacher   
   >who showed up every day for his students."   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)