Collier County teacher told to remove political signs out of class room

Published: Updated:
Political sign in classroom. Photo via WINK News

A parent and students said politics shouldn’t be pushed in the classroom. Inside a band room at a Naples middle school were political posters.

The Collier County school district forced band instructor Kelly Parker to remove political signs from her classroom.

“I don’t think you should be using your platform to encourage just one side,” Isabel Perez said.

Perez said it doesn’t matter what your political views are; teachers should keep it out of the classroom.

“Her opinion is not wrong,” Perez said. “She’s entitled to have an opinion, but I personally wouldn’t want her opinion to be drilled into my kid.”

The school district told WINK News they immediately took the posters down, citing the school board policy on controversial issues.

“It’s good to say what you think,” Robert Richman said. “But when there’s a room full of kids, they’re just kids, so maybe it could sway their opinions.”

Students at Pine Ridge said they know Parker and think she’s very nice, but they think it’s wrong to put politics in what should be a neutral territory.

“It’s for the kids to choose what they want,” Pine Ridge student Brandon Torres said. “And it may persuade their ideas,”

WINK was unable to get ahold of Parker directly but spoke to her husband, who told WINK his wife is extremely patriotic, and she knows what it means to be bi-partisan.

The school board policy on controversial issues said teachers can introduce them if they are relevant to the course. They don’t persuade the students and encourage open mindedness.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.