I can't believe this is a news story

[Big Jim]

Teen Says Teacher Made Him Sit on Floor
By Associated Press
3 hours ago

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. - A 17-year-old high school student said he was humiliated when a teacher made him sit on the floor during a midterm exam in his ethnicity class _ for wearing a Denver Broncos jersey.

The teacher, John Kelly, forced Joshua Vannoy to sit on the floor and take the test Friday _ two days before the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Broncos 34-17 in the AFC championship game. Kelly also made other students throw crumpled up paper at Vannoy, whom he called a "stinking Denver fan," Vannoy told The Associated Press on Monday.

Kelly said Vannoy, a junior at Beaver Area Senior High School, just didn't get the joke.

"If he felt uncomfortable, then that's a lesson; that's what (the class) is designed to do," Kelly told The Denver Post. "It was silly fun. I can't believe he was upset."

Vannoy was wearing a No. 7 Broncos jersey on Friday, because he is a fan of John Elway, the Broncos' retired Hall of Fame quarterback.

Vannoy said he was so unnerved he left at least 20 questions blank on the 60-question test, and just wants out of Kelly's class because he's afraid the teacher won't treat him fairly now that the story reached the media.

"I'm going to have to deal with him for two more nine weeks (school quarters) and he's going to want revenge somehow," Vannoy said Monday. "I took the test. I'm shaking. I'm furious. I didn't know what to do."

Kelly, who wore a Ben Roethlisberger jersey Friday, and his principal, Thomas Karczewski, didn't immediately return messages left on their school voice mail Monday.

Big Beaver Falls Area School District Superintendent Donna Nugent said she was aware of the situation, but said confidentiality rules prevent her from commenting specifically.

"We'll take whatever action we need to in order for the student to feel comfortable," Nugent said.

[Banned]

That is too bad when teachers get involved like that.

I went to a Burger King on Fri. and one of the workers there had on a Denver shirt. I kidded her about it and she said people were giving her a hard time all day long.

At another place of business, all the ladies had on Troy P. shirts. hmmmmm. is he the new sex symbol?

[BDR]

Teen Says Teacher Made Him Sit on Floor
By Associated Press
3 hours ago

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. - A 17-year-old high school student said he was humiliated when a teacher made him sit on the floor during a midterm exam in his ethnicity class _ for wearing a Denver Broncos jersey.

The teacher, John Kelly, forced Joshua Vannoy to sit on the floor and take the test Friday _ two days before the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Broncos 34-17 in the AFC championship game. Kelly also made other students throw crumpled up paper at Vannoy, whom he called a "stinking Denver fan," Vannoy told The Associated Press on Monday.

Kelly said Vannoy, a junior at Beaver Area Senior High School, just didn't get the joke.

"If he felt uncomfortable, then that's a lesson; that's what (the class) is designed to do," Kelly told The Denver Post. "It was silly fun. I can't believe he was upset."

Vannoy was wearing a No. 7 Broncos jersey on Friday, because he is a fan of John Elway, the Broncos' retired Hall of Fame quarterback.

Vannoy said he was so unnerved he left at least 20 questions blank on the 60-question test, and just wants out of Kelly's class because he's afraid the teacher won't treat him fairly now that the story reached the media.

"I'm going to have to deal with him for two more nine weeks (school quarters) and he's going to want revenge somehow," Vannoy said Monday. "I took the test. I'm shaking. I'm furious. I didn't know what to do."

Kelly, who wore a Ben Roethlisberger jersey Friday, and his principal, Thomas Karczewski, didn't immediately return messages left on their school voice mail Monday.

Big Beaver Falls Area School District Superintendent Donna Nugent said she was aware of the situation, but said confidentiality rules prevent her from commenting specifically.

"We'll take whatever action we need to in order for the student to feel comfortable," Nugent said.

They should've expelled the kid ...

r:>)

[Big Jim]

It took me a while to get that, Rob. Or maybe suspend him until after the game was over. lol

[BDR]

(one for the thumb ...)

r:>)

[YankeeRose]

If the Teacher hadn't made him sit on the floor, I wouldn't have a problem with it. That part was uncalled for and I'd say the Teacher screwed up big time. The student did learn a valuable lesson, though! If he didn't before, now he knows what it feels like to be ostracized due to simply being different.



undercoverjoe, I know that's a bit of the hype, but I don't think of Polamalu as so much of a sex symbol. I think it's his athleticism, personality and passion for the game that are making him so popular, plus he seems like such a nice boy, too! (Except to my mother. She can't stand him simply due to his hair - she can't see past it. I hope he never changes it. )

[BDR]

If the Teacher hadn't made him sit on the floor, I wouldn't have a problem with it. That part was uncalled for and I'd say the Teacher screwed up big time.

... but the kid was wearing a Broncos jersey ...

r:>)

[MOONDOGGY]

The kid obviously wore that Jersey to be different, stir things up, and cause a commotion. He anticipated when he put that jersey on that morning that he would get under peoples' skin without even saying a word. He is just mad becuase he didn't get away with it.

He's just lucky he didn't get the snot kicked out of him by other students.

[rreihart]

The teacher should be suspended, if not fired. His job is to educate. He is not to pass judgements on students or treat any student any differently than any other. He went way out of bounds in his treatment of this student.

[J Michaels]

The teacher should be suspended, if not fired. His job is to educate. He is not to pass judgements on students or treat any student any differently than any other. He went way out of bounds in his treatment of this student.

That poor boy... He had to sit on the floor. ON THE FLOOR. OH THE HUMILIATION! Give me a break.

Hmmm... A class on ethnicity, no doubt trying to EDUCATE people about being treated unfairly due to superficial differences.... Sounds like a pretty effective lesson.

[lonewolf]

Eth-fucking-nicity class?

If I was that student's father, the 1st thing I would do is give the teacher an ethnicity lesson. Then it would be off to the school board to ream them about whacko education programs.

[J Michaels]

"I'm shaking. I'm furious. I didn't know what to do.".

I wonder how he would feel if it was his skin that caused him to be treated in such a horrible, degrading way. He must have felt just like the man in Texas a couple years ago, dragged behind a couple of rednecks in their pickup truck. At least this kid can take the jersey off.

[YankeeRose]

If the Teacher hadn't made him sit on the floor, I wouldn't have a problem with it. That part was uncalled for and I'd say the Teacher screwed up big time.

... but the kid was wearing a Broncos jersey ...

r:>)

Believe you me, I understand totally...hell, I would've joined in throwing crumpled up pieces of paper at him! All in good natured ribbing, not to blatantly humiliate him...we are adults, after all. Aren't we? Yeah, we are. At least most of the time! Making him sit on the floor was very wrong. I feel having papers thrown at him was more than enough of a "lesson in humiliation".


Sidenote: My one neighbor's son came over Thursday and Friday morning after they went to work. (When he comes over, he's here roughly an hour and then he and my son walk up to the Bus Stop together.) Not long before they left on Thursday, he keeps yelling over and over, "the Broncos are gonna WIN!", in that shrill voice only some almost 7 year old boys can make...I tried ignoring him, but that didn't work, so then I simply kept telling him "no, the Steelers are going to win". When the same scenario was playing out on Friday a few minutes before they were due to leave, I told him to get out of my house and that he could wait on the porch if he was going to keep saying that. The terrible thing is, I was only 1/2 joking! No, he didn't stop. He was still yelling it, my son yelling back to him as they were walking up the street. He hasn't been over the last 2 mornings, but I just can't wait to see him!

[f.sciarrillo]

The fact that the teacher encouraged the students to do that is enough for me. If I was on the school board I would be giving him his walking papers. He is there to teach not be a dink. It doesn't matter what the kid was wearing, or if he did it to stur things up. The teacher is supposed to make/set an example, not encourage violence .. This is from my adult point of view.

From my student point of view - I would have kicked his ass lol ..