Name: Arkansas teacher fired after emailing lawmakers criticizing proposed education bills
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Arkansas teacher fired after emailing lawmakers criticizing proposed education bills

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AdvertisementHistory teacher sends email with profanity, strong language to state lawmakers about HB 1218Arkansas teacher fired after emailing lawmakers criticizing proposed education billsHistory teacher sends email with profanity, strong language to state lawmakers about HB 1218Hide TranscriptShow Transcript"GERALD FORD" PROCLAIMED FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY áMONTH IN 19- 76. A LOCAL TEACHER SAYS THAT HE WAS TERMINATED FOR SENDING AN EMAIL TO STATE LAWMAKERS AGAINST HOUSE BILL 12- 18 AND HOUSE BILL 12- 31. JOSH DEPNER-- WHO TEACHES SOCIAL STUDIES-- APOLOGIZED FOR WHAT HE SAID-- AND IS HOPING TO GET REINSTATED. HOUSE BILL 12-18-- IF PASSED-- WOULD BAN ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM TEACHING CERTAIN COURSES ON RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. HOUSE BILL 12-31 PROHIBITS THE USE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS TO TEACH THE 16-19 PROJECT CURRICULUM. BOTH BILLS ARE SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE MARK LOWERY. &lt;&gt; LAST WEEK JOSH DEPNER, A TEACHER AT ARKANSAS ARTS ACADEMY IN ROGERS SENT A EMAIL TO STATE LAWMAKERS ABOUT HOUSE BILL 1218 AND 1231. DEPNER SAYS THAT HE HEARD ABOUT THE BILL FROM A STUDENT AND WAS UPSET AT HOW THE BILL PROPOSES TO CHANGE TO THE WAY HISTORY IS TAUGHT. IN HIS EMAIL HE WRITES QUOTE " Your recent bill is an appalling attempt to FURTHER whitewash history. It is absolutely nothing less than an attempt to codify white supremacy in Arkansas schools. " DEPNER TOLD 4029 NEWS TODAY THAT HE HAS BEEN UNDER A LOT OF STRESS TEACHING DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND HE WAS EMOTIONAL. HE LATER SENT AN APOLOGY FOR USING STRONG LANGUAGE AND CURSING IN HIS EMAIL.... "I am sincerely sorry for how I addressed these concerns. It is no way to speak to anyone, regardless of any disagreements. I know that you are each faithful representatives of our state, and not any of the unsavory things I said out of contempt." DEPNER SENT US THIS STATEMENT SAYING QUOTE " I made a mistake and I am sorry about that. I am fighting for an important thing and I fought in the wrong way." HE SAYS THAT AFTER SENDING THE SECOND EMAIL, HE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM ARKANSAS ARTS ACADEMY THAT HE HAD BEEN TERMINATED. DEPNER IS APPEALING HIS TERMINATION, BECAUSE HE SAYS THAT HE LOVES HIS JOB AND WANTS TO BE THERE FOR HIS STUDENTS. HIS REINSTATEMENT HEARING IS SET FOR WEDNESDAY. I REACHED OUT TO OFFICIALS WITH ARKANSAS ARTS ACADEMY. THEY SAID "DUE TO THIS BEING AN ONGOING PERSONNEAdvertisementArkansas teacher fired after emailing lawmakers criticizing proposed education billsHistory teacher sends email with profanity, strong language to state lawmakers about HB 1218A teacher from Arkansas Arts Academy in Rogers said that he was terminated after sending an email to state lawmakers criticizing HB 1218 and HB 1231. Josh Depner is a social studies teacher at Arkansas Arts Academy. He told 40/29 News that after reading both bills, he was upset and frustrated with the proposals. In an email, using profanity and strong language, that was written to lawmakers, Depner wrote in part:"Your recent bill is an appalling attempt to FURTHER whitewash history. It is absolutely nothing less than an attempt to codify white supremacy in Arkansas schools. "Scroll to the bottom of the article to read the email from Depner to lawmakers. Depner told 40/29 News that he was stressed and very emotional, due to the challenges he's experienced teaching during the pandemic He said that he followed up with an apology email to state representatives writing in part: "I am sincerely sorry for how I addressed these concerns. It is no way to speak to anyone, regardless of any disagreements. I know that you are each faithful representatives of our state, and not any of the unsavory things I said out of contempt."Depner told 40/29 that he received notice of his termination - due to violating the academy's code of conduct - several hours after sending the emails. He said that he has a passion for teaching and cares about his students. Depner has appealed his termination to Arkansas Arts Academy officials and will have a reinstatement hearing this week. "I made a mistake in how I conveyed my concerns. I am earnestly sorry for that. I was fighting for something important, and I went about it in the wrong way during a time of heightened anxieties," Depner said. An online petition was started by several students asking school administrators to hire him back. 40/29 reached out to Arkansas Arts Academy for comment on this incident. The School Board President released this statement:"Due to this being an ongoing personnel issue that requires privacy and confidentiality, the AAA school board and administration can not comment."The email below has been edited due to profanity. Follow-up apology emailA teacher from Arkansas Arts Academy in Rogers said that he was terminated after sending an email to state lawmakers criticizing HB 1218 and HB 1231.AdvertisementJosh Depner is a social studies teacher at Arkansas Arts Academy. He told 40/29 News that after reading both bills, he was upset and frustrated with the proposals. In an email, using profanity and strong language, that was written to lawmakers, Depner wrote in part:"Your recent bill is an appalling attempt to FURTHER whitewash history. It is absolutely nothing less than an attempt to codify white supremacy in Arkansas schools. "Scroll to the bottom of the article to read the email from Depner to lawmakers. Depner told 40/29 News that he was stressed and very emotional, due to the challenges he's experienced teaching during the pandemic He said that he followed up with an apology email to state representatives writing in part: "I am sincerely sorry for how I addressed these concerns. It is no way to speak to anyone, regardless of any disagreements. I know that you are each faithful representatives of our state, and not any of the unsavory things I said out of contempt."Depner told 40/29 that he received notice of his termination - due to violating the academy's code of conduct - several hours after sending the emails. He said that he has a passion for teaching and cares about his students. Depner has appealed his termination to Arkansas Arts Academy officials and will have a reinstatement hearing this week. "I made a mistake in how I conveyed my concerns. I am earnestly sorry for that. I was fighting for something important, and I went about it in the wrong way during a time of heightened anxieties," Depner said. 40/29 reached out to Arkansas Arts Academy for comment on this incident. The School Board President released this statement:"Due to this being an ongoing personnel issue that requires privacy and confidentiality, the AAA school board and administration can not comment."The email below has been edited due to profanity.Follow-up apology emailLoading more articles...

AdvertisementHistory teacher sends email with profanity, strong language to state lawmakers about HB 1218Arkansas teacher fired after emailing lawmakers criticizing proposed education billsHistory teacher sends email with profanity, strong language to state lawmakers about HB 1218Hide TranscriptShow Transcript"GERALD FORD" PROCLAIMED FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY áMONTH IN 19- 76. A LOCAL TEACHER SAYS THAT HE WAS TERMINATED FOR SENDING AN EMAIL TO STATE LAWMAKERS AGAINST HOUSE BILL 12- 18 AND HOUSE BILL 12- 31. JOSH DEPNER-- WHO TEACHES SOCIAL STUDIES-- APOLOGIZED FOR WHAT HE SAID-- AND IS...

Arkansas teacher fired after emailing lawmakers criticizing proposed education bills

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