Remember Dakota Ary, the Fort Worth student who got suspended for saying, “No gays allowed in Christianity” during his German class? Turns out that Ary might be a homophobic bully who harassed his German teacher for an entire year just because he thinks his teacher is gay.
The teacher, Kristopher Franks, cannot talk to media while the district conducts their investigation into the matter. But Franks did speak with a member of the group LGBTQ S.A.V.E.S. to help get out his side of the story, something he fears has been overlooked to Ary’s benefit:
He reports (and has reported to his school) repeated acts of anti-gay harassment by several students that occurred this and last year, including by a group of four specific boys in this class, of whom Ary is one. Among other incidents, Mr. Franks maintains a “word wall” for his German IV class on which he posts articles and images from several journals, including the German magazine, Stern. One of these articles concerned gay rights in Germany, and included a photo of two men kissing. The group of four boys concerned was sitting near this image immediately before Mr. Franks found it had been ripped from the wall. The student and his lawyer are now asserting that including this photo among the others constituted his teacher’s “imposing acceptance of homosexuality” in his classroom. These students subsequently took every opportunity to denounce homosexuality in class, frequently without context; that is, with the topic having otherwise been broached.
On the particular day in which this incident occurred, Mr. Franks was opening class when the topic of Christianity in Germany was broached by one student, who asked what churches were there, another whether they read the Bible in English, etc. Franks asserts that the topic of homosexuality was not broached in any way, and that Ary‘s assertions to the contrary are entirely false. At this point, Ary declared, with a class audience, “Gays can’t be Christians; homosexuality is wrong,” looking directly at Mr. Franks. Franks says he understands and affirms students’ right to free speech, and that he is perfectly prepared to lead a respectful discussion on topics such as gay rights that allows for the assertion of opinions with which he disagrees. He has led such discussion in the past in his sociology classes. But in this case, hr feels the context makes it clear that this remark was made ad hominem, aimed specifically at him to devalue him and any information he might share on the topic of religion, on the basis of his perceived sexual orientation.
LGBTQ S.A.V.E.S. goes onto say that the right-wing has done its best to foment public opinion against Mr. Franks and to paint Ary as some sort of religious free speech hero. In the meanwhile, Franks has received a lot of insulting and threatening e-mails and phone calls and may even be fired if the school caves to public pressure.
If you wanna help Mr. Franks you can write a “respectful and restrained” letter to Forth Worth school officials on behalf of Mr. Franks, calling simply for a “fair, respectful and caring hearing” of his side of the story. Also express hope that the school’s decision remain “unswayed by the public outcry” and “slanted media coverage.” They add: “Do not go into the speculations or reports of his side of the case; that is for him to present.”
The FWISD officials’ names, phone numbers and email addresses are below:
Walter Dansby
Interim Superintendent
Fort Worth ISD
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 817.871.2000
James Wellman
Principal
Western Hills High School
Fort Worth ISD
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 817.815.6000
Ray Dickerson
President
Board of Education
Fort Worth ISD
Email: [email protected]
Carlos Vasquez
Board Member, District 1
Board of Education
Fort Worth ISD
Email: [email protected]
Norman Robbins
Board Member, District 7
Board of Education
Fort Worth ISD
Email: [email protected]
We’ll keep you posted as this story develops…
Chujek
What a retard! There’s no god, just stupid and greedy people with their f*ucked up fairy tales for other retarded people.
Little Kiwi
“Free Speech” doesn’t mean some brat is allowed to shout out not-asked-for opinions in class.
it speaks volumes that his family are adamantly defending “his right to say ______” rather than sitting down with him to ask him “do you really think _____ was the right thing to say?”
Dave
Who is he?
Tyler
@Chujek
Maybe there is a better word choice than “retarded.” Lets not insult the developmentally disabled by associating them with this crowd
timncguy
I thought the Supreme Court already decided that children have limited free speech rights in school because the school administrators are RESPONSIBLE
timncguy
I thought the Supreme Court already decided that children have limited free speech rights in school because the school administrators are RESPONSIBLE for maintaining a safe learning environment for EVERYONE.
xander
Hard not to wonder if the kid’s parents are bible banging holly rollers.
It’s a German class, BTW. If the teacher made them speak the target only, (like my Spanish and French teachers did) the discussion might have died from linguistic insufficiency!
Riker
Wait, this happened in Texas? Well, that makes more sense. The first time around, I misread it and thought German student” was a student in Germany, where free speech doesn’t work the same way.
Here, we have the standard that SCOTUS set out in Tinker v. Des Moines, where speech is allowed unless it causes a disruption. Here, it clearly did, so the suspension was justified.
lemon-lime
@Chujek:
@Tyler:
Obviously being a bigoted asshole has nothing to do with religion. Look at you two. You’re not any better than this whiny little tool of a kid. Go think in the corner until you have something constructive to say like the rest of the comments on this post. Hypocrites.
JKL
His hair looks like ramen. Thats all I have to say.
Michael
This is not surprising in the least.Ive noticed a pattern this year where the bigots are doing their damndest to look as pristine and innocent as possible.
Oh boo fucking whoo you spew religious bigotry against people who are gay then whine and blame the tolerant teacher for your immaturity targeting the teacher for his perceived sexuality in the first place.What a fucking moron these people are this kid must be damaged in some way and I do not mean that against people who are mentally challenged.
But this is another one of those kids conditioned to hate he has no conscience for his actions and behavior.Yet ANOTHER sociopath no surprise with the way society and this world is nowadays.
Its obvious the teacher IS telling the truth.This child however is another boy who cried wolf hypocrite.
hf2hvit
Just another closet case. Almost every guy who harassed me in high school, I later saw in a gay bar.
delurker
He looks like he should be doing twink porn.
Atlas
I’m positive they’re going to end up firing that teacher. Everyone make sure to send some emails.
fredo777
Why is this surprising?
Jonathonz
Oh boo hoo Dakota! You mean I can’t be a Christian because I’m gay?! You say that like it’s bad thing! I have no interest in returning to the Middle Ages I assure you.
Erik
I couldn’t overlook this particular sentence…
“Mr. Franks was opening class when the topic of Christianity in Germany was broached by one student, who asked what churches were there, another whether they read the Bible in English, etc.”
Do these young religious scholars think the Bible was written in English?! Why would Germans, who speak German, read an English translation of a book originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek?
Texans are dumb.
CBRad
@Erik: Maybe he thought they read the King James version. I’m not sure. After all, for years the Roman Catholic mass in the U.S. was done in Latin.
Reason
This gives you an idea of the kind of children parked in some schools, they are just as monsterious as the Bachs and Santoriums of the adult world. This is one of the reasons that you can’t blame the administration for bullying, it’s unstoppable. Most of the blame resides with the parents and prominent outside actors generally found in the GOP and right wing churches. These bullies are relentless, stealthily staying under the teachers eye or turning the tables on the teacher when caught. You see how difficult this situation is when a student can bully the teacher, and now the teacher may get the boot. The sickness of the outside world is going to seep into the schools, and things won’t change in those walls until things change in society.
Kev C
Dakota looks like a young Buffalo Bill from the Silence of the Lambs.
JoeyO'H
Yeah, this kid is more likely queer himself. Most bullies who hanker anti-gay remarks and pick on other gay kids are usually gay themselves. It happens with adults as well as their uneducated hating children… Products of their parents.
Ian
@Kev C: LOL. True true.
Ian
Dakota looks like he harms animals for fun.
andy
@lemon-lime.
So atheist are open targets for discrimination? Lemon-Lime, it is religion that fuels the right and their modern day witch-hunts of which this seems to be a very good example. I’m so sick of religion and it’s inherent mindless anti-reality bias. Why don’t you and your religious holier than thous sit in the corner yourself or go back to the dark ages where your kind will feel more comfortable!
Michael
Wow, you mean someone who proclaims themselves a “Christian” is actually a hate monger? What news is next? The sky is blue? Jumping in a lake will get your hair wet?
velocifero
You go to work and you leave your free speech at the parking lot. You can’t harass, intimidate or spout defamatory statements. Why should there not be such rules in a school? What is up with this — free speech argument. If you in a math class both the student and teacher should be talking about math, not religion, sexuality or Lady Gaga for that matter.
Zen
He looks deranged. Soon to be self-loathing closet case turned killer?
Ogre Magi
I am sooooooo sick of christians
Tim
Seems to be just another homosexual advocate that refuses to hear any opinion that doesn’t agree with his. So what if the kid said that he believes homosexuality is wrong? I seriously doubt this teacher would have had the same reaction if a student turned to another student and said that they believe homosexuality is okay. If the homosexual community wants to be able to have their own opinions, they need to start respecting the fact that others might not agree with them.
Let’s stop with the bullying on both sides. Live and let live. If someone doesn’t agree with you, don’t slap them with a lawsuit, boycott their company or suspend them from school. Any moral high ground the homosexual community had in the past has been eroded greatly by the current hyper-sensitive, vindictive actions of some. Just my opinion.
Michael
@Tim:
What are these hyper-sensitive vindictive actions you are referring to? Not being sarcastic or patronizing unlike some posters here.I am genuinely curious as to what you are referring to?
B
No. 29 · Tim wrote, “Seems to be just another homosexual advocate that refuses to hear any opinion that doesn’t agree with his. So what if the kid said that he believes homosexuality is wrong? I seriously doubt this teacher would have had the same reaction if a student turned to another student and said that they believe homosexuality is okay.”
Read the article a bit more carefully. The first one was consistent with a teacher overhearing a conversation between two kids before class started. This article suggests that this kid was bringing up the subject repeatedly and this incident was simply the straw that broke the camel’s back. After all, it was a German class, not a class on American hangups.
As to someone tearing off an article from Der Stern posted on a board, Der Stern is a mainstream German magazine, roughly comparable to Time or Newsweek. You can read it at http://www.stern.de/ (just look at the pictures if you can’t read German. It’s reasonable for students to look at excerpts as a way of improving their vocabulary.
George M
Tim are you gay?
Or just a reader?
Patsy Stoned
Why is that picture of Ellen Degeneres featured in an article about a gay-hating teenager?
Justice
Christianophobes say the darndest things….
What’s a teacher doing displaying objectionable pictures of kissing men and teaching homosexuality in a german class?
In a press release Wednesday, Liberty Counsel attorneys representing Dakota note that the same instructor had displayed a picture of two men kissing and encouraged his students to accept homosexuality. Many of the students were offended by Franks’ actions and his continually bringing up the topic of homosexuality in a German language class, the lawyers allege.
After attorneys sent a demand letter to the school and then met with school officials, the school district reversed the in-school suspension and placed Franks on administrative leave with pay.
Liberty Counsel founder and chairman Mat Staver said that his group was pleased with the school’s response thus far, although the teacher should “apologize publicly” to Ary.
“It is intolerable for the teacher to ridicule the religious beliefs of students in front of class,” said Staver. “This teacher should not force his views about homosexuality upon students.”
George M
The teacher is back to work, cool!!
George M
It was never an in-school suspension it was a detention. Justice try getting your head out of foxs ass
Justice
This isn’t over by a long shot. Do you really think millions of Christians in Texas and billions worldwide will stand for this from a handful of disordered queers and a local teachers union? Societal pro populo belief will not be subverted, persecution will not be tolerated.
It’s a German class not a homo class. Kristopher Franks should be fired, and billions of Christians will see to it. The really ironic thing about all this is what queer here would have the charity to acknowlege their brother homo, Kristopher Franks, if they ran into him in person? He sure is purdy isn’t he?
George M
The real ironic thing is that you’re here. Do you always troll? Plenty of other students back the teachers Acct of what happened. The teacher posted many things on his board including religious things. It was your boy that brought up gays, I’m my opinion because he liked getting a rise out of the teacher. I’m sure he’s nice… but discriminated against hardly.
You folks love to play the victim when most times you start the fight. I don’t give a —- what you think you have a right to it but you don’t have the right to determine someone else’s life, I think that’s what pisses you off the most
Michael
@Justice:
What is your malfunction dude? You seem to no excuse me DO have a lot of hate against gay americans.So the question is why is that? You need to deal with your own intolerance and quit trying to blame all of us for your hatred and bigotry.That is YOUR problem and your issue not ours so do not try to make it our problem when it is only yours to begin with.
Justice
@ George M
I’m sorry my logical arguments disturb you so much. Dude, what’s with the adhominem attack by calling me a troll? After you address the reason for the troll comment, please provide evidence of your assertion that ‘Plenty of other students’ back the teachers union keeping in mind your referring to 13 and 14 year olds as well as evidence that ‘The teacher posted many things on his board including religious things.’
Justice
@ Michael
Dude, what malfunction are you referring to?
Dude, what hate against gay americans are you referring to, please identify which of my comments exemplified ‘hate’.
The question here is not my hate or intolerance. The question here is your hate and intolerance of Ary Dakota’s belief that ‘Homosexuality is wrong.’
Dude, get a grip on reality and a valid point of view. Was it my true statement regarding societal pro populo belief that set you off?
Michael
@Justice:
First of all nothing set me off.YOU are the one who started blaming the gay community for what happened in this situation.How exactly was any of this OUR fault? Can you explain that? Do we know either of these people? Nope didn’t think so so once again how exactly are WE responsible for what happened with all of this?Dude get a grip on YOUR INTOLERANCE I have plenty of Christian friends also fyi and some who have similar beliefs as to what this guy did.We still respect one another though and care about each other despite our differences.
How exactly am I intolerant of his views to begin with? Didnt this young man harass bully and mock this teacher or was that a fallacy in this entire thing?Were you there? Do you know full good and well what happened from BOTH sides? Im not taking a biased approach here otherwise id bash the kid for what he said which i was not even planning on doing to begin with.So I have no idea what the hell you are even talking about.I have no intolerance to this kid I dont respect what he said however because theres a lot of things that are considered WRONG especially based on the bible.But its his right to what he believes as long as it doesnt infringe on another persons life well being safety or rights.
Justice
No. 42 · Michael
Not only didn’t you address your original ad hominem attacks, you added more invalidly accuse me of attacking the whole ‘gay community’? You, my friend, are incapable of logical argument. Your assertions and accusations are unsupportable foolish bunk.
Justice
No. 42 · Michael
Not only didn’t you address your original ad hominem attacks, you added more unsupportable illogic by invalidly accusing me of attacking the whole ‘gay community’? You, my friend, are incapable of logical argument and should be shunned by the ‘gay community’. Your assertions and accusations are unsupportable foolish bunk.
George M
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/was-student-suspended-for-anti-gay-comments-part-of-homophobic-harassment-group/discrimination/2011/09/28/27628?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheNewCivilRightsMovement+%28The+New+Civil+Rights+Movement%29
It’s the rest of the story I don’t think all got posted here, I think that will work if you cut and paste not sure how to copy Links…
Trolling means people go on to sites and interject opinions that they know will upset the board. It’s like me going on a Christian page and saying God is fake. So yeah I think you have an agenda totally. But like I said you have a right to your opinion, I’m sure you are reading it from the right and I’m sure they have a different take on it. Answer me one question, how old are you?
Michael
@Justice:
Wow someone thinks way too highly of themselves.Do you also suffer from a superiority complex?
I suggest you get a grip professor you are not brilliant nor einstein either so save your pitiful attempts at slamming my actual intelligence with your arrogance and pompous attitude.
Not only didnt you even ADDRESS what I wrote much less respond to one bit of it you also took the cowards way out and changed the entire point of your first post here.
You do not understand humility much less common sense poor you. You did attack the whole gay community you boorish bore .Go back and read what you wrote its obvious in your own writing DUDE.
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V
this from a handful of disordered queers and a local teachers union? Societal pro populo belief will not be subverted, persecution will not be tolerated.
It’s a German class not a homo class. Kristopher Franks should be fired, and billions of Christians will see to it. The really ironic thing about all this is what queer here would have the charity to acknowlege their brother homo, Kristopher Franks, if they ran into him in person? He sure is purdy isn’t he?
Oh how lovely the genius has the nerve to slam what I write and how I responded yet has the audacity to call us disordered queers use the words homo class then queer again then mocking the teacher and claiming he was gay etc…
You sir are an arrogant little hypocrite and an idiot too boot.Proof is in the pudding dude.Your homophobia is obvious by your own words .Hold yourself accountable for your words and be man enough to admit you have an issue with homosexuality as well as anyone who is gay.Nice try insulting me you should actually be insulting yourself.You’re the intolerant bigoted one here not me.
Justice
@ Michael
You never addressed my questions which are on topic:
Dude, what malfunction are you referring to?
Dude, what hate against gay americans are you referring to, please identify which of my comments exemplified ‘hate’.
The question here is not my hate or intolerance. The question here is your hate and intolerance of Ary Dakota’s belief that ‘Homosexuality is wrong.’
Because you refused to address my questions, I won’t address your question of age which is off topic and a diversion anyway. PATHETIC!
George M
O asked for the age, I just think it says a lot, did the link work??
Michael
@Justice:
I never asked you how old you are moron I can tell with your maturity and mentality though you must be at least oh I don’t know 5 YEARS OLD.
Dude your malfunction= your intolerance towards the gay community your stupidity making it look like we were to blame for this your comments were crystal clear in that regard.
Hate? Are you kidding me? You must be braindead troll boy thats obvious.
Hate= queer homo school disordered queers…. Should I continue hypocrite because Im sure people as clearly unhinged and unstable as you are will eventually go off on ANOTHER homophobic rant.You already did anyways.
You refuse to address the real problem and the real issue that once again brainless one is YOUR intolerance.I wont be addressing you anymore troll boy its obvious you are just ANOTHER right wing arrogant little troll boy trying to bait people into responding to your garbage.
Btw troll boy you have not said ANYTHING logical here to begin with so lots of luck with that delusion.
Justice
No. 48 · George M
Yes, George, the link did work. It proves that an authority figure, a teacher, allowed himself to be effected by an opposing opinion of 14 y.o’s, lost control of his class, is incompetent of his post and should be fired.
These 14y.o’s opinions are correspond to natural law and societal pro populo belief. The Human Rights Campaign should be rallying to their aid in protection of right to freedom of speech and religious expression.
Thanks for the post.
George M
Thanks for the reply Justice
what if the teacher is right and he was harassed by students, maybe it was the last straw, idk I wasn’t there
I think you’re right about this not being over, I think more will come out.
Justice
@ George M
I submit that the problem of homosexuality in the classroom should never have been an issue if Mr. Franks had kept control of his class and stuck to the job of training his pupils in the language of German. May the truth will out.
George M
I guess you and I will have to agree to disagree. Like I said I think we just see the world differently idk
I at 11:36pm am heading to the gym, have a good night