What did Faustine do to deserve the boot?

This is ridiculous he was teaching the psychology of sex and the district office thought it was to risky. How on earth do you think you teach the subject.

Here is the story so far and why the district is after Faustine:

Bill Faustine is being accused of
sexual harassment at Aragon High School for his teaching of sexual motivations for behavior in AP Psychology. There are apparently a few
students who were uncomfortable with his teaching style (in a classroom full of 35 kids) and they are the accusers. The woman Ethel Konopka who is
leading the investigation from the school district does not have a good relationship with Mr Faustine. They worked together over district contract negotiations and she represented the district office; and she in Mr Faustines opinion was incompetent in her position. She's even losing her job in a few months which says a lot. She is doing everything in her power to make Mr Faustine out to be some kind of monster and basically has it in for him. Below is an email from a mom that I feel helps give a little insight into the situation.

Dear Mr. Faustine,

I hope it is safe to send you an email. I just want you to know how upset I have been over what is taking place at school. This is nothing more than a witch hunt that started with the complaints of two juniors. I believe there must be a person(s) in the district who doesn't like you and is using this as an opportunity to get you fired.
(Name removed) was so upset after the initial meeting that she had trouble sleeping. She said that the woman from the district pressured her to write things down, even though she didn't want to, and she also
felt pressured to answer the way this woman wanted her to answer.
(Name removed) said that the woman would say things like,'That must
have embarrassed you' or 'Didn't that make you uncomfortable?'(Name
removed) said she felt that if she said 'No, it didn't bother me,'
then this woman and Mr. Coe might think there was something wrong with
her. Interestingly enough, I ran into a mother at the gym the very
next day and she asked me if (Name removed) was called into this
secret meeting. Before I could even respond, she told me her daughter
felt awful because she felt coerced into telling a woman from the
district what she wanted to hear, and not how she truly felt. You
should know that there are many of your students who feel this way.
The person who should be on trial is this woman. I am sending you an
email I hand delivered to Mr. Black last week. I just want you to
know that I am one of your many strong supporters.(Name removed)
signed up for your class because we were told you were one of the best
teachers at Aragon, and this came from a student who is now in her
first year at an Ivy league college.(Name removed) has learned an
enormous amount from you and she has always enjoyed and felt
comfortable being in your classroom. If we judged every teacher by
'off the wall comments' they may make regarding the subject matter,
than we may as well hang them all. I hope you get through this with
your dignity in check and we expect to see you back in the classroom
soon.

Sincerely,
(I erased her name for privacy)

Ethel Konopka is the woman this mother is referring to and she has
developed a file that basically attacks my dad's character. Why should she
have the right to take a man’s career away for her own motives?! The
district is planning to terminate him this semester and this case needs to
have some attention brought to it. What I'm asking for is help to create a
separate file of emails of support from past students, friends and family
to prove the character of what we all know and love about Bill Faustine.

Please also forward this to anyone else that can help.

There is a free petition to visit at online campaign, by iPetitions at

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/freefausti...

I thought witch hunts went out with the Salem trials. This is awful in our enlightened society. I hope the truth comes to the surface and soon!

Since the negiotions of 2006-07, where there was an almost unanimous vote amonst the teachers in the SMUHSD that she is incompetent in her job, she is out for blood. I guess the blood she is out for is Bill's or anyone that has stood in her way. Who know's what was said during the negiotion table where Ethal was on one end of the bargaining table and Bill was on the other? I am sure that whatever was said, Bill was right in sticking up for the teacher's end of the bargain. I find this a incident and set of circumstances a little ironic, because of the embarassment Ethal incurred last year due to her husband's (S & M) debauchery which led to his ultimate demise. I feel bad for Bill, and it seems unjust. Great question - how do you teach about sex especially in an Ap level course? An AP level course requires the teacher to dwelve into detail of which the topic entails. This is a college level course, which implies the students can handle college level (adult) topics. Hopefully the truth will be told. If it is shown the child was coerced, I hope Ethal is hanged!!! She has given the district a bad name. Anyone that you ask that has an interaction with her has always said the same thing: she is cold. She needs to go sooner rather than later.

I am former student of Aragon High School and was in one of Mr. Faustine's many classes. He was one of the few "life changing" teachers I've enountered and I would love the chance to make a difference for him, as he has made a difference for me (along with many, many others). If anyone knows of anything I, or we, can do to help, please let me know:

Misha.Marotta@yahoo.com

Wow...i just looked at the associated Poll numbers associated with this story and think someone should get this info to the SMUHSD...It sounds like this teacher is getting railroaded..Speak Up and be heard!...

I was a former student of Mr. Faustine and before I judge whether he should of been removed or not, I'd just like to know exactly what he allegedly said to the student.