Teacher who advocated veganism fired by board

I think that forcing these thoughts the way he did was inapproriate for the classroom. However, I think we can look at this as a reminder that there are major issues that need to be addressed. Our children are the future of this world, and if you haven't noticed... this world is going to need a lot of saving. With issues such as Global Warming, war, the economy, deforrestation, health-care, human and civil rights, obesity...( and many more) we do need to begin teaching our kids the various ideas and oh so many possible soloutions for these problems. And I mean ALL ideas, good and bad. We can't hide alternatives in an age where information can come to anyone in a matter of seconds. You can't change the fact that humans think, and learn, and grow. Let us use this as an opprotunity to re-think how we teach our children. Give them ALL of the facts.

Warwak's "preaching" is tantemount to presenting a religious viewpoint, which would certainly be punished with much worse. As for the "major issues", they have all existed since the beginning of time and mankind has managed to deal with them just fine. I don't worry for the children, they are going to do just fine without the adults mucking up their minds.

And I daresay Warwak cannot possibly claim to be friends with the cow that I ate yesterday. Maybe a passing acquaintance at best.

It's too bad the school board is ignorant of the facts.

The American Dietetic Association (and other medical groups) supports Mr. Warwak's position and heartily endorses a vegan/vegetarian diet. The ADA position paper says:(http://tinyurl.com/djodu )

"...vegetarians have...lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians...lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease...lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure...lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer."

Dr. Frank Oski, former director of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins said, "There is no reason to drink cow's milk at any time in your life. It was designed for calves, it was not designed for humans, and we should all stop drinking it today, this afternoon."

Dr. Spock agreed: "[T]here was a time when cow's milk was considered very desirable. But research, along with clinical experience, has forced doctors and nutritionists to rethink this recommendation."

The scientific information about the benefits of a vegan diet are well known in the medical and scientific community. Unfortunately, school boards are stuck in flawed science of the past and our children pay the price.

It is rather sad for an animal rights group to praise some crazy person's stupid behavior. Not only did his pupils not get the education they were entitled to, but now everyone thinks vegans are foam-mouthed lunatics.

His former class will probably eat twice the meat they did before, which is a pity, although there's a lot to be said about the health effects of veganism.

That's all well and good, WordStar, but that's not the point!!! This man was trying to impose his will on the school board, and the school board wasn't having any of it. He was well within his rights to explain and promote the benefits of his lifestyle, NOT FORCE IT ON HIS WORKPLACE! Like a child, he was going to hold his breath until he turns blue unless he got his way. Good for the school board for not caving in to such immaturity.

P eople
E njoying
T asty
A nimals

I applaud the school board.

I get sick and tired of seeing the PC police dictate what we can and can't do.

Now. If you will excuse me, I'm going to have a big steak!

Sorry, Warwak. You deserved to be fired. You're entitled to your opinions and free to follow the vegan lifestyle and philosophies, but you're NOT free to force others to follow. I don't agree with vegan ideology, and if you had been teaching my kids, I would have pulled them out instantly. You have NO right to force your opinions on others, period.

WordStar wrote:

The scientific information about the benefits of a vegan diet are well known in the medical and scientific community. Unfortunately, school boards are stuck in flawed science of the past and our children pay the price.

This is often repeated in the internet boards and it's simply not true. Although a well-constructed vegan diet is healthier than a typical western diet, it has not been proven to be healthier than a well-constructed diet with some meat, fish, poultry and dairy products.

Indeed, it is likely for a vegan to either be under-nourished or overweight; I certainly couldn't carry on with a vegan or even a vegetarian diet, although I tried for ten years. Now I'm healthy again; my stomach simply requires small amounts of meat to function normally.

I'd certainly recommend a vegan diet to a person interested in it, but not before a thorough and lengthy education on nutrition and cooking. I would never recommend it to anyone who's overweight or has a tendency to easily gain weight; on a vegan diet they'd either gain more weight or always be hungry.

Some serious thought on the subjects of nature, morality and humanism is also required, and that's a bit of a can of worms and the answers aren't quite as simple as PETA would have you believe; just remember that for every serving of corn a multitude of animals die as compared to a same size serving of grass-fed cow's meat.

I support vegetarian eating and rarely eat meat myself, but to me the issue is that he is supposed to be teaching art. If he wantted to have an after
school club or something that would be reasonable, but I want my kids to be taught the subject they signed up for. I would not want them to learn yoga in Algebra class or chemistry in English class.

What ever happened to "all things in good measure?" An art class should teach art. If this guy wanted to teach his slanted version of health, he should have applied for that position. It seems that he believes that one voice should have the power to force beliefs. Does that remind anyone of some of our favorite dictators?

And of course this clown is going to sue...hope his case gets laughed out of court before even going to trial.

I'm pretty sure even the animals this guy claims are his friends think he's an egomaniacal jerk.

If I, as a Bible believing Christian who has put his faith in Jesus for my salavtion, were to stand in front of a school and try to hand out phamplets, the ACLU would have me behind bars or involved in a lawsuit quicker than imaginable. It has always amazed me that in the last 30 years, we have taken prayer out of schools and yet teachers are allowed to spread any other worldview that is acceptable. There is no need to wonder that the world is so messed up. Kids should be taught the basics in school and the rest should be taught either at home or in church. I realize that some parents will fail and that some kids are left on their own but if the schools want to take that responsibility and teach the kids differing worldviews, at least make it fair and teach all or none.

This individual is out of control. He has not only overstepped his bounds as an educator-but is acting irrational! He has lived more than half of his life as a non vegan, and now that HE has made the decision to change HIS diet-he has become a fanatic on a crusade. The school board was correct is ousting him-he needs professional help.

The teacher wasn't fired because he was a vegan. The teacher was fired because he refused to come to work, refused to teach art, encouraged students to lie to others, and quite simply was derelict in his contracted duties.(And I agree with many of his assertions about our diets--but come on!) I taught high school English during the Viet Nam war. My job was to come each day and teach my students about reading and writing--not lecture them with my perspectives on the war!

A vegan diet has many benefits, one of which is: unemployment compensation!

Hooray to Warwak! Boo to schools feeding kids unhealthy food!(And lies!!)

Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person. Today, she is honored. Someday, people like Mr. Warwak, who have the courage of conviction to stand up for what's right, will be recognized as heroes. Mr. Warwak, I applaud you! Every great movement has three phases: ridicule, discussion, and adoption.