A highschool teacher in Aurora, Colorado was suspended for comparing George W. Bush with Adolf Hitler. The Rocky Mountain News reports:

By Kevin Vaughan
March 2, 2006

Hundreds of students walked out of Overland High School this morning in protest after a controversy involving a geography teacher and his statements about President Bush.

Many of the students supported the teacher, Jay Bennish, who was placed on paid leave pending an investigation into his comments by the Cherry Creek School District.

"Freedom of speech — Let him teach," students chanted after they streamed out of the school, located at 12400 E. Jewell Ave., and crossed a pedestrian bridge to a park.

Bennish's talk about Bush's State of the Union speech was recorded by a student, Sean Allen, who took it to KOA talk show host Mike Rosen. In the recording, Bennish made a number of comments about Bush, including one in which he said he could be compared to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

But a large number of students who walked out of the Aurora school this morning supported Allen with chants of their own.

"Teach, don't preach," they chanted.

The demonstration was peaceful, and the vast majority of students returned to class without incident. A small group of Bennish supporters stayed in the park, chanting and waving, before eventually heading back to school.

School district officials have said that Bennish's comments were inappropriate and did not include opposing points of view.

     Okay, I just saw the video report from Fox News which played the recorded tape. You can listen to the complete tape in this link. I didn't detect any note of arrogance whatsoever on the part of Bennish. The student, Sean Allen, claimed that he was disturbed by two things: one, that it was a geography class and that Bennish's rants were totally inappropriate for this class; and second, that Bennish did not allow opposing views. I agree with both of Allen's claims. In the Fox News report, it is mentioned that in the class syllabus Bennish warned the students that he could be "opinionated" and that they might not always like what they hear.

     Sean Allen had every right to record Bennish's class especially if Bennish had allowed it. However, it was inappropriate of Allen to play the tape at a radio station without Bennish's consent. By having done so, this could compel certain teachers to prohibit students from recording their lectures in the future.

     Gee, where were the likes of Bennish when I was in highschool? In Allen's case, at least he has one exciting, enthusiastic and passionnate teacher who provokes his students to react (though not necessarily to think).

     Hurray for the students who chanted for and supported their teacher. I would assume that these students hate Bush as much as they hate Hitler?