From the Houston Chronicle: TEA reviewing 180 complaints against Texas teachers for Charlie Kirk comments

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The Texas Education Agency said Monday it is reviewing at least 180 complaints of public school teachers and staff posting negative comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his assassination last week.

It comes days after Education Commissioner Mike Morath warned superintendents that educators who are found to have posted or shared “vile content” would be referred to the agency’s investigative division for potential violations of the educator’s code of ethics. He added on Monday that he would recommend that any teacher who violated the code not only be fired, but also have their certifications “suspended and rendered ineligible to teach in a Texas public school.”

“While the exercise of free speech is a fundamental right we are all blessed to share, it does not give carte blanche authority to celebrate or sow violence against those that share differing beliefs and perspectives,” Morath wrote in a letter to superintendents Friday. “Mr. Kirk was a father and a husband, and tragically, his children no longer have their father, and his wife no longer has her spouse.”

The Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers criticized Morath’s comments, calling the resulting investigations a “witch hunt” against teachers.

“What started with lawmakers weaponizing their platforms against civil servants has morphed into a statewide directive to hunt down and fire educators for opinions shared on their personal social media accounts,” said Zeph Capo, the group’s president.


See Also: Roughly 280 complaints filed against Texas teachers for alleged comments on killing of Charlie Kirk.