OPINION: Another holier-than-thou teacher who believes teaching is a ‘political act’
A Washington State school district is defending a teacher who posted a “This Teacher Kills Fascists” sign on social media the end of last month.
In the since-deleted Instagram post, Olympia High School teacher Ryan Akiyama (pictured) noted he had planned on putting the sign on his hydration pack for an upcoming race.
According to The Olympian, Akiyama also wrote “Might need to print it on a T-shirt next for all my fellow WOKE DEI educators still showing up with courage and care. Yes, I’m woke. Yes, I teach DEI. No, I’m not sorry if that triggers the willfully ignorant.”
Akiyama further explained that teaching is “an inherently political act,” but not in “the direction the neo-fascists in the MAGA movement.” Teaching is “in service of E PLURIBUS UNUM, All are created equal, and equal protection under the law.”
Given that description of MAGA (and more), “some” expressed concern about Akiyama’s “fascists” sign. Commentator Brandi Kruse noted Akiyama previously had deemed “fascist” anyone who doesn’t agree with his politics.
Kruse posted on X a past Akiyama comment that says “Every day it becomes increasingly necessary to speak out against the evil of the MAGA movement […] This is not what anybody with even a 4th grade knowledge of 20th century history should tolerate.”
Akiyama (who obviously takes good care of himself) also is terribly concerned about the safety of police officers — well, those who were attacked by U.S. Capitol rioters on January 6, 2021, that is.
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The Olympia School District defended Akiyama, noting in a statement its Policy 5254 explains that the First Amendment “protects employees’ right to express themselves freely, including on personal social media accounts.”
The district added it doesn’t “monitor” employees’ social media, but “may intervene” if posts/comments “become disruptive toward district operations.”
Akiyama has been in hot water with the district before; he used to be a principal, but after pleading guilty to reckless driving in 2019 (he was arrested on “suspicion of DUI, speeding, and possession of a weapon”) he was demoted back to a teaching position.
It never ceases to amaze me the ego folks like Akiyama possess. While you may have the right to post such stuff on your personal social media on your personal time, that doesn’t make it right given your position.
We are, however, talking about the district whose school board chief claimed it’s “entrenched” in “white supremacy,” and filled a vacancy on the board with an anti-police activist who called officers “pigs” and yelled “f*** the police.”
Hey — if a circuit court can deem “demeaning” a kid’s t-shirt that reads “There Are Only Two Genders” (and thus is prohibited at school), it seems only logical that the Olympia district can take action against Akiyama regarding his “kill fascists” remark given his social media history.
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IMAGE CAPTION & CREDIT: Ryan Akiyama displays his “This Teacher Kills Fascists” sign; Ryan Akiyama/Instagram