Two educators lost their jobs this week after posting online reactions to the third assassination attempt against President Trump, raising questions about free speech limits for teachers and institutional tolerance for politically charged commentary.
Ohio Teacher Terminated After TikTok Video
Corinne Baum, a preschool teacher at BrightPath Bridgetown Child Care Center in Cincinnati, was fired Monday following a TikTok video expressing frustration that President Trump survived the latest assassination attempt. In the now-deleted video that spread rapidly online, Baum sighed while stating she woke up to news, but not the news she wanted. She suggested the incident was meant to distract Americans from other issues. BrightPath issued a statement condemning any calls for violence, declaring the comments deeply inconsistent with their organizational values.
Wisconsin Teacher Placed on Leave
Patrick Meyer, a social studies teacher at Kaukauna High School in Wisconsin, faced administrative leave after posting on X that he was not impressed with recent presidential assassins. Meyer’s deleted post complained society needs to make Americans great assassins again, referencing historical presidential assassins including John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald. The post called recent attempts embarrassing and suggested previous assassins would be disappointed. School officials acted swiftly to address the inflammatory commentary from the educator.
Third Attempt on President’s Life
The assassination attempt occurred at a dinner honoring the Washington press corps, when a CalTech graduate working as a California teacher was subdued by Secret Service agents outside the ballroom. The president and his cabinet were evacuated dramatically, with the event postponed. This marks the third such attempt on Trump’s life during his presidency, highlighting ongoing security concerns and the volatile political climate surrounding the administration. Secret Service agents prevented the attacker from reaching the president or guests.
Institutional Response and Free Speech Debate
Both terminations demonstrate how educational institutions handle employee speech that crosses perceived boundaries. BrightPath explicitly stated their zero-tolerance policy for violence advocacy, while Wisconsin school officials moved quickly to distance themselves from Meyer’s comments. The cases illustrate the tension between personal expression rights and professional responsibilities for educators. Schools face increasing pressure to monitor teacher conduct on social media platforms, particularly when comments involve violence against public officials. The swift institutional responses reflect concerns about maintaining community trust and protecting organizational reputations in politically divided times.
Please stop calling em “teachers”!!
They are teachers because they have a degree and a license to teach. They also have the right to voice their opinions as guaranteed by our CONSTITUTION, and if a teacher had taught you about FREEDOM OF SPEECH, you should know that. You might not agree or like their views, but it is their right.
Yes they have the right to express their opinions.. But their employer also has the Right to hold their employees to terms and standards of conduct as a condition of employment which they would have had to sign for upon employment. These persons do not have the right to cause reputational harm to their Employer. We all have to make those choices – is this worth causing trouble for me at work? No one has a Right to a job.
You had better try to read the first amendment BEFORE you talk about rights. You must have slept through government class or, just failed to READ THE ENTIRE AMENDMENTS.
My thought is a TEACHERS free speech rights cease when radical ideas are strong enough to influence their teaching and subject their pupils to propaganda.
Sorry, but welcome to the REAL world!! Freedom of speech is not available for some Americans! If you are a teacher, public person you can’t always say some things in public!!
People need to support our “Current” President even if they do not agree with their Political Affiliation. People in this Country (The United States of America) need to realize that our Children have to have Constructive Direction in order for future Generations to carry on what our Forefathers envisioned. The United States of America is the Only Country on Earth that keeps our Planet on track, inspite of all of our issues. Destruction of our Country and what it provides the World would surely prove a speedy demise of our planet. Wokers, progressives, Democrats, and all of the other questionable people living in our Country will no doubt meet a brick wall in their efforts to destroy our Country from now on.
WRONG! NEVER!
I completely agree with u. The current bullshit going -on is a problem. Negative comments represent people that really have no idea of the harm being done . I pray the self-serving Democrates are held accountable for their actions promoting violence against our President.
These people’s behavior is disgusting. They live out their lives according to their hate.
So disgusting!
“teaching” children “your” opinion, as opposed to what they “should” be taught are two different things.
Where does it state that the teacher was , “Teaching children HER opinion?” She did not express herself IN THE CLASSROOM, her post was on X, formerly known as Twitter. As far as I know, Social Media does not discriminate according to one’s profession. Everyone has equal access to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court, however, has rendered our Constitution a convenience to allow Donald J. Trump to dictate HIS opinions upon the American people. Lucky for him, the ignorant and uber wealthy side with him, thus, he is free to run amok, while the average educated citizen is being suppressed.
Does the following sound eerily familiar?
To understand whether Hitler suppressed educated individuals, consider the following points:
The Nazi regime targeted intellectuals, particularly those with leftist or liberal views.
Many professors and educators were dismissed from their positions for opposing Nazi ideology.
The regime promoted anti-intellectualism, favoring propaganda over scholarly discourse.
Jewish scholars and scientists faced severe persecution, leading to their exile or execution.
The curriculum in schools and universities was heavily censored to align with Nazi beliefs.
Critical thinking and dissent were discouraged, stifling academic freedom and innovation.
I believe there is a difference between free speech and trying to inspire violence, murder or the overthrowing of our government.
I believe those responsible for children should be held at the highest level of accountability to ensure they are not intentionally molding our children into violent people incapable of hearing or attempting to understand those with a different opinion. We are not NAZIs.
There should be a basic level of decency and respect required for jobs where children are involved and all government jobs. There is nothing decent about promoting murder of those with a different opinion or political party.
I could not stand Biden or any Democrat for that matter as they have truly moved towards communism and their filth and corruption are off the charts. I however, have not called for their assassination nor would I.
these so called teachers lose license to teach anywhere in the USA
prosecute to maximum
SHOULD BE KEPT AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN FOREVER……….