John Koszarek is a public school teacher in Slinger. He teaches social studies at Slinger High School. He also identifies himself as a negotiator for the teachers' union.
Koszarek, this teacher and union negotiator, hates Scott Walker and he hates Walker's supporters. He loathes them.
In an e-mail to Representative Don Pridemore, Koszarek writes:
"Of course you are in Washington County where Hitler would have defeated Reagan had he the 'R' in front of his name on the ballot. Enjoy your fleeting moment in the limelight. Soon the people will see that 'Emperor Walker' and you and the rest of the jesters have no clothes."
Koszarek's statement is very odd, but it is clear that he hates the people of Washington County as much as he hates Scott Walker.
It's stunning that this teacher didn't hesitate to send an e-mail to a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, equating residents of Washington County with supporters of Hitler. HITLER!
Koszarek, supposedly a professional, doesn't mind having his name attached to this vile letter.
Apparently, he didn't fear such statements would reflect poorly on him or he would suffer any negative consequences.
This public school teacher, an employee of the taxpayers, claims the very people who pay his salary would have voted for Hitler if given the chance.
Obviously, Koszarek wanted to characterize them in the worst imaginable terms, so he chose Hitler to make his point.
This guy is a social studies teacher! It's frightening to think he has control of classrooms full of kids. He's in a position of authority.
I question whether Koszarek is stable enough to serve in his current role.
At the very least, Koszarek used remarkably poor judgment when he wrote to Rep. Pridemore, going on the record to disparage the people who pay his salary and the salaries of his fellow public school teachers.
What was this allegedly educated man thinking?
Koszarek needs to apologize immediately. Actually, I don't know if any apology he might make would be adequate. Some things can't be undone.
Bottom line: Koszarek doesn't appear to be the type of man who should be teaching children in Slinger. It's a matter of character. He has an appalling lack of it.
15 comments:
Before making any judgements toward this man people need to realize that the schools, teachers, and students do not deserve to have their budget cut. Why can't the people who make these so called budget cuts take as much of a cut as they did, lets see how they would react in this situation. I had Mr. Koszarek as my teacher in school and enjoyed being in his classes. He's a very educated man, who has the rights and freedoms to say whatever he chooses to say. After his many years of service to students, I dont blame the man for reacting to this.
I had him as a teacher. I thought he was good at his job. I don't think that using a comment somebody made about politics(and not even in the classroom) is really a fair reason to try to discredit him as a teacher. Its a scary idea that political views should have any kind of influence on who should or should not be a teacher.
I went to Slinger and Kozarek is a capital Dueche Bag. His idea of teaching is videos and arguing his liberal views. I think they stuck Kozarek in the corner classroom because he's the.since of teaching in Slinger. They should have fired his dumb ass years ago. This doesn't represent the teachers in Slinger. There are great teachers. Great teachers. English teachers, and other social studies teachers.
Here's the problem: His comment is beyond a "political" opinion.
Of course, he has the right to express his political views and share his thoughts with an elected official.
However, he revealed something about his character.
Declaring that voters in Washington County would vote for Hitler, the most despised individual since the founding of our nation, is frighteningly off balance.
Koszarek is not too bright if he didn't realize that what he wrote would stick to him. It's not as if he made his remarks verbally in a casual setting among like-minded friends.
This is not about the fact that Koszarek hates Walker. It's that he lacks the character to conduct himself appropriately. That should be of consideration in terms of his qualifications to teach children.
Not only does he lack the character to conduct himself in an appropriate matter but he also works in Washington County, he does not live here. So he is speaking about the community in which he teaches in not the one he lives in. If he were to make a statement about Wisconsin as a whole, then that is his political view, but by specifically targeting the community in which he TEACHES in, he makes this now a community issue. I did have him as a teacher and he made his political views very apparent in class. I am one to think for myself and ignore his opinions, others maybe more passive. He is entitled to his opinion but aren't teachers suppose to give children all the information they can, without bias and let them make a decision? By making the statement that he did, he discredited himself in the community, by showing how he does not support the kids (or families that might have an opposite opinion). There are many ways to get your opinion and point out there, its not the fact that he did it, it's how he did it.
I had Koszarek for social studies as well. He was probably the worst teacher I had while at Slinger High School. (Though there was an English teacher who I thought was terrible too). Whatever anyone's thoughts about Koszarek are and the type of teacher he is are irrelevant. He is entitled to his opinion as is everyone else. But the biggest mistake he made was going on the record and in the manner he did. Had he chosen his words more carefully to state his view and not incited Washington county tax payers I'm sure this would be a moot point and he would not be subject to the court of public opinion.
As a teacher he should be setting a good example for his students instead of lashing out like a child with a larger vocabulary.
To the outraged taxpayers of Washington County: Mr. Koszarek didn't write this letter to you. Nor did he write it to the children of Slinger High School. He wrote to his elected official, which is exactly what one should do when dissatisfied with the job that official is doing. It's part of the political process.
A constituent expressing his views to his representative has no bearing on his ability nor suitability to perform his job.
Also, what Hitler is ultimately known for was not part of the platform he ran on when he was elected. It's entirely possible that someone as radical as Hitler could be elected again.
I stand with Slinger High School teacher John Koszarek. Washington County is one of the most sickeningly conservative places in the country. He is an excellent teacher. Two of my children were in his social studies classes. It is clear that he was making his comments as a citizen and not as a representative of his profession or his school.
I also had kosarek. Overall he's an unpleasant person and I didn't enjoy his class, but we live America and we have freedom of speech.Maybe if the nazis of Washington county bother him so much he should find a new job...
This man is filled with hate. Hate for the conservative community. I read one post on here where the gentleman spoke of Washington County being "sickenling conservative" well the last I checked this is a free country.. if you dont like how conservative it then move to Milwaukee. You can get a house for $1000 in the hood. As for this man he has anger issues is one of the WORST teachers in the district. My daughter had him and he is a first rate ass hat. He at least needs to be suspended.
I'm a conservative that had him as a teacher three years ago. He has a right to say this, and it wasn't said in class. However he is notorious for expressing his political beliefs in his American History and Government class, which are very negative towards state Republicans. I remember a powerpoint in which George Bush and Dick Cheney were portrayed with devil horns. This event at least sheds light on his bias in the classroom, but what he did is perfectly fine and can't be criticized. Stupid to use comparisons to Hitler, but it is his right.
I had this "teacher" as well as my wife. In his classroom he seems to be a well educated man that has some points to teach. However, I also had him as a coach and found that he often didn't care and spent little time helping anyone become a better person let a lone a better athlete.
One person posted that he has the right to send this letter. He also has the "right" to jump off a bridge, yet he shows enough restraint from doing that, why not the other? I live in Washington County and find it truely insulting that he would make a comment that I would vote for Hitler. I grew up being told that if you win be respectful and don't "rub it in," and if you loss suck it up learn from your mistake and move on. This and the whole recall is nothing more then a bunch of sore losers who want to blame everyone else, but themself. If you can't handle losing then don't play the game!
I had Mr. Kozarek as well at Slinger High School and I thought he was a very knowledgeable teacher who gave excellent lectures. I find it hard to talk about politics and not leak anything about what you believe in. If you look at Fox news they are notorious for being a one sided news channel as are other news stations. I like how no one says anything about the other teachers in Slinger, because there are worse teachers in the school than Mr. Kozarek. I also what to say that Slinger is a scary school if you are not of the same beliefs as your peers around you. Mr. Kozarek is right in that there is a very strong conservative belief in Washington County. If your different or have different views then others it’s scary. I also want to say that Mr. Kozarek didn’t write this to the entire world or Washington County he wrote this letter to Representative Don Pridemore.
My three sons attended Slinger schools all parents now,one sent me a link to this site. If my sons were attending this school today I would never let them attend a class with him. I can't be at school with my children nor can most parents thus we have to trust the judgment of the teachers and school admistration to screen out the bad apples. Mr. Koszarek is without question a bad apple it may have been something said outside the classroom but never the less he owns the deed and must take the consequences of the act. I hope he is removed from teaching and further infecting young minds. I will add after reading Deanna’s' comment all I can say is "what rubbish" if you can't judge then what kind of moral compass are you using? Defend the wrong, the out of control, the unprofessional....because and elected official did what the majority asked him to do?
Had him as a teacher, he was terrible. Like Einstein said, ego =1/knowledge. He was ignorant (do the math)
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