Brookeland School District, Texas: Teacher accused of atheism is suspended, resigns

update 2/6/09: see below. Teacher resigns

Brookland Independent School District locates itself in "Deep East Texas". It's a two-school district, the elementary school (PK-5) and the high school (6-12). The total district enrollment is about 340 students.

According to an article at Democracy for America, the teacher, Richard Mullens, taught history and government.  On  January 16, Mr. Mullens was put on paid administrative leave  for being "an atheist" and "too liberal".  

A reaction from one of  Mr. Mullens' students  at Brad Watkins' Confession of a West Tennessee Liberal:

I would like to start this comment off by saying I am a student in Brookeland ISD and have had Mr. Mullens as my history teacher since junior high. I am now a junior in school. Mr Mullens is a great teacher. Since when should we start judging teachers by their religious beliefs? What we're dealing with here is not fair. They have jumped from one thing to the next here. What's happening here is not just. I have learned so much from Mullens the past few years.

The chain of events:

• November 7, 2008, in a conversation between Mr. Mullens and the then-superintendent Lana Comeaux:

  [Ms. Comeaux] asked me if I was an atheist and I refused to answer the question. I said, "I won't play this game. I didn't know you had to take a religious test to be a teacher in the state of Texas." Nothing was said after that point, although there was a lot of tension among the other coaches about whether they would be able to keep their jobs or not, because [Ms. Comeaux] also told them that many of them were on the list.

• January 7, 2009-- a female student leaves Mr. Mullens' classroom to tell the principal that there was an inappropriate discussion in his classroom.  The student's mother also came to school, and had words with the principal.
• January 12, 2009--a meeting between the mother, the school principal, and Mr. Mullens was held in the principal's office. In Mr. Mullen's words:

  [Mother of Student] was very angry. She accused me of being an atheist, saying I was too liberal, and that I allowed the students to talk about inappropriate things in the classroom. I told her that occasionally students would get on topics and say things, but I was unable to censor them before they were able to say them. She said that I called her daughter a name and I denied the accusation. But then she said that I didn't believe in god and shouldn't be teaching. She also said that she had spoken to 3 other board members who agreed with her that I shouldn't be teaching because I was too liberal and I was an atheist.

• January 15, 2009--there was a regularly scheduled board meeting. Mr. Mullens was not on the agenda, but several individuals spoke about Mr. Mullens, expressing the concern that he was "an atheist" and "too liberal".
• January 16, 2009--Mr. Mullens was called to his principal's office.

  [Principal] informed me that I had been put on administrative leave with pay. The reasons, as stated to me by [Principal] at the time, were that I was accused of being an atheist and teaching atheism in the classroom, and I was too liberal.

• January 23--A closed-door meeting was held between [Principal] and members of the school board. It is not clear from Mr. Mullens' account if the meeting included all seven members of the board, or a sub-set. It is also not clear where the meeting was held. It is possible that it was held at the Brookeland Missionary Baptist Church.
• January 24, in Mr. Mullens' words:

  I received a certified letter from [Principal] that stated that the causes for my suspension apparently had been changed to inappropriate contact with students and comments. He admonished me in the letter for having contact with students who had text-messaged me during my first week of suspension, but I had not received any administrative directive, or anything in writing, prior to that time telling me I could not have contact with students.

Background:

Pharyngula

Charlie Beckett is the president of the school board.

The Handbook of Texas Online describing Brookeland.
===
Brookeline ISD is in District 8 of the Texas State Board of Education.

District 8 - The Woodlands
Barbara Cargill (R)
61 W. Wedgemere Circle
The Woodlands, TX 77381
281 465-8095
sboesupport@tea.state.tx.us
=====
Brookeland is represented in the Texas Senate by:
Senate District 3--Senator Robert Nichols
Capitol Office: EXT E1.708
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0103
Capitol Address: P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
District Address: 329 Neches Street
Jacksonville TX 75766
Phone: (903) 589-3003

====
Brookeland is represented in the Texas congress by:
Texas State Representative
House District 9--Representative Wayne Christian
Capitol Office: CAP GN.12
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0556
Capitol Address: P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
District Address: 204 Houston
Center TX 75935
Phone: (936) 598-9966
======

Brookeland and Jasper county may have one of two US Congressional representatives
Texas U.S. Representatives
Congressional District 8--Congressman Kevin Brady
District Address: 301 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4901
District Offices
200 River Pointe Dr., Suite 304
Conroe, TX 77304
Phone: (936) 441-5700

1202 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite 8
Huntsville, TX 77340
Phone: (936) 439-9542

420 Green Ave
Orange, TX 77630
Phone: (409) 883-4197
Congressional District 1--Congressman Louie Gohmert
District Address: 510 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3035
=======

News article: From the Beaumont Enterprise

Brookeland ISD teacher resigns under pressure from school, parents

By EMILY GUEVARA February, 5, 2009

A Brookeland High School teacher said he is not sure what his next step will be after resigning from his job of six years.

Richard Mullens, a teacher for more than 30 years, resigned his position as history teacher after being placed on paid administrative leave by the Brookeland Independent School District.

Richard Turner, the high school's principal, said parents had voiced concerns about Mullens' classroom management.

These parents told school board members at a January board meeting that Mullens ran his classes too loosely and allowed students to discuss inappropriate topics, Turner said by phone Thursday.

Mullens said the district and parents singled him out because of his religious and political views, which are in the minority.

"I teach in a very open classroom, (that) I love and like," Mullens said by phone. "And the kids learn that way through open discussion and debate."

Brookeland ISD is located in the northeast corner of Jasper County. The district serves about 426 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, Turner said. Students, parents and school personnel mix frequently and everyone is very close, he said.

The conflict appears to stem from a Jan. 7 incident in one of his classes. According to Mullens, a student left his class-room upset about a conversation that had taken place.

He said that a pregnant student had gotten into a discussion with her former boyfriend about "whether he believed in love or not."

Another student, who was not involved in the conversation, got up and left the class, saying she was uncomfortable with the conversation.

That student's mother later came to the school, spoke to the principal about the situation and verbally threatened Mullens. In a subsequent conference with Mullens and the principal, the parent accused Mullens of calling her daughter names and being an atheist. She said that several board members wanted him ousted because he was too liberal and an atheist, he said.

Since 2003, Mullens had been teaching history at the high school. This year he taught about 80 students a day from eighth-graders to seniors. Some classes were as small as five students, while others had almost 25, he said by phone.

Mullens said he made a habit of keeping a very open classroom, allowing students to discuss controversial issues.

"I like to get the kids interested," he said. "I like to get all viewpoints."

Students would discuss issues like the separation of church and state and the presidential election, he said.

Nicole Ard, a senior at the high school, has been a student of Mullens' for five years. Ard, who is senior class president, said discussion often got heated, "but they were just debates."

"Mostly people were upset because he supported Barack Obama, whereas a lot of people in Brookeland were against (Obama)," said Ard, 18.

She said Mullens would often play the devil's advocate in discussions, but he never pushed his viewpoints on students.

"I think it was more trying to get people to look at different viewpoints," she said.

Mullens said in his six years at the school, he has never received a complaint from a parent or administrator. Turner, who is in his second year as principal, said that Mullens file has no record of infractions.

On Jan. 15, though, between four and six parents told the school board about concerns with Mullens, said Turner who was at the meeting. Mullens did not attend because his name was not on the agenda and his son had a Little Dribblers basketball game.

Turner said the parents were concerned about Mullens' classroom management, specifically "about how loosely the classroom operated and that students were allowed to voice opinions that should not have been in the classroom."

He said parents said students called each other names, talked about sex, and discussed personal problems in his class-room. The undercurrent was that Mullins did little to stop the conversation, Turner said. One parent also voiced concerns about Mullens' religious beliefs, Turner said.

Board members took no official action that evening, but Mullens was placed on administrative leave the next day pending an investigation, he said.

According to a letter dated Jan. 28 originally faxed to Brookeland ISD and later faxed to The Enterprise by Mullens, the school district at no time informed Mullens of specific allegations or requested a statement from him in response to allegations.

Turner declined to comment about what was said when he informed Mullens of the situation.

The district has since requested that students and parents bring concerns to the administration. Turner said about 15 people came forward. He declined to comment about what they said, but added that students had to sign a statement agreeing that what they were saying was based on fact and not hearsay.

Ard, the senior class president, said that two students started a petition to get Mullins back, but were told by the school principal to stop. Turner said he had not heard of any students starting a petition.

Turner said board members will consider at their next meeting the information provided by those people who came forward.

"We think at this point that we have resolved our problems with Mr. Mullens with his resignation," Turner said.

Mullens said he just wants the truth to come out.

"I just want to be able to teach again," he said. "I've been a good teacher since 1971."

With additional reporting from reporter Blair Dedrick Ortmann

Comments

[CrypticLife]

Absolutely ridiculous.

However, it is quite heartening to see the overwhelming support from the students, even in such a conservative area of the nation.

[tallulah]

Outrageous!

[Kay Ferguson]

I have personally known Mr. Mullens for about a year as he is my niece's favorite teacher. I think this whole scandal involving his teaching methods and religious beliefs are ridiculous. Students must learn to evaluate both sides of any issue in order to learn about the world, their surroundings, and their own set of beliefs. He is merely trying to guide them in evaluating a world beyond Brookeland, Texas. I would also like to take issue with the gentleman who wrote that people from Jasper are inbred, uneducated, and prejudiced. That is far from the truth. I hold a Master's degree from UTMB and all my neighbors are lawyers, teachers, doctors, judges, and very educated people. If we are not going to judge Mr. Mullens for his beliefs, then let's not be too hasty to judge the entire people of "Deep East Texas" either without first getting ALL the facts. It reeks of prejudice, exactly what we fighting in supporting Mr. Mullens in his efforts to provide insight to students who will undoubtedly experience this same forum in college. He should be able to teach his class in his own method and his religious beliefs are personal and certainly not any business of the school board.

Kay Ferguson

[michelle F]

I have Known Mr Mullens since i first moved here in the 7th Grade im now a junior. The woman named Kay Ferguson who commented previously is my aunt Kay. Ive spoke nothing but great things to her reguarding him.

This is what I think about Mr Mullens.

his teaching methods are different yes, but in a good postive way. He always wanted us to think outside the box. See things from different peoples perspectives. We would always get on educational dicussions in his class. He was able to inform us on all the current events happening around us, personally he got me interested in politics and let everyone know it was okay to think differently. Personally hes taught me more then a lot of people. hes taught me about life, people, history,a lot of things hes spoken about will always stick with me. That is why i will continue to stick with mr mullens and show my support towards him. I want everyone to know that what is happening is not fair. Its not right. I will not be silent. My voice will be heard about this. I was raised to stand up for what i believe in, so that is what i will continue to do.

And if anyone at school has a problem with me supporting him, then thats your opinion. But this case will not rest until justice is served.

What goes around comes around.

[Kwest]

You know it is so very funny to me that the schools have been trying off and on for years to take God and religion out of the schools all together. Now just because one student has issues and runs to Mommy that all of a sudden God is back again. His religious beliefs should not be on trial here. That is why the school changed his reason for suspension they new it should not be. As long as he is not trying to push his beliefs on his students then he should not have to answer for anything other than his teaching. So many students are behind him which tells me that he is one of the few good teachers in that district. As for the Ms. Comeaux. lol. She has a superiority complex and needs to be taken down a few notches. Mr. Mullens lawsuit sounds pretty good right about now. I will pray for those who are judging you. As you know they will answer for their doing so before you do.

[Lisa Ramsdell]

I have known Mr. Mullens since he started teaching at Brookeland. When he moved up into the High School level, I was so excited. His way of teaching was the best. I have never learned so much from any teacher. Him and one other were the best. The best thing about him was the fact he wasn't scared to be different. He let the class have debates and real discussions. It wasn't the same crap everyday where you walk in, sit down, and start reading from the text book. He made it exciting and enjoyable to be able to learn and still be involved. I can't believe he is going through this. Mr. Mullens' religious beliefs should have no business being involved. Brookeland has come so far since I attended there, but now it just looks as if they made their school more "showy" instead of a real school. And as far as the whole religious thing, it isn't a private catholic school. It is a PUBLIC SCHOOL.

[April]

I have been a student of Mr. Mullens for five years and not once did i ever hear him say anything about religion. He is a good man and his teaching is excellent in the way of me wanting more. I passed the Social Studies TAKS test greatly because of this wonderful man. I have my rights to stand up to a school were they allow "students" to walk around with a tazer that they used on my cousin. Also, my mother went to school in Brookeland ISD for five years when their was only the master building, the old gym, and a small lunchroom. The same people that she has known for years are still walking around judging people when they should look in their own backyard. Preachers should preach at church not school. Teachers should teach at school the way Mr. Mullens has and according to my mother if your not apart of the brookeland "clique" you don't fit in at all, your an outsider looking in. There's a many of times i heard my mother talk about the "crazy" times when she went to Brookeland herself, and alot has changed since then. But not the people that keep their nose up everybodys ass when it doesn't suit them and their religion.

Thanks alot,
April and Beverly Hayes!

[George Morris]

I'm from Illinois, and have never been to Texas, although I have heard it is a rather religious part of the country.

Anyway, reading this article made me very angry at what sort of things happen in this country. This teacher, appears to believe in teaching students to examine things from all angles, and think for themselves, rather than accept whatever the government or anyone else is trying to force feed down students' throats.

In a deeply Christian area, he gets persecuted for being atheist? I hope the authorities involved in this atrocity are reading this.

To them I say: Shame on you. You are purposefully failing to give your students a good education just to satisfy your own agenda. One of the principles this country was founded on was separation of church and state. This teacher's constitutional rights have been violated, and has every right to sue, and he should do so.

Personally, I identify as conservative, but regardless of this man's political views, he is a fellow American and his constitutional rights must be honored. You cannot deny employment in this country based on religious or political status.

Justice must be served.

[Jeff]

My problem here is that he was distracting from the topic at hand. What does a pregnant students problems have to do with history? Seems to me he wasn't running his classroom as he should. Now don't get me wrong, persecuting him for being an atheist and/or a liberal is wrong, but it seems that as usual there's more than meets the eye. My other problem with this is that if this were a christian teacher teaching creationism, there would be an uproar and calls for his resignation, but if a liberal gets in trouble suddenly it's wrong? Seems like a double standard to me. The non-persecution for beliefs has to work both ways. They say separation of church and state, but is not atheism a form of religion? It's a belief system that worships creation by nature in the place of a and denial of a supernatural deity. If Christians are not to express their views, then neither should anyone else. For that rule to be fair it must apply to everyone, or not at all. Put simply everyone take the old rule of the three things never to be talked about and not speak of them and things will be much better off.

[mtbmarmar]

He wasn't "teaching" atheism....or creationism for that matter. It seems to me, Jeff, that you might need a bit of a reality check about teenagers in the classroom and what might actually engage them. I am a high school English teacher, who, like Mr.Mullens, runs a rather "loose" classroom. However, I rarely have problems with discipline and have an excellent record as far as my "lower level" kids passing their state assessments. What I have found is some of the best "teachable moments", about the connection to what you are teaching, be it history, art, English, whatever, occur during some of these "off task" conversations that actually engage students and get them to connect what they are reading to what is really going on. It is sad that this district is losing a good teacher, one that actually makes his kids want to come to class and do something other than regurgitate facts like little robots.

[Spector567]

No matter what you believe on the issue one thing is clear. The administration fouled up. They did not provide resonable probable cause, they did not put the required repremands in his file, they did not offer him a chance to edit his style once there was a complaint, they simply suspended than fired him.... No matter how you look at it they are not equiped to run McDonalds let alone a school. I hope the residents realise this. It was handled VERY poorly. However, perhaps all they had were poor reasons.

As for Jeff's comment. You applied your own bias to the article and presumed facts not written anywhere by anyone. The topic that the student disagreed with was not part of a class, it was during there own time.

Also when you seek to replace a possible athiest teacher with a pastor.... It obvious religion was involved. It's often forgotten but religious rights don't just protect the majority. Had he been a muslim the school board would have been removed outright and fired. However, because he was possibly an athiest they didn't think that freedom of thought and religion applied.

[Johnson]

Well this is what it boils down to. All the people who are judging Mr. Mullens on his beliefs, should not be judging him at all. If someone judged you about your beliefs how would you feel. It's not even a good reason to suspend a teacher. You all say your christians and believe in God, but the God I know should be the only judge here. You should look in the mirror and find your own faults, instead of looking for other people's.

[Katie]

Fascinating story!

http://studenthandouts.blogspot.com/