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The naked racist and homophobic rant of Geneva (IL) High School’s consumer education teacher David Burk is breathtaking. During a class on taxes funding the National Endowment for the Arts he said to students:
“How would you feel about your tax dollars going to pay some black fag in New York to take pictures of other black fags?” Burk allegedly asked, according to student Jordan Hunter.
Needless to say, some students were taken aback by this bold level of bigotry, and have called for him to be fired, including Hunter, who is gay.
“If he wants to talk about a poor place to put our tax dollars, I think his salary is a poor place to put our tax dollars“…Hunter said several other students have contacted him, saying Burk repeated the same phrase in all his classes. “He’s free to feel any way he wants, but [with him] being in a position of influence like that over children, I don’t think he should be using that position to make statements like that,” said Hunter, 17, of Geneva.
In what has become standard operating procedure for racists and homophobes alike, Burk, who did a two-in-one bigot eruption, through his attorney, said that, well he’s sorry if anyone might have been offended…
“Mr. Burk is cooperating fully with both the principal, the dean of students and the school board,” [attorney, D.J.] Tegeler said. “Mr. Burk’s biggest problem is he does not want to intentionally offend anybody and if he did, he apologizes.”
Here’s the contact info for the school.
Hat tip, C&L.
I’m sorry that I cannot provide myself as a black fag for Mr. Burk, but I’ll gratefully offer my middle finger as a black lesbian pervert.
61 Comments
OMFG!Yeah you f*cktards on the RIGHT match this up with little kids singing an Obama song all their parents approved the lyrics.
All I could think of is Mapplethorpe and he was a White fag, who enjoyed Black fags.
As a matter of fact I know just the Mapplethorpe picture to make this teacher seem SMALL…it’s a Black man’s dick hanging out of his suit pants.
OH F*CK! I hadn’t read the standard republican apology until nowI will be writing the contact…but not at the moment, Turette’s syndrome has me in it’s throws…that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
WOW!
Oh really? What is there to “cooperate” about? The guy needs to be in the unemployment line!
Tax dollars…… should not be used to fund ANY art. Period.
But this guy does need to be educated, none-the-less.
I support funding the ARTSIt allows kids to be exposed to theater, museums, dance.
ARTS generate more money for states than any sports team, and they constantly build them arenas.
FDR’s New Deal employed artists and made phenomenal NATIONAL TREASURES.
I can’t find the link….…but the School Board let the guy off with a warning.
Here is the email for the principal of Geneva High Schooltrogers@geneva304.org
The response in the news article head his email address, as dids the contact information for the high school. It took a bit of searching to get the actual contact information.
There is no why that such a homophobic and racist bigot as Dan Burk should be allowed to be teaching. Please, ask that he be removed to a position where he doesn’t influence children.
He was given a warningThe guy was given a warning saying that any further comments such as this would be grounds for dismissal.
http://www.kcchronicle.com/art…
My daughter had him 2 years ago. She said he wasn’t surprised because he said nasty things all the time. So if he’s not careful, and the school board keeps its word, this guy may be a short timer.
I’m thankful that the Geneva HS administration has been supportive about the fledgling GSA in the school. I know it has helped to give kids like Jordan the courage to come out and speak out. If you contact the GHS administration, please be polite and thank them for supporting the GSA as well. It was a brave thing to do in our little republican suburb which is loaded with anti-gay megachurches.
self-destructing right wingIt seems we need to do little to bring down the hardcore right wing because they’re doing such a splendid job of it themselves. I haven’t had so much fun since Jimmy Swaggert called Jim Bakker a “cancer on the body of Christ” and was soon busted in a motel with a prostitute soon after.
Standard non-apology“Mr. Burk’s biggest problem is he does not want to intentionally offend anybody and if he did, he apologizes.”
But he appears to be just fine if he “accidentally” offends someone? Cripes, that statement is essentially a statement of intent.
How Not To OffendFirst off, try not using the phrase “black fags.”
What a nimrod.
Watch the loon-toons jump on thisIFI and The Peter are right in the neighborhood. Geneva is not far from Naperville or Carol Stream.
Poor Mr. Burk is having his free speech rights trampled by “hateful homosexual activists.” Sob.
Yeah, cry me a river, a**holes…….
His punishment – reprimand and deliverying an apology
From the Chicago Tribune -
“Geneva School District board members have issued a warning to a teacher who made offensive comments about gays during a class.
At a school board meeting Tuesday evening, they told the teacher, David Burk, any further improprieties could result in dismissal ….”
Full story:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews…
a reprimand? a MOTHERF*CKING reprimand?Doesn’t this school have any zero tollerance of HATE SPEECH I doubt a student would have gotten a reprimand saying this sh*t!
no justice no peace
btw Mr Burk, ya know those fag artists we have SPRAY PAINT not just cameras.
And don’t forgethe tried to talk the prostitute into letting him have sex with her fourteen year old daughter, too.
I wrote both the principal’s and teacher’s email
It’s good to write people in this wayBut make sure you stress what an embarrassment this is to the school district and to the community as a whole. Point out that this does nothing for the image of Geneva (or whatever community it is happening in) and its education system. Like many other communities, the local economy is poised for even more growth than it has already experienced. Geneva is predominantly white, upper-middle class, and expanding. A backward thinking school system is a big minus for families contemplating moving there. As county seat for Kane county, Geneva’s actions also reflect on an entire county that is experiencing explosive growth.
And PLEASE do not make veiled threats of vandalism. It puts you on the level of the haters and diminishes your credibility.
Tax dollars… … should not be used to fund ANY sports stadium. Period.
wow….Then I guess every child who found a voice in painting, sculpture, singing, playing an instrument, and/or performing on stage, let alone receiving support from the National Endowment for the Arts or tNational Endowment for the Humanities, not to mention all the documentaries and programs on PBS should just stop their dreams, close their doors and try to become male drug-fueled jocks for pathetic jerks like you to live vicariously through?
All I can do is paraphrase Mr. T — I pity a fool like you!
Jesus F. Christ.How is it possible that he still has a job?
I’ve been following this in the Chicago Tribune, and was wondering about what was said since that august publication apparently felt its readers’ sensibilities were too delicate to hear this teacher’s exact words. The Trib used expressions like, “a derogatory slang term for homosexuals” and “gay slur” and “anti-gay remarks.” Can you imagine? I hadn’t a clue from their write-ups about the racial angle. Perhaps we’re supposed to be grateful that he managed to use “black” and not some other term.
And, oh yeah, “consumer education” is an actual class that students waste their time in these days?
I made no vandalism threatsBut I said I wouldn’t allow this racist homobigotted PIG within 500 feet of a playground, let alone teach.
I’m notblack nor am I a fag but I am certainly appreciative of both. And While I am only a bisexual white transguy, I’ll join Pam in giving this asshat my one-fingered salute.
thanks to Towerload I have David Burk’s photo http://www.towleroad.com/2009/…
turns out he’s as ugly outside as inside
rotted teeth and greasy foul hair….bleeech!
a fag artist will put this photo to good use
David Burk image http://img.villagephotos.com/p…
by a FAG
Burk image 2 http://img.villagephotos.com/p…
Burk image 3 http://img.villagephotos.com/p…
oh my lord, Burk’s photoMy eyes! That guy is nasty and mean-looking, foul, he oozes hate.
Burk doesn’t make women lesbianhe does make women who are lesbian….very happy
(btw I used the opposite line about Malkin and gay men on breibart tv, they had a funny thread of Olbermann when he named Malkin worst person as a “bag of meat with lipstick”)
Maybe this is all a misunderstanding!Maybe he just intensely dislikes Henry Rollins, and was warning about the consequences if federal funds were paid out to Black Flag.
my guessSomebody P*ssed in his popcorn bucket as he watched Paris is Burning
@PamSpeaking of Black fag artists
are you going to do a diaty on Fire and Ink?
@PamSpeaking of Black fag artists
are you going to do a diary on Fire and Ink?
@PamSpeaking of Black fag artists
are you going to do a diary on Fire and Ink?
Imagine for a moment if this were reversed
If this guy made a far less offensive reference about fundamentalist Christians, my inbox would be full. Everyone from Wildmon’s idiot son to Ted Pike would be sending out email with instructions to contact the school board (with a pre-written missive of course).
This would spawn any number of dumpxxxx.org websites expressing victimization.
Then the School Board needs to be next in the unemployment line…Seriously, as a future educator and parent whose child is 2 years from entering the public school system, I’m appalled.
At the very LEAST, the teacher used a slur in SEVERAL classes, among students, meaning that it was intentional and deliberate. It wasn’t a slip of the tongue. It was intended to provoke and cause a disturbance. That has to be language nto allowed in school. Then the statement was racially charged on top of it.
“Hey, you got racism in my homophobia!You got homophobia in my racism!
Two great bigotries that go great together!”
Bullshit. Total Bullshit.
He got a slap on the wrist, suprise surprise!School board voted to send him a letter of warning. What I find interesting is the school board focused only on the homophobia and not the racism:
Does the school board agree that black people are unworthy recipients of tax dollars? Do they not find it outrageous that Burke suggested there was something offensive about black people being recipients of tax dollars?
I’m a black fagwith siisy bones all through my body (Yes, Deitrick Haddon).
If Mr. Burk has a problem with that, then he needs to talk to my momma. And then tell me how that works for him!
Good morning from York County, Maine, everyone!
“sissy bones”
Who”s the hot guyin the upper right corner?
Saltpeter LaBarbera would back this bigot up.
I agree.FDR’s federally funded arts programs now provide an enormous treasure tove of images, and biographies that are invaluable to historians piecing together the history of that time, as documented by the participants, many of whom were the greatest artists of their generation.
And if you imagine private funding would have done the same, consider the time honored (and true) cliche, “the victor’s write history.” If the rich alone finance the archiving of our history, we leave future generations distorted and pointless records.
http://www.archives.gov/resear…
So take the gay out
Tell me. Is it not still deeply offensive?
Black people being recipients of tax dollars
What’s so outrageous about that? Rush Limbaugh has built his whole career on that assertion.
please delete the repitions my post didn’t look like it loaded, and came up in triplicate after I shut off my puter
He’s the lead on Noah’s ArcNoah – played by Darryl Stephens
http://www.logoonline.com/show…
One thing this showsHe censored himself of not using a racial slur, (and you know he would have.) But felt perfectly safe spewing fag.
This should be pointed out to AA’s who want to say we don’t face oppression, our oppression they feel no need to hide.
waves at the snow covered sissy….HEY!
HEY!Not covered with snow yet, although I am giggling and making fun of people who think it’s cold here!
What’s up Petey?
Now that I see he has over 20 years of “service” as a teacher,I think it unlikely that he would be easily fired from most school districts in the country, assuming his record is free of complaints about similar behavior up to this point. He would have too much protection via his union contract.
It’s wonderful this kid spoke up. Imagine how many years this bigot has been saying this and worse in the classes he taught, while his students endured it in shame or anger.
Finally recouperating from that weddingMy back and feet weren’t talking to me for two days.
We are getting slivers of sunshine, we’ve had two weeks solid of rain, thought my feet would web. How folks live in Seattle amazes me, I’d be suicidal in 3 weeks. I cleaned a fish pond pump this morning and the mosquitos are UNBELIEVABLE, my legs are bitten every inch.
Are you meeting some cute Maine guys?
Stuffing you with lobster and taking you in their Morton fisherman rain slickers….LOL
OK I’m sick enoughthanks for the warning. I dare not look at the pic lest I have to go get yet another new keyboard. Do you have any idea how hard it is to clean vomit off of a keyboard?
Does she crack a whip?cuz if so…
sissy bones ;-p
Dammitmeant to say Howdy kevinchi. But I hit post too soon.
I also love that the student is not alone…but that other students are reporting what was said in their classes. That’s a show of effort that I totally applaud. They’re not letting their classmate be hung out to dry.
The School Principal’s E-mail Address is trogers@geneva304.org – Mr. Thomas Rogers. The Board of Education’s email addres is Board@Geneva304.org.
Jeebus, 20 F(*king Years of inculcating the Youth in Racism and Bigotry
$100,000?wow.
James Agee and Walker Evanswere funded by the WPA, and produced the classic Let Us Now Praise Famous Men.
I lived in Kane County, IL 30-odd years ago.That part of Chicagoland is home to a plethora of conservative Xian “colleges” and “universities”.