The Monmouth County Democrat candidates for Freeholder and Surrogate were recruiting 14 and 15 year old high school students to be interns for Chairman Vin Gopal’s organization when they made a campaign appearance at Middletown High School North earlier this month.
According to an email from Gopal to members of the Middletown Board of Education and Superintendent William George Ed. D, the Democrats’ Campaign Coordinator, Meaghan Mahoney reached out to Assistant Principal Tyniesha Douglas on August 10 asking if she could advertise open intern positions to the student body and requesting to address a Government, Law and Public Policy Pathway (GLP3) seminar. Douglas responded the next day offering to arrange for Mahoney to meet the class and asking her to bring possible candidates.
Second Middletown Teacher caught engaging in Democrat partisan activity during school hours this year
A photo of Monmouth County Democrat candidates for Surrogate and Freeholder speaking to a seminar of Middletown High School North freshmen and sophomore participants in the school’s honors Government, Law and Public Policy Program (GLP3) Pathway was posted on the campaign facebook page of Surrogate candidate Vincent Solomeno last Tuesday with the caption “Thrilled to join Matt Doherty and Sue Fulton for Monmouth County Freeholder 2016 and speak to students about county government at Middletown High School North. Get involved!”
None of the three candidates have any experience in county government.
Joe Ventre, the Middletown High School South history teacher who sparked controversy in the community when he announced to the media that he was forced to resign over showing an anti-Trump video in his classroom and then rescinded the resignation has issued an open letter via a newly created twitter account wherein he apologizes to the community for playing the “profane and inappropriate” video to his students.
Ventre said that he had no intention to cause any harm and that it is appropriate for parents and students to question his judgement. He absolved parents, students, the Board of Education and the administration of any fault in the matter which he said was entirely his responsibility.
The young non-tenured teacher apologized to “anyone injured or erroneously portrayed” by the incident, especially “any students and parents who expressed concerns.” Ventre asked his supporters not to protest on his behalf with the Board of Education. His letter can be viewed here or on twitter.
The Asbury Park Press is reporting that Middletown High School South history teacher Joseph Ventre has rescinded his resignation. It was reported this morning that Ventre was forced to resign after showing a video of HBO comedian John Oliver mocking Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
MIDDLETOWN – A Middletown High School South teacher was reportedly forced to resign after he showed his class a video critical of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Joseph Ventre, a history teacher at the Monmouth County high school, was asked for his resignation after at least one parent complained that he showed a video from HBO’s… Read the rest of this entry »
