Tiverton should be very wary of school committee candidate and conservative blogger Justin Katz. He’s a good enough guy and you’ve got to admire his tireless work ethic, but politically he’s way outside of the mainstream – and often on issues that matter to public education.
In fact, Katz is radically conservative on social issues and his religious convictions frequently trumps his regard for the Constitution, students and their rights.
Case in point: on Monday I retweeted a high school student’s tweet about a teacher who was forcing her students to pray to Jesus. Katz belittled the situation and the high school student’s initial tweet with this sarcastic reply: “My goodness. Are the kids OK?”
After this pretty obnoxious reply, the rebuttals to Katz came fast and furious. I captured some of them here in this Storify of twitter conversation.
Tiverton parents don’t want a school committee member who reacts this way to a teacher violating student rights. They probably don’t even want a member of their school committee to think that is a funny joke!
What if Katz were elected to the school committee and he had to choose between defending students’ rights and his own religion? Anyone who has ever endured a Justin Katz diatribe on why marriage equality would lead to the degradation of families everywhere, or why gay people should be banned from Boy Scouts would have a hard time believing he would even make a veiled attempt at pretending to put any set of beliefs above his Christianity.
Here’s an example of what he posted to EG Patch when a local church decided not to let the Cub Scouts meet there because of the Boy Scouts prohibition against gay people:
I believe Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” He also said that, where two are three are gathered in His name, He is there. I’m no theologian, either, but it’s awfully curious that the rector supports the boys one by one, but not by twos and threes.
The passage about children is miraculously relevant, here (Matthew 19:13). Jesus had just finished explaining why Old Testament rules allowing divorce should not apply to His followers, and the disciples said that the impossibility of divorce meant it would be “better not to marry.” He then likens men who cannot abide by such rules to eunuchs.
That’s when the children come forward and the disciples attempt to stop them. “The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
It’s a profound passage.
Hmm, I’d say it’s more of a creepy and weird passage than a profound one … but either way, I’m pretty sure Tiverton parents don’t want someone on their school committee who thinks a parable about Jesus likening would-be divorcees to eunuchs is profound.
Full disclosure: I am a progressive blogger. So perhaps I’m prone to viewing a fiscal libertarian and social conservative such as Katz as being outside of the political mainstream. So take this for what you think it is worth, and I firmly encourage the local media in Tiverton to do their own due diligence on the matter.
In fact, they already have. Both Tiverton Patch and East Bay Newspapers recently covered inappropriate tweet from Katz about how the Sandywoods Farm development – which combines affordable housing, with live/work spaces for artists and a farm – was perhaps a “good way to subsidize the ‘right’ kind of poor people.” (Tiverton Patch even put together this super cool Storify on the Twitter exchange between Katz and RI Future founder Matt Jerzyk)
But they should do some more. Katz’s adamant belief in far-out Christian dogma is not what the average parent in Tiverton wants from school committee members, and it is up to Tiverton Patch and East Bay Newspapers to at the very least let their readers know that this is what they’d be getting if they voted for Justin Katz.
You’re off base here. Justin did say that the NY teacher was wrong. That in itself shows that he would act to uphold the laws. But that part gets misseed, eh?
Actually he said the teacher admitted she was wrong. I don’t recall seeing anything in there where he took that kind of stand. I’m not sure that’s the same thing. Of course with his round about writing style I’m often left wondering what he actually meant.
He also described it as an “off day” as if, hey, it could happen to anyone. Who hasn’t forced someone to worship while phoning it in to their priest? That’s hardly a strong condemnation and certainly could lead one to question whether he considers the matter a serious one when taking in conjunction with his flip comments.
One can only imagine what Justin might have said had the teacher led the students in chanting “Allahu Akbar” and reciting versus of the Qur’an. Is there really any question as to what would have been his response?
Justin addressed the entire teacher/prayer kerfuffle this AM. www.anchorrising.com/barnacles/014919.html
To quote Justin, after he tweeted “My goodness. Are the kids OK?” in reaction to the forced prayer, Justin believed that: “Bob, I’m pretty sure, understood my quip as it was intended” ie; as an ironic/sarcastic (and good-natured) comment. He based his belief on Bob’s reaction tweet: “Both kids and Constitution were saved!” From there, a couple ideologues jumped into the conversation and off it went.
But Bob stayed out of it.
Until now. What a textbook case of passive/aggressive hit job, Bob. And while you tweeted “no offense” to Justin about this post, there is plenty to be taken. While you cleverly couched your language by calling Justin’s views/beliefs “radical” “crazy” “weird” & “far-out”, the implication is clearly that this is the way you want Justin, himself to be viewed by the voters of Tiverton. Alinsky rule whatever–the “personalize” one–followed to a “T”.
I’ll keep this sort of “good faith” reaction in mind in the “future.”
Next thing you know some religious creep will be demanding Creationism be taught in the schools, claiming it to be nonfiction. Roger Williams would be turning in his grave
Forget the NY teacher flap. Let’s keep it close to home. Can someone get Katz on the record about whether he supports the GSA group at Tiverton High School. Not condones, allows, recognizes 1st amendment right to exist, but supports the mission of the GSA.
First, I don’t know what GSA is. I’m guessing it’s some student group. I don’t understand your point, Portsmouth Citizen. Are you intimating that all members of the School Committee must support the mission of every single organization in the school system? So if I’m not a fan of volleyball, does that mean I wouldn’t be a very good school committee candidate? Or if I at least am fine with volleyball or the debate team or any other student organization at the school, that’s not enough for you?
You don’t remember Dan Gordon’s views on the subject?
** quote **
The Tiverton Gay-Straight Alliance claims that it is not a sexually-centered group, but by its very name, denotes sexuality. If its exclusive purpose is anti-bullying as claimed, why not an ‘Anti-Bullying Alliance’? One certainly doesn’t take their pet for a check-up at ‘Dan’s Garage and Auto Repair’.
Interestingly enough, the educators, administrators, Tiverton School Committee Chairwoman, State Democrat Party Chairman, Tiverton Democratic Town Committee Chairman, and a particular Democrat State Representative that have put in print, their support of sex-centered groups in Tiverton High School, may be subject to arrest and prosecution under certain Rhode Island General Laws. Namely, contributing to the delinquency of a child, inducing lewdness, or cruelty to or neglect of a child. Remember, these are minor children we’re talking about, not consenting adults.
** end quote **
So does Justin support the mission on the Tiverton GSA or not? Good question.
I hate it when people use cryptic acronyms without first providing the reference for what the acronym stands for. For anyone informed about local or even national politics, however, the “GSA” acronym should not be cryptic. It stands for Gay-Straight Alliance. GSA’s have been the subject of controversy among those who fashion themselves as conservatives across the country. Mostly, these “conservatives” are little more than crude bigots as evidenced by this video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGQawBwyfG4
Some theocrats seem more refined but are little more than hypocritical. How does a “fiscal conservative” justify public spending on bussing and textbooks on private schools, including religious schools? These people are right out of a Margaret Atwood novel.
Hey, here’s an idea. Rather than asking in the comments section for an article that he might not read again, why not directly ask him? Why not take this on head on? Call him and ask. Email him and ask. It’s not really that hard.
patrick,
You’ve forgotten where you are. They really don’t want an answer. They’re just planting a seed. Justin answering their question would only spoil their efforts.