Youth indoctrination update

Several weeks ago, I wrote about Overland High School teacher Jay Bennish's indoctrination of his geography class. In commenting on President Bush's State of the Union address, he told his 10th-graders: "Sounds a lot like the things Adolf Hitler used to say." "Bush is threatening the whole planet." "[The] U.S. wants to keep the world divided." Then he asks his class, "Who is probably the most violent nation on the planet?" and then shouts "The United States!"

After that tirade, which included many other anti-American remarks, he gave the students the "definition" of capitalism -- telling them that "capitalism is at odds with humanity, at odds with caring and compassion and at odds with human rights."

After public exposure by my column and Denver talk-show host Mike Rosen's radio interview with 16-year-old Sean Allen, who recorded Bennish's comments, and his dad, Jeff Allen, the Cherry Creek School District placed Mr. Bennish on administrative leave. The indoctrination story became nationwide news after being picked up by major media and talk radio. The overwhelming response, including that of Colorado's governor, Bill Owens, to Bennish's classroom tirade has been disgust.

Walter E. Williams