Teacher fired after allegedly asking students to kiss in clasroom skits that counted toward grades
A Colorado teacher has been fired after an investigation found students were allegedly asked to kiss classmates during classroom skits, with some reporting they felt pressured to participate because the performances counted toward their grades.CBS News reported Monday that the Denver Public Schools board voted 7-0 on May 20 to terminate French language and culture teacher Jennifer Honka at Northeast Early College for “incompetence and neglect of duty,” finding she had at times allegedly suggested that students kiss during in-class skits. The outlet reported that an April 30 independent review, a copy of which was obtained by CBS Colorado, found that the students who were allegedly encouraged to kiss were always the same sex. “One student told an NEC chemistry teacher about the skits in April 2024,” CBS News reported.“The student was very uncomfortable and did not know what to do,” the report said.
“She went ahead and kissed another student at (Honka)’s direction.The student then shared a digital meme with (the chemistry teacher) that included a picture of (Honka) and the caption ‘she makes girls kiss.’ The meme had circulated among the students.”Per the report, following this incident, “the student’s attendance decreased dramatically.”Additionally, CBS News reported that “One student interviewed directly in the independent review also testified that Honka always selected girls to act in the skits.
Despite a nearly 50/50 split among boys and girls in the class, the student ‘could not recall Honka choosing a boy actor.’ This student refused to participate and testified that she received a zero score for a grade on this assignment.”Another student reportedly walked out of the class, and an English teacher at the school “testified that several students approached her as well.One of the students ‘appeared upset and defeated,’ as stated in the independent review.
‘The student told (the English teacher) that she had bee...