Teacher Fired For Being Good At His Job

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Michael Baker had been teaching at East High School in Lincoln Nebraska since 1981. Last week he was forced to retire. He is one of only 47 teachers in Nebraska to achieve National Board Certification and appears to have been a rare and unique teacher who attempted to teach his students to think. Unfortunately we don’t teach “thinking” at our public high schools, we teach conformity.

Last year he found himself in trouble with district officials for teaching history backwards. If you think about that approach, it is sort of brilliant. It would clearly encourage more thought, as you would discuss, “how did we get here?” And teaching students to think was all that Baker wanted to do.

“I really enjoyed engaging high school students in critical dialogue,” he says. “I found that very satisfying. A lot of kids are in classrooms where they are lectured to. I’d much rather engage in critical thought and problem-solving, and I’ve always had classrooms where we show respect for each other.”

What a dick. You live in America, sir. We don't care for that kind of shit.

The school district forced him to stop teaching history backwards but Baker was still fighting to continue with his method. Unfortunately, it would have been difficult for him because the district had “prohibited him from teaching US history.” The district had a great reason.

The school’s consultant said it was “not logical, does not contribute to effective teaching or monitoring of progress, and puts students at a disadvantage” with newly instituted statewide tests.

The school district was obviously looking for an excuse to get rid of Baker and on April 18th they got it. Baker showed a geography class “Baghdad ER,” a documentary about life in the emergency room of a combat support hospital in Baghdad. I’ve seen it and it was pretty great. Maybe great is not the right word. It was awesome in its sadness.

The day after Baker played the DVD in front of the class he was gone. Last week came the news that he had “retired.” Under agreement with the district, he may not speak of his “retirement.” He also can't talk about Fight Club.

Students held a “sit-in” in an attempt to force the administration to tell them why Baker “retired.” The administrators came but were evasive. Students have created a page called “Bring Michael Baker Back” on Facebook. Past and present students praised the teacher.

“My concern is that they took our teacher out of the classroom and he’s the most unique teacher ever. I really liked Mr. Baker as a teacher. He brings more to the table than other teachers do. He makes you think. That’s what he wants you to do. . . he allows you to voice your opinion in class, you learn lots of different viewpoints.”


“This is truly a tragedy,” wrote Kendra Kazebeer. “I am a Lincoln East graduate from the year 2003. . . . Mr. Baker was one of my favorite teachers. . . . I was introduced to a whole new way of thinking about the world and myself, and for once in school I wasn’t pushed to conform. I was valued because of my unique opinions…I would not be the person I am today had it not been for your influence and the motivation you gave me to never give up. Because of you, I make a difference.”


“I am a former student of Mr. Baker,” Jared D wrote. “We hardly ever agreed on political issues, but I have to tell you, being in his class benefited me in ways that I never thought were possible. He does not deserve to be treated like this!!! He is a very kind man who wants nothing but the best for his students.”

Of course, there is always this guy:

“Baker is an anti-American socialist who has been using his classes to attack capitalism and democracy,” Craig wrote. “There are many students who were unhappy with him. . . . This is a teacher who should have been fired a long time ago. This is a good day for Lincoln.”

Well said, Craig. Sorry he tried to make you think.

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