Teacher on administrative leave after using students as ‘political props’ in book banning skits
ORLANDO, Fla. (FLV) – Orange County Public Schools announced a middle school teacher would be placed on administrative leave after using students as “political props” in TikTok videos that implied Florida schools were banning books such as dictionaries.
Howard Middle School Language Arts teacher Ethan Hooper posted videos of skits with his students acting out that Florida had banned books such as dictionaries and Harry Potter.
Libs of TikTok first reported a montage of the videos. Hooper took down the videos after Florida’s Voice asked the district whether it was appropriate behavior for a teacher.
“I am appalled at the behavior and judgment of the teacher who posted the inappropriate videos using his students as political props,” said Superintendent Maria Vazquez.
“This is not free speech — it is the exploitation of our students for political purposes and it will not be tolerated in our school district.”
Orange County Public Schools Media Manager Michael Ollendorff said the district would “not tolerate” children being used as political pawns in the classroom.
“Any employee of who creates videos or other content with students in an effort to exploit them for political purposes will be immediately removed from the classroom, placed on administrative leave and swift action will be taken to terminate employment,” Ollendorff said.
The series of videos were labeled “P.O.V. A Florida Classroom” and featured the teacher having students repeat that they “shall not read books,” “books are bad,” and “if I read it’s approved by the feds.”
Another video was labeled “problematic books” as he acted out banning “Harry Potter,” books with “a black boy,” “Wonder” and “Holes.”
“About to run up on these kids and start banning these books right away,” Hooper said in the video before entering the classroom.
The DeSantis administration recently announced that more than 20 Florida schools removed books in the 2022-23 school year, noting many of them contained pornography, violence, or were not appropriate for the grade level. The administration has cracked down on students being exposed to books with pornography and violence.
Surfaced videos have shown a school in Duval County with wiped bookshelves. Officials from the governor’s office told Florida’s Voice the administration never dictated shelves be cleared, calling it political theater. News of Florida schools reevaluating its books following a recent Florida law has spread across the nation.
The Florida Department of Education said it has been battling false narratives that Florida is banning books across the state after a recent law required media specialists to go through approved training to brush up on Florida laws in order to approve books for classrooms and libraries.
