David Flynn is a top-rated football coach who has worked for Dedham High School in Massachusetts for years. He recently objected to the addition of Critical Race Theory being taught in his daughter’s 7th-grade history class, and the high school decided not to rehire him as a coach.Judicial Watch is now suing on his behalf.From Judicial Watch:
Judicial Watch Sues on Behalf of High School Coach Fired for Objecting to BLM/Critical Race Theory Curriculum for Daughter’s 7th Grade History ClassJudicial Watch announced today that it filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of David Flynn, the father of two Dedham Public School students, who was removed from his position as head football coach after exercising his right as a citizen to raise concerns about his daughter’s seventh-grade history class curriculum being changed to include biased coursework on politics, race, gender equality, and diversity (Flynn v. Forrest et. al. (No. 21-cv-10256)The lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, seeks damages against the superintendent, high school principal, and high school athletic director for retaliating against Flynn for exercising his First Amendment rights.The lawsuit details that in September 2020, Flynn’s daughter’s seventh-grade history class, which was listed as “World Geography and Ancient History I,” was taught issues of race, gender, stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination, and politics. The lawsuit explains:
In one assignment, Plaintiff’s daughter was asked to consider various “risk factors” and “mitigating factors” that two people – one identified as “white” and the other identified as “black” – purportedly might use to assess each other on a city street. Included among the various factors were skin color, gender, age, physical appearance, and attire. “Black,” “aggressive body language” and “wrong neighborhood” were among the “risk factors” purportedly assessed by the person identified as “white.” “White” and “Police officer” were among the “risk factors” purportedly assessed by the person identified as “black.”
Concerned about the abrupt change in curriculum, Flynn and his wife contacted the history teacher and principal of the school – then later Superintendent Michael J. Welch and three members of the Dedham School Committee. On more than one occasion the Flynns asked for assistance in resolving the issues with the curriculum. Ultimately, in October 2020, the Flynns removed their children from school.
This passage describes what allegedly followed:
In January 2021, Flynn, who had been the head football coach at Dedham High School (DHS) since 2011, was called into a meeting with Welch as well as the DHS principal and athletic director. At the meeting, Welch handed Flynn one of the emails he had written to the Dedham School Committee members and informed him that one of the committee members asked Welch, “What are we going to do about this?” At the end of the meeting Flynn was told that they, “were going in adifferent direction” with the football program. Minutes later, the superintendent, high school principal, and athletic director released a public statement, stating that Flynn was removed as head football coach because he “expressed significant philosophical differences with the direction, goals, and values of the school district.”
This video report from WCVB News in Boston is short on details except for one. The students don’t want this. They love coach Flynn:
Amazingly, when I was researching this post, I noticed that two Boston area newspapers took the same approach to report the story. They reprinted the school’s position. See below.
The Patriot Ledger:
Braintree teacher won’t return as Dedham football coach over differences in values with districtA Braintree High School special education teacher won’t return to his role as the head football coach of the Dedham High School football team due to his “significant, repeatedly expressed, philosophical differences with the direction, goals, and values of the school district.”
The Boston Globe:
Dedham High football coach not reappointed due to differences with ‘values of the school district’Dedham High School football head coach David Flynn was not reappointed for the upcoming season after he “expressed significant philosophical differences with the direction, goals, and values of the school district,” school officials said in a letter to players and their families Wednesday.
Neither report contains a single reference to Critical Race Theory or the events that led to this ‘difference in values’ mentioned in both stories.
It’s not fun to immerse yourself in a legal battle, but this is what parents need to do if they wish to get this radical leftist ideology out of their schools.
Featured image via YouTube.
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