Teacher suspended after parents said he taught ‘Russian propaganda’ to Virginia class

A substitute teacher was suspended after he made comments supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a Virginia classroom.

The teacher was subbing on Friday, Feb. 26, at Swanson Middle School in Arlingtonand was accused of making comments to “students during instructional hours regarding sensitive world events with Russia and Ukraine,” Arlington Public Schools officials wrote in a letter obtained by McClatchy News. He learned of his suspension on Monday, March 1.

“I was trying to make the point to the students that they should read all sources, including propaganda sites like Sputnik as one must get out of the comfort lane and read what may, in fact, be propaganda,” the substitute told McClatchy News. “How else to learn to form an opinion?”

The teacher, who is 65, confirmed he did say he “supported the invasion” based on the fact that he “could understand the logic.”

He said he was subbing in a Spanish class and took “10 minutes out of a 90-minute block” to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

School officials told the substitute he could “petition for reinstatement.”

In his response, the teacher said it was “pointless to petition.”

“We live in a time of war propaganda from both sides which with it censorship of opinions deviating from the core message,” he saidin his response.

The substitute also said it is “folly to think that Putin’s rationale for attacking Ukraine was insane.”

Parents reached out to the school board after hearing the substitute’s teaching of “Russian propaganda,” the Washington Post reported.

Arlington Public Schools did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

“More was expected of young people long ago. Sheltering them and feeding them one sided information is a grave mistake with long term consequences,” the substitute said in his response.

Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine on three fronts early Thursday, Feb. 24, “bombarding cities, towns and villages” as forces advanced toward the capital of Kyiv.

The city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine has been surrounded, and Russian forces are hitting Kyiv with rockets as hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians flee to the west. Other nations around the world, including the United States, have enacted strict sanctions on Russia.

This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 12:49 PM with the headline "Teacher suspended after parents said he taught ‘Russian propaganda’ to Virginia class."