Keene School Board Displays Good Sense

by | Dec 7, 2010 | 183 comments

Kudos to Kristin Blais, Christopher C. Coates, Neil W. Donegan, Mark Nugent and Kris E. Roberts, for resisting the anti-drug hysteria. From The Sentinel:

Darrel L. Beymer will be allowed to continue teaching in the Keene School District — if he accepts terms set by the Keene Board of Education. …

For the past 16 years, Beymer has taught 3rd grade at Keene’s Symonds Elementary School.

In October, he pleaded guilty in Keene District Court to misdemeanor charges of possessing marijuana and criminal trespass. …

There’s been no evidence that Beymer used marijuana on school property or while acting as a teacher, which would have violated the district’s drug policy.

At the meeting, held on Nov. 29, board members Kristin Blais, Christopher C. Coates, Neil W. Donegan, Mark Nugent and Kris E. Roberts voted to reinstate Beymer.

Studies find that good teachers have a large positive impact on student performance, and Beymer fits this description. One commenter says, “I was at the hearing and … the majority of the evening was spent on his remarkable talent and the respect that the parents, teachers and children have for him.” It would have been a shame for the students of Symonds Elementary to lose this asset as a result of his “crime”.

WKBK’s “Talkback” Highlights 2010-11-06

by | Nov 13, 2010 | 7 comments

Radio TowerHere are highlights from a recent Talkback on WKBK. Liberty-minded people (and not-so-liberty-minded people) call to discuss bicycle ordinances, where of course, both city councilors are ignorant of the laws of their own system. Also discussed was size of government, spending, and government schools. A local statist calls to explain why coercive education is so wonderful.

Grab the archive.

Please join us for our weekly chat and calling sessions on Saturday mornings from 9a-12p. If you’re in the Keene area you can tune in to WKBK 1290 AM or 104.1 FM. The Talkback discussion thread is here on the Free Keene Forum.

Four of the Trespassive Twelve Sentenced

by | Sep 29, 2010 | 190 comments

Ian Freeman, Lauren Canario, Sean Murphy, and Dale Everett were all found guilty of violation trespassing in court today in relation to arrests that took place at the Cheshire County House of Corrections.

They were originally charged with misdemeanors, but the judge found insufficient evidence for that, and instead found them guilty of violations.

Dale and Lauren were both given $620 fines which they refuse to pay, and will report to jail within one week (barring a pending appeal).

Sean Murphy was sentenced to a $310 fine which he will “pay” by doing community service.

Ian Freeman was sentenced to a $1000 fine. It was originally set at $500, but due to Ian’s perceived “Lack of respect” it was doubled.

No activists are willing to pay a fine – but some are appealing and it may delay any sentenced jail stays.

Video of closing arguments and sentencing can be found recorded at the live stream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kdc-live

Direct link: Video of closing arguments
Direct link: Video of Sentencing

Rick Van Wickler Discusses the County Jail on WKBK

by | Sep 24, 2010 | 11 comments

Thanks to Dan Mitchell for having Cheshire County Jail superintendent Rick Van Wickler on his show to discuss a few issues related to the jail.

I called in to discuss taxpayers subsidizing federal prisoners (and the larger jail), the private property signs, and the continued targeting of Free Keene activists.  Unfortunately Van Wickler advances the Campaign for Ignorance by painting me as the “leader” and claiming “Sam’s group” has people that want to be in jail. If I’m your leader, I have to say, you guys suck at taking orders.

I don’t hink any of us want to be in jail, but there’s a willingness to use the system’s threats and punishment to raise awareness to the injustice and immorality inherent in such actions.

Grab the archive.

If you want to listen to the full interview, download the full hour here from WKBKRadio’s website.