A school teacher who was sent on leave earlier this year for a virulently anti-gay blog has been fired.
As reported, Snorri Óskarsson, was sent on six months leave from Brekkuskóli in Akureyri after his blog was discovered. The blog’s writings, among other things, lashes out against homosexuals. Snorri contends that he is only quoting from the Bible, and exercising his right to freedom of expression.
Sigurður Kristinsson, an associate professor at the University of Akureyri, said that while Snorri does indeed have freedom of expression, his blog is in violation of the teachers’ code of ethics. Part of these ethics include showing all students equal respect, regardless of their sexual orientation. By writing as he did on his blog, Snorri was publicly condemning homosexuals, some of whom may very well be his own students, thereby breaking the ethics code.
Many parents called for Snorri’s dismissal, and RÚV now reports that Snorri has been permanently terminated from his position at the school. Gunnar Gíslason, the manager of education for the town of Akureyri, told reporters that the termination was the result of a process going back at least a year, but would otherwise not comment further on the matter.
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