From Deseret News archives:
Teacher who made BYU joke is ejected for 'initiating a riot'
Four school personnel at Moses Lake High carried Samson "Sam" Lyman out of the building by his arms and legs Wednesday after he burst through the cafeteria doors and began yelling that he had been treated unfairly, peppering his language with obscenities, principal Dave Balcom said.
"When (school officials) approached him, he jumped on a chair and started initiating a riot in our school commons," Balcom said. "Unfortunately it led to us having to remove him."
Outside the building, Lyman was met by a police officer who escorted him off campus. Prosecutors will decide whether to charge him with trespassing and disorderly conduct, police Capt. James Jenkins said.
In an interview, Lyman said he was not arrested but added, "I was barred from every school building in the district."
Lyman later returned to the public sidewalk outside the school and resumed a sign-carrying protest that began days earlier, complaining that district officials in this eastern Washington town never provided a written explanation for his suspension.
Balcom and Superintendent Steven Chestnut confirmed that Lyman was on paid leave.
"I feel bad for the kids, they had to experience that," he said. "This should not happen in a public school."
In the local newspaper, the Columbia Basin Herald, Lyman said he was suspended Jan. 30 following student complaints. They included a remark he made about BYU.
"I told a joke about BYU. I called them Breed 'em Young University," he said. "I acknowledge I said that. I didn't say it to be offensive to the Mormon faith. ... I sure do (regret it). I've never been out to hurt anybody's feelings."
Lyman said 79 students were interviewed over a three-day period. The number of complaints grew from four to 24 and then was reduced to only a few.
"I think it's a form of religious discrimination against me as an ex-Mormon," he said. "I feel I've been tried and convicted in this community. I will never know who made these false comments."
Lyman said he still had plenty of student support. "I've had 52 students today come up to me and tell me I'm the best science teacher they've ever had," he said.
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Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
Our school had an amazing Veteran's Day celebration today too. Outstanding!...
Since you're living in the low-life gutter pool you don't know anything else...
Are you kidding me? This must be his wife or lawyer posting. or his mother.
PETA = People eating tasty animals?
good move lou
Good to get an update on the injury list. Sad to hear the Sorenson got hurt...
Maybe he'll go to FOX like Beck did. CNN replaced him with Jane Velez Mitchel...
It is amazing to me how a group that can "skirt" the law, and seems to be a...
That is my borrowed money...they would give me back a bit of my borrowed money.
This needs to be done in more locations.


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