Teacher suspended for controversial assignment returns to class today

By: Jasmine Huda

KSDK -- The high school teacher suspended for giving students a controversial reading assignment returns to class today.

Students say Dan DeLong, an honors English teacher at Southwestern High School in Piasa, Illinois, was suspended last week after at least one parent complained about the assignment.

At issue was whether it was appropriate for Delong to have students read an article about homosexuality among animals. The article, written by a Rhodes Scholar, comes from the science publication Seed Magazine.

Last night, a crowd of students showed up at DeLong's disciplinary hearing to show their support for the teacher.

Following the meeting, Delong issued a joint statement with the Board of Education of Southwestern CUSD 9.

"I agree with the Board that the material in my class was not age appropriate for my sophomores and for that, I apologize. I understand the Board has decided that I shall receive a Notice of Remedial Warning," he said in the statement.

DeLong also said that the administration's concerns centered not on "sexual preference or homophobic condemnation," but rather "the age appropriateness of the material."

DeLong's students say the reading material was optional.

His supporters, which included former and current students, call DeLong and inspiration.

"He gave you controversial issues and you got to choose your opinions on them were," Katie Trombetta, a former student, said. "He didn't put his beliefs on you. You got to figure out your own beliefs."