I think many of you have heard that the school board, in a very strange manner, voted to dismiss me on December 16, 2013. A bit of a strange Christmas present. Life Legal Defense Fund will be assisting me along with the law firm of McKanna Bishop Joffe, LLP. I do appreciate the prayers of everyone. Please pray for my family and pray for those persecuting me.
It is my opinion that many administrators at Portland Public Schools will do everything to keep Planned Parenthood on the campuses. I do not think that the district cares how much money they have to spend to keep Planned Parenthood and the philosophy of Planned Parenthood at the campuses of the district.
One of the board members, Bobbie Regan sits on the advisory
board of the “mercy killing” organization Compassion & Choices of
Oregon along with former Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette CEO David
Greenberg. I would imagine others support other anti-life activities in
the area.
Portland Public Schools Terminate Employment of Pro-Life Teacher
“Bill Diss is a well qualified teacher with a track record of success,” states Dana Cody, President and Executive Director of Life Legal Defense Foundation. “As the circumstances surrounding this termination demonstrate, Mr. Diss has done nothing that would merit being fired from his job. LLDF will pursue every possible avenue in defending Mr. Diss’ rights in this matter, and hopes to see his rights ultimately protected despite PPS’ actions.”
Background: Bill Diss has taught Technology, Math, Computers and Electronics at Benson High School since 2002. He has also taught several classes at the community college level. He is highly regarded in his abilities and his success both by students themselves, by their parents, and fellow teachers. Mr. Diss is the only teacher in the state of Oregon who has been certified as qualified to teach college level computer science to high school students for dual credit. His initiative and hard work have attracted outside grants to Benson opening up even greater opportunities for Benson students. For the first five years at Benson High, Mr. Diss was rated as proficient or better, with numerous positive compliments in his reviews. Mr. Diss’ methodology and teaching style has remained substantially the same in all his years of teaching.
The positive reviews took a dramatic change for the worse, however, when Mr. Diss began to speak out in opposition to the building of a new Planned Parenthood facility in downtown Portland. Mr. Diss was involved in opposition activities on his own time, and did not bring his political or religious convictions into his instruction in the classroom. Nonetheless, he began to experience complaints about his political activities from school administrators, and his teaching came under sudden, rigorous scrutiny. Complaints, negative evaluations, letters of reprimand and formal meetings became a regular part of Mr. Diss’ life at school for as long as he engaged in outspoken, public opposition to Planned Parenthood.
Shortly after the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, presenters with the Teen Outreach Program (TOP) came to Mr. Diss’ tutorial classes to give a presentation recruiting students for the TOP program. When presenters entered the tutorial, Mr. Diss, consistent with District policy, asked for identification. He was handed a card that identified the presenters as employees of Planned Parenthood. This knowledge surprised Mr. Diss, and caused him serious emotional distress due to his well-known personal religious convictions and his years of work to oppose that organization. He expressed his dilemma to Benson Principal, Carol Campbell at the time and asked to be excused from being present for the presentation due to his religious convictions. His request was denied. He was told that he would be required to be present for the TOP presentation. Through the remainder of the school year during which he taught, Mr. Diss continued to have to deal with Planned Parenthood staff as they administered the TOP program.
Simultaneous to his request not to be involved with TOP, Mr. Diss’ teaching came under renewed censorial review. Mr. Diss accepted the input from school administration, but the year proved to be extremely stressful, including numerous classroom observations and meetings with school administration. On March 19, 2013 school administrators summarily demanded that Mr. Diss leave the school premises and not return—placing him on paid administrative leave. Mr. Diss was told to leave the school and was escorted off the premises by a police officer. This unnecessary show of force is symbolic of the animus faced by Mr. Diss throughout the year.
Again Thank you and God Bless You,
Bill Diss
503-334-6183
2 comments:
I thank Mr. Bill Diss for impacting our Son's choice for his continuing education. He made a difference in our son's life!!!
Here is something to think about.....the only way that anyone is able to speak out against this man is that their mothers were pro-life. Think of the millions of babies that were never given that chance! We need more Bill Diss's in this world - who stand up for what they believe in to the point of losing their job and their livelihood. If anyone has any negative comments to add to this - go thank your mom first for giving you life so that you can voice your concerns and be heard. Lord have mercy on the people who think it's okay to murder babies, accept money for it and now promote it in our schools! Thank you Mom for giving me the chance to write this!
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