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BURLINGTON — A teacher who participated in Jan. 6 protests at the U.S. Capitol over the 2020 presidential election will no longer teach American history at Burlington High School.
Jeff Taff, who is entering his eighth year at the high school, has been reassigned from the upper-level “Modern American History” course to a freshman-level course known as “Social Studies Foundations.” Taff also will continue teaching another course, “Modern World History,” when classes resume in the fall.
Taff
Burlington Area School District officials declined to say whether the classroom changes are related to Taff’s participation in the violent and deadly Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol, to protest the election of Joe Biden over Donald Trump as president. According to Taff, his attorney and family, he never entered the Capitol or participated in any of the violence.
Trump and many of his supporters have maintained that there was widespread fraud leading to Biden becoming president, although no proof of such fraud has been found and U.S. courts have consistently sided against Trump since the election.
The district placed Taff on leave and ordered an investigation after learning that he had shared conspiracy theories about the election with students.
The investigator found that Taff did not violate any law or district policy, although the investigator criticized Taff’s judgment and professionalism on the job, and urged that the teacher undergo new training and scrutiny. Taff’s suspension ended earlier this month.
CLICK HERE TO READ Burlington teacher investigative report No. 1
CLICK HERE TO READ Burlington teacher investigative report No. 1
CLICK HERE TO READ Burlington teacher investigative report No. 2
CLICK HERE TO READ Burlington teacher investigative report No. 2
YouTube video
To this day, Taff refuses to say whether he accepts that Biden won the November 2020 election legitimately.
The $50,000-a-year history teacher announced his new classroom assignments in a video he uploaded to YouTube defending his approach to teaching about the Nazi Holocaust, which was one area in which the school district investigator raised criticism.
“Burlington Area School District has stripped me of teaching this class next year,” Taff said in the video posted on YouTube on June 23. It can be watched at youtu.be/N54O0DWod00.
Saying that he believes the Holocaust lesson is the district’s main reason for pulling him out of Modern American History, Taff cited one “confused” student who complained about the lesson. Taff also blamed critics who have used social media to air grievances about his teaching methods.
He added: “The social justice warriors, in trying to silence the teaching of truth, only help the choir to sing more loudly.”
Taff could not be reached for comment on this story.
Reactions
Parents in the Burlington school district are voicing mixed feelings about the district’s decision to strip Taff of his American history teaching assignment.
Counter-protester Jon Phetteplace holds a sign that reads “Get a job losers” on one side and “I know science is hard” on the other while standing about 15 feet away from ReOpen Burlington demonstrators along Milwaukee Avenue near Downtown Burlington on May 2, 2020.
Jon Phetteplace, who has criticized Taff previously and is the parent of a BHS student, said he would prefer that Taff be removed from teaching entirely. Phetteplace, however, said he is glad that the district will no longer permit him to teach American history.
“I’m hoping that he basically is able to just be quiet,” Phetteplace said.
Phetteplace was named in the description of Taff’s YouTube video, uploaded to an account titled “Jeff Taff.” The video description states, “Jon Phetteplace goes by the alias ‘Conrad Breadwater’ on his social media accounts. If you have NO IDEA what has been going on for the past 6 months, here are a few articles about Jon Phetteplace’s and others false accusations,” followed by links to eight news articles.
Melby
Another parent, Adrianne Melby, who has supported Taff, called the district’s move unfortunate, saying that she would happily allow Taff to teach American history to her kids.
“Jeff Taff is a man of integrity and common sense,” she said.
School district spokeswoman Julie Thomas confirmed Taff’s new teaching assignments. She also said the changes would not affect Taff’s salary of $50,000 a year.
Thomas would not say who will be teaching Modern American History in Taff’s place. Burlington High School Principal Eric Burling also declined to say why Taff’s teaching assignments are changing.
The district’s course catalog says the American history course delves into “people who have shaped United States history,” while Social Studies Foundations focuses on “fundamental foundations of social science.”
All Burlington High School sophomores are required to take Modern American History or an advanced-placement equivalent; Social Studies Foundations similarly is required of all freshmen.
In photos, a prom night to remember at Home Harbor Assisted Living Community
Hors d’oeuvres
A table of hors d’ouevres was served at the Home Harbor of Racine prom on Saturday.
Before the party
From left, Sheryl Redmond, Marilyn Kelso, and Mary Noe wait for Home Harbor’s third prom event to begin on Saturday.
King and Queen crowns
Crowns for prom king and queen sit atop a pillow waiting to be given out to Home Harbor residents on Saturday.
Cool in shades
Prom dates Robert Nichols and Carrie Ahrens arrive at Home Harbor’s prom event on Saturday.
A sharp suit
Leo Miller arrives at Home Harbor’s prom event with his granddaughter, Nicole Borgardt, on Saturday.
Floral fun
From left, Home Harbor Activities Director Candy Talavera and Sue Fortier pose for a photo at prom on Saturday.
Delicate corsage
Candy Talavera shows off her corsage on Saturday. Talavera wanted to thank Miller’s Flowers, 219 Sixth St., for their flower contributions to Home Harbor’s prom.
Nice to see you
Two Home Harbor residents greet each other at prom on Saturday.
A couple’s arrival
A couple matching in purple arrive at the Home Harbor prom on Saturday.
A beauty in beige
Daniel Martinez arrives at Home Harbor’s prom with his grandmother, Minnie Rangel, on Saturday.
Smile for the camera
Alexandria Martinez, who handles leasing and admissions for Home Harbor, arrives at prom with her date on Saturday.
Blooming on camera
Marilyn Kelso gets her photo taken by photographer Curt Kratowicz during prom on Saturday.
In front of the flowers
A Home Harbor resident gets her photo taken by Curt Kratowicz at prom on Saturday.
We can match, too
Home Harbor Resident Deedee Avila shows off her dog Peanut on Saturday. The two match in outfits of denim and light pink.
Couple’s prom photo
A Home Harbor couple sits for a photo on Saturday.
Sparkly bowtie for the win
A Home Harbor resident shines in a sparkly bowtie on Saturday.
Big smiles
Marty Karls, Home Harbor resident, gets her photo taken with her prom date, Nurse Santa Marzette, on Saturday.
Spinning around
A little girl twirls in her dress at Home Harbor’s prom event on Saturday.
Here for the show
Children watch as prom at Home Harbor unfolds on Saturday.
Sitting together
From left, Miriam McNeilly, Dolores Fargus, Natalie and James Fay sit at a table together during prom on Saturday.
Enjoying the show
A group of Home Harbor residents sit front and center of the dance floor during prom on Saturday.
With Mr. Puerto Rico
Siblings Manuel Rivera, former Mr. Puerto Rico, and Candy Talavera, activities director at Home Harbor pose for a photo during prom on Saturday.
Luxe in lavender
From left, Nya Lewis, Olivia Gonzalez and Santana Marzette, employees at Home Harbor, pose for a photo during prom on Saturday.
Sharing a table
Home Harbor residents Janet Hoffman, Mary Erickson, Honey, Carol Rangstrom and Michael Timler share a table during prom on Saturday.
A little bit of moolah
A Home Harbor resident shows off her raffle winnings during prom on Saturday.
Pretty in purple
From left, Mary Noe, Candy Talavera and Carrie Ahrens dance at prom on Saturday.
Can you can-can?
From left, Mary Noe, Robert Nichols and Carrie Ahrens do the can-can dance during prom on Saturday.
Living it up
Carrie Ahrens dances with Robert Nichols on Saturday.
Slow dancing
Alexandria Martinez dances with a Home Harbor resident on Saturday.
Using a disposable camera
Mary Noe takes a photo on a disposable camera of a dancing pair at the Home Harbor prom on Saturday.
Watching your feet
Resident James Fay dances with a prom guest at Home Harbor’s prom event on Saturday.
Can I have this dance?
A prom guest invites Sue Fortier to dance on Saturday.
A prom night to remember
Marty Karls dances with her prom date, Nurse Santana Marzette, on Saturday.
Smiling
Emmie Boedecker, a prom guest, smiles at her dance partner while they share a dance on Saturday.
Round and round
Kathleen Enstrom, employee at Home Harbor, does a double spin with Robert Nichols on Saturday.
And the winner is…
Mary Noe accepts her title as prom queen at Home Harbor’s prom event on Saturday.
Hold the applause
Home Harbor residents applaud as Robert Nichols, standing, gets announced as prom king on Saturday.
Manuel Rivera
Manuel Rivera, who once held the crown as Mr. Puerto Rico, delivers a speech after crowning prom king and queen at Homer Harbor’s prom on Saturday.
At the throne
Robert Nichols and Mary Noe, prom king and queen, sit at their thrones and listen to Manuel Rivera’s speech on Saturday.
Come join us
Prom queen Mary Noe and prom king Robert Nichols invite others to join the dance floor after sharing a king and queen’s dance on Saturday.
Enjoying the song
James Fay dances with a Home Harbor employee on Saturday.
Leather jacket styling
At right, Carrie Ahrens pulls a Home Harbor resident onto the dance floor with her on Saturday.
May I take your hand?
A prom guest invites a Home Harbor resident to dance on Saturday.
Teaching the hand jive
A Home Harbor prom guest teaches the hand jive, a popular dance from the 1950s, on Saturday.
Joining in the jive
Prom guests join in on the hand jive on Saturday.