Florida Teacher Fired for Urging Students to Vote for Obama

Brevard Community College Trustees have fired a professor who urged students to vote for President Barack Obama.

Associate Professor Sharon Sweet was dismissed after a 3-month investigation into complaints that the algebra instructor, a registered Democrat, urged students and, in some cases, forced them to sign pledge cards that they would vote for Obama, reports Florida Today.

Complaints also alleged the teacher distributed partisan political materials in her classes. The colleges code of conduct bars professors from soliciting political support for candidates.

The board voted 3-1 for termination Wednesday. The lone dissenter felt that firing her was too harsh a punishment.

Thomas Brooks, an attorney for Sweet, said there was not enough evidence for dismissal and complained the investigation was not thorough. He also said that the teacher thought the cards were for a voting drive and did not realize they were pledges.

After the vote, Brooks said the decision will be appealed, which could go straight to trustee or through a grievance filed by the union.