We have another case of a teacher who has been suspended or fired because of conduct in their private lives. Kevin Hogan teaches English and crew at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, a highly rated high school, in Malden, Massachusetts. That was before someone told the school that he has appeared in pornographic movies like “Just Gone Gay 8” under the name Hytch Cawke

We have previously seen teachers (here, England, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here), here, here, students (here and here) and other public employees (here and here and here) fired for their private speech or conduct, including school employees fired for posing in magazines (here), appearing on television shows in bikinis (here), or having a prior career in the adult entertainment industry (here). I have been highly critical of this growing trend as an attack on free speech, privacy, and the right of association.

Hogan has worked at the school since September and chairs the high school’s English department. Hytch Cawke performed in movies like “Fetish World,” and “Just Gone Gay 8.” One such film features his character answering an ad to have sex for money.

The school system appears to presuppose that, if true, Hogan should be fired. It released a statement that “We value the health and safety of our students” and “We expect teachers to hold a very high moral standard. They are role models for students.”

Hogan appears to have been a highly successful teacher who was popular with both parents and students. He had a prior career in a lawful, if controversial, industry. The question is whether a teacher can be barred for lawful conduct or must, in both his prior career and current private life, follow the moral dictates of the majority. The District admits that Hogan’s reference and record was “flawless” so it is merely the objections of parents to his private conduct.

What is interesting is whether another type of actor would be subject to termination. For example, would Maria Schneider be barred due to her scenes with Marlon Brando in the 1972 film Last Tango in Paris? How about Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal for their performances as gay cowboys in Brokeback Mountain? The question is where to draw the line. The alternative is to make it clear to students and parents that teachers cannot be fired for lawful conduct, including professional activities or political speech, outside of school.

If not, the moral standard referenced by the District would need some definition to put teachers on notice. It cannot follow the same test used by the Supreme Court that “we know it when we see it.”

Source: The Blaze