{"product_id":"just-shut-up-and-teach-first-amendment-under-fire","title":"Just Shut Up and Teach: First Amendment Under Fire","description":"In the words of Albert Einstein, \"The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it.\" Such a determination to defend the Constitutional right to Free Speech has been tested by hundreds of public school teachers who dared openly to criticize their school administration regarding matters of public concern. Many outspoken teachers have been victims of retaliation, scurrilous attacks, and physical threats. This happened to author Maggi Smith Hall beginning with a letter to the editor of her local newspaper. Hall did not realize her complaints accusing her school district of inappropriate use of public funds would result in harassment, intimidation, and termination. The covert attempt to punish her for public criticism included the illicit use of public funds to follow and photograph her in order to build a case for dismissal. This well-planned conspiracy incorporated dozens of school board members, administrators, a minister, strangers, supposed friends, even fellow teachers. PRAISE FOR THE STORY A profile in courage, Just Shut Up and Teach is the gripping and poignant tale of redemption of a teacher whose first amendment rights were trampled by a paternalistic school system though later unanimously restored by arguably the most conservative federal appellate court in the nation. More significantly, this book serves as a timely and cautionary reminder that our cherished Constitutional rights are vulnerable to abuse by the government institutions we empower to serve us. It also is a heartening reminder that our system of self-government is strong enough to overcome such violations if we are strong enough to resist them. Just Shut Up and Teach also serves as an indictment of a gentle com-munity’s acquiescence to an intransigent white patriarchy and the neglect of a public school system that, due to latent racism and misogyny, failed its students and blighted prospects for the languishing community despite the best efforts of its teachers. The book describes a school district governed by a disturbing cabal that preferred closed mouths to open minds, focused on providing a spoils system for a select group, and acted indifferently to its purported core mission of educating children - a system that cried for reform to deaf ears. – W. ANDREW BEESON, ATTORNEY, LEXINGTON, SCMaggi Smith Hall’s story is an important one to tell. Every American concerned with First Amendment protection—or a lack thereof—will find Just Shut Up and Teach fascinating, brutally honest, and the actions of so-called “administrators” shake-your-head baffling. Her memoir resonates today, unfortunately. Maybe future educators, school board members, principals, et al, will learn some lessons. – GEORGE SINGLETON, PH.D., DEPART-MENT OF HUMANITIES WOFFORD COLLEGE, SPARTANBURG SC, JOHN C. COBB ENDOWED CHAIR; AUTHOR OF NUMEROUS BOOKS AND SHORT STORIES, RECIPIENT OF MULTIPLE WRITING AWARDS This story should be required reading for every school board member alive—and every school administrator, and teacher and coach and school employer. Mark Twain said, “God created idiots. That was for practice. Then he created school boards.” Just Shut Up and Teach embraces a spirit that is much needed—not just for schools but for America. – CLYDE EDGERTON, PH.D, DEPARTMENT OF CREATIVE WRITING AND THOMAS S. KENAN III DISTINGUISHED PROFESORSHIP, UNIVERSITY NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON, C, THOMAS S. KENAN III DIS-TINGUISHED PROFESSOR, GUGGENHEIM FELLOWSHIP FOR CREATIVE ARTS, US AND CANADA, POPULAR NOVELIST WHICH INCLUDES TWO MADE INTO FILMS, WALKING ACROSS EGYPT AND KILLER DILLER.\u003cbr\u003eASIN: B08JMKK6M4\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: BVV.B08JMKK6M4.VG\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Very Good\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Hall M.Ed., Maggi Smith\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: Book has little sign of wear or use  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Blue Vase Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43088284024893,"sku":"BVV.B08JMKK6M4.VG","price":11.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0589\/4225\/9261\/files\/B08JMKK6M4-0.jpg?v=1775510373","url":"https:\/\/www.bluevasebooks.com\/products\/just-shut-up-and-teach-first-amendment-under-fire","provider":"Blue Vase Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}