I’ll be honest with you – I’ve got no problem with teachers who are politically active. I certainly am, and am offended that there are those (mostly Harris and Fort Bend County Democrats who have twice sought to get me fired for blogging) who argue that my political activity and expression of political opinions makes me unfit to teach and should be the basis for firing me from my job.

Now it may surprise some of you, but I actually tread very carefully in terms of politics in my classroom. When my students and I discussed the election back before the hurricane, I was neutral enough that they were evenly split as to which presidential candidate I am supporting. And I certainly would never wear a campaign button in class – and don’t do bumper stickers on my car. I simply don’t believe in indoctrinating my students.

That’s why I am disturbed by this story – I think it is unethical for teachers to wear buttons like the ones below anywhere on school grounds.

Teachers at Soquel High School have agreed not to wear "Educators for Obama" buttons in the classroom after a parent complained that educators were attempting to politically influence his daughter and other students.

John Hadley, an importer of South African goods, called the school to complain Friday after his 16-year daughter Teegan returned home and reported that she had seen several teachers wearing the buttons.

Hadley said his family supports Sen. Barack Obama's rival, Sen. John McCain, but that he is opposed to teachers wearing political paraphernalia regardless of its nature.

"It doesn't matter who they are supporting," Hadley said Tuesday. "Teachers lose their free-speech rights when they go into a classroom. They are allowed to stick to the curriculum, not political views."

The law disagrees with Hadley, but does allow districts to set limits on the political activities of teachers during the school day.

Now let’s address a couple of points here. I don’t know that there was an attempt to influence students here, but instead believe it was an attempt to influence colleagues. But the reality is that during the school day we have an influence on our students that can be profound, and our expression can have unintended influence upon our students. So while we do not surrender our rights at the schoolhouse gate (to quote Tinker), we also assume a certain obligation to behave in an apolitical, professional manner during our class time. We do have a captive audience, after all, and have an obligation not to use that time to indoctrinate them with our political opinions. I therefore believe the school is not out of line in its actions in this case.

Please note, however, that Darren at Right on the Left Coast takes a somewhat different view on this situation.