Paul Fromm is a high school teacher employed in one of the most ethnically diverse school districts in Canada. He is an excellent teacher, and receives high ratings from his students. During weekends and summer holidays, when he is not working, he participates in conferences held by white supremacists and anti-Semitic groups. For instance, he attended a conference at which swastikas were waving, and individuals gave Nazi salutes. Fromm also attended a celebration of Adolph Hitler’s birthday. Though it is known that Fromm attends these conferences, he has never expressed racist views in the classroom or discriminated against any student. “I am here to teach English, not to make a political statement. This is my job, that’s what I do. And I do it very well,” he says. The school board and some of the teachers are upset with Fromm’s behaviour. They feel that what he does, even though outside of work time, is not consistent with the school board’s values of encouraging multicultural diversity.
1. What, if anything, should the school board do in this instance?
2. Should Fromm consider not going to further conferences of this sort?