New London Teacher Resigns After Offensive Facebook Post

NEW LONDON, CT. – A New London High School teacher has resigned after he was put on leave after posting content on Facebook that encouraged violence against protesters speaking out against police brutality.

In a letter to New London Public Schools Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie, obtained by Patch, Fred Driscoll resigned effective June 3. In the brief letter, he said he intends to retire from teaching.

"I understand this resignation is voluntary and irrevocable," Driscoll wrote in the letter.

In the Facebook post, Driscoll wrote, "Wanna stop the Riots? Mobilize the septic tank trucks, put a pressure cannon on em... hose em down... the end."

On Tuesday, Ritchie posted a letter to the New London Public School's Facebook page, informing the school district community that Driscoll had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

"Our students need to know we care that they are loved and safe and that we are here to support their needs in any way," Ritchie wrote in the letter. "Staff have an obligation to continuously serve as role models and caregivers for our students."

New London NAACP President Jean Jordan said she was not shocked by Driscoll's post. In 2018, Driscoll was put on leave pending an investigation into allegations he described in detail how to make a noose.

"Maya Angelou said,'If someone shows you who they are, believe them,'" Jordan said. "And he has shown us who he is."

Jordan said Driscoll's Facebook post recalled memories of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's, when Birmingham, Alabama, police used high-pressure water hoses and attack dogs on children.

"Anyone who says, 'Oh you can't get that from that image, they don't know their history," she said. "Those are all things we heard nightly on the news growing up back in the 60's. Those are images that are meant to put fear in people's minds and in their hearts and it's just not right."

Jordan said she has "full confidence" in how Ritchie handled the incident.

New London Public Schools declined to comment on Driscoll's resignation when reached via email on Thursday.

Resources for education and support:

• How to talk with kids about racism and racial violence
• Teaching tolerance about race, racism and police violence
• Equal Justice Initiative: Racial Justice
• Black Lives Matter at School
• Teaching Ideas and Resources to Help Students Make Sense of the George Floyd Protests