PA High School Teacher Reportedly Showed Obsession To Students

A teacher in Mifflin County, PA has reportedly shown the fear mongering, anti-Muslim propaganda film Obsession, recently distributed to 28 million swing state voters, to her class at Indian Valley High School, warning the students that if Barack Obama is elected, some of what they saw in the film would occur here in the U.S.

I first got wind of this teacher's clearly inappropriate "lesson" about a week and a half ago, when I was asked by a friend who saw one of my blog posts about the film to contact him about an Obsession related incident in his area. After speaking to this friend and getting what details he had, and finding out how he came by this information, I decided to investigate.

My friend couldn't initially recall the name of the teacher in question, and was only able to tell me that it was a female high school history/social studies teacher. But, since there are only two high schools in Mifflin County, and only a handful of female history/social studies teachers, it didn't take long to find a likely suspect. The official school system website of one of the possibilities, Dawn Renninger, was loaded with far right, conservative Christian clues. Once I zeroed in on this particular teacher, I called my friend back, and, upon hearing the name, he told me he was sure that this was the name he had heard in discussions among local residents about the incident.

On Sunday, October 5, I called Mrs. Renninger and asked her flat out if she was the teacher who had showed the film. She would not give me a straight answer, and told me that I would have to speak to the school's principal, Ronald Varner. So, I gave Renninger my name and phone number, which she said she would give to Varner. After several days with no response from either Renninger or Varner, I called the school and asked to speak to Varner. The first time I called, I was told he was gone for the day, so I called back the next day at an earlier time. This time, after explaining to the person who answered the phone why I was calling, I was connected to the school's vice principal, Michael Zinobile. That was on Thursday, October 9.

Zinobile, raising his voice several times during our conversation, repeated two or three times that I "didn't have the facts." In response, I told Zinobile that I was trying to reach Varner to get his side of the story. I gave Zinobile my name and number to give to Varner, who, again, did not contact me.

I also told Zinobile, as I had told Mrs. Renninger, that even without the reported showing of Obsession at the school, I had found enough inappropriate, politically and religiously biased material on this teacher's official school system website to write about her, and that I planned to do so whether or not Varner responded to my attempts to contact him.

One outrageously inappropriate link among the "Resource Links" provided for students on "Mrs. Renninger's Social Studies Page" is a link, under the heading of "Government," to the American Family Association (AFA). Self-described as "America's Largest Pro-Family Action Site," the AFA, originally founded by Don Wildmon in 1977 as the National Federation for Decency, is one of the most radical far right conservative Christian organizations there is. The following are the Mission and Philosophical Statements of this organization that Mrs. Renninger directs her public school students to as a "government" resource.

Mission Statement

The American Family Association exists to motivate and equip citizens to change the culture to reflect Biblical truth.

Philosophical Statement

The American Family Association believes that God has communicated absolute truth to man through the Bible, and that all men everywhere at all times are subject to the authority of God's Word. Therefore, a culture based on Biblical truth best serves the well-being of our country, in accordance with the vision of our founding fathers.

The pro-creationism and anti-gay AFA promotes and sells films such as Ben Stein's "Expelled," and "They're Coming to Your Town," a film about an Arkansas town that didn't realize that homosexuals were taking over the town until it was to late, and "how homosexual activists plan to do the same in other towns." In addition to the materials distributed by the AFA to promote these and other religious right causes, its website promotes the work of Christian nationalist pseudo-historian David Barton, devoting a page of its online store to selling Barton's Wallbuilders DVDs. Needless to say, as inappropriate as the rest of the material on the AFA website is for a public school teacher to be promoting, the fact that Mrs. Renninger, as an American history teacher, is endorsing historical revisionism by sending her students to a website that promotes the distortion of and outright lies about American history, in both the website's content and the marketing items such as Barton's "American Heritage Series," makes matters even worse.

The AFA is also a distributor of the extremely biased and dishonest 2008 presidential election "Voter Guide" put out by Wallbuilders. The specific lies and misrepresentations in this Voter Guide, which is still being distributed by churches and religious organizations, and will be until election day, are detailed in a post I wrote on Talk2Action back in August.

Another government resource linked to on Mrs. Renninger's website is the "Government Watch" page of Pennsylvania State Senator John Eichelberger, whose website's prominently placed "Constituent Action" section singles out only one cause with a separate link -- pro-family issues. While it would, at first glance, seem entirely appropriate for a teacher whose courses include a course on government to link to the website of a politician who represents the school's congressional district, Eichelberger, whose pro-life views are clearly in line with those of the AFA and very visible on his website, is the only politician singled out for inclusion in Renninger's list. There are no links to the websites of the district's state representative, or to the websites of its representative or senators in the federal government.

The section of Renninger's "Resource Links" page titled "Current Issues Main Links" does list the typical current events resources recommended by many teachers, such as the BBC, NPR, and PBS, but the only cable news network website included in Renninger's list is FOX News.

Another quite questionable thing on Mrs. Renninger's website is found on her homepage. It's an announcement of the theme for this year's "Veteran's [sic] Day Assembly" at the school, an event that Renninger apparently plans. This year's theme is a quote she attributes to Dick Cheney -- "It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you." Did Mrs. Renninger bother to look up where this quote came from? Or check to see if it was even real? Because it isn't. It's from an emailed letter allegedly written by Cheney, first circulated in 1999, then again shortly after the 2000 election, and eventually presented on right wing websites as a "prophetic" speech given by Cheney on August 19, 2001, just weeks before 9/11. Now, seven years after the first appearance of the bogus email, its last sentence, "It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you," is quoted on countless right wing websites, attributed to Cheney, but with no source. I certainly hope Mrs. Renninger holds her students to a higher standard of scholarship in checking their sources than she herself seems to exhibit.

The only additional information I've been able to find out about the reported showing of Obsession at Indian Valley High School is that at least one student's parents did complain to the principal, who had neither viewed nor approved the film before it was shown. It wasn't until after the complaint that the principal, along with the president of the school board, watched the film, and neither saw a problem with it.

I was also told about another reported incident in which Mrs. Renninger told a class they would receive extra credit if they wore something red, white, and blue on the day of a test. One student who showed up that day wearing a shirt with the Obama logo on it was denied this extra credit, even though the logo is red, white, and blue, and nothing in the school's dress code prohibits the wearing of clothing with political logos. It is not clear whether or not this student was the same student whose parents complained about the showing of Obsession.

Comments

[elhombre23]

plus..i wouldnt mention the driver's license if he wasnt almost 20

[elhombre23]

artsmart...Jeffro's rebuttal was full of inadequacies..and he completely misinterpretted my comments...thus giving me superiority over him

[elhombre23]

jeffrotull, before making comments on something you don't understand..please consider going to get your driver's license

[artsmart107]

Let me just say awesome argument, elhombre23. You are clearly superior to JeffroTull because of his lack of a driver's license.

[eric93]

my child is a student at ivhs and i have to agree that the stuff that goes on in that school should be looked in to. I have had so many problems with the teachers and the students are never right. They are suspended for being late to class and fined for saying bullshit in class. I have heard about the story with mrs renninger and i would not allow my child to have her as a teacher. i think she should be suspended until the mcsd decides whether she was right or wrong and of course they will side with the teachers because that is what they do. I also heard about mr varner striking a student in the face last school year and nothing was done to mr varner and the student was expelled. mcsd is the worst in the state.

[elhombre23]

ALyciaKay..I'm sorry..your right..Mrs. Renninger should apologize for showing a factual movie. High school students just are not ready for the truth..they are too stupid. I totally agree..We should all just stay under the cabbage leaf and stay away from the truth before it hurts us...And by the way..my earlier comment was directed toward Ms. Rodda, not you.

[JeffroTull]

First of all, the movie "Obsession" is in no way a "factual movie." First off, it is a documentary aimed and shot from one point of view. Of course, that point of view is one depicting Islam as a radical religion that is only bent on destroying western civilization. However, in reality this film is nothing but a propaganda film like Fahrenheit 9/11 that portrays one point of view that maybe only a few hundred people believe. So when you say factual movie you are 100% dead wrong.

And I also love how you say we should all just stay under the cabbage leaf and stay away from the truth, because that describes conservative christians perfectly. Which is why they disavow evolution or most other scientific theories for that matter. So how nice of you to invite new members to the "Cabbage Patch Community," however I have a brain so I'm going to decline

[DreadfulYoungster]

Showing that video was a fantastic idea. It so true!

[elhombre23]

I am currently a student at IVHS and i just want to express my deep sense of disgust for this piece on Mrs. Renninger. A typical liberal psychopath trying to make a huge deal out of absolutely nothing. I applaud you for your ignorance.

[AlyciaKay89]

Excuse you, but I stated nothing but facts. It has nothing to do with being liberal or conservative... get your story straight before you decide to judge people on what you don't know.

[AlyciaKay89]

The woman has shown a questionable video to her students. That IS an issue. If a teacher at LAHS were to do that without getting permission from all of the students' parents, he/she would be saying "goodbye" to LAHS and hello to unemployment. It's the rules, chico, whether you think it's psycho or not.

[JeffroTull]

First of all I find nothing psychopathic about this piece at all, in fact I think more light needs to be brought on this subject. What happens in Mifflin County is a conservative cradle that rocks the open mind to sleep. Its been going on for years, even longer than I have actually lived there, and frankly I am so sick and tired of it. I'm so sick and tired of conservative christians (like Renninger) force her views on her students, its wrong and something must be done. Teachers should be teaching their kids how to think, not what to think.

And actually your statement on "applauding her for her ignorance" doesn't make any sense either. Actually, by posting this article she has made people aware from Mifflin County, who were previously ignorant to what was going on.

[AlyciaKay89]

The staff did its best to keep all of the students safe from harm and to protect them from bullying. They did stop the boys in my class from harassing me after one shoved me in the hall way and I went to the vice principal about it, who found other students who'd witnessed the event and gave the boy in school suspension. (What was hysterical about this was Dawn Renninger had no problem talking to everyone in our class about how bad she felt for the boy because he had to "suffer" through ISS.) I couldn't have asked for a better principal or vice principal. Mr. Vance Varner couldn't possibly do a better job with those students than he is doing now and has done in the past, and neither could Mr. Miles (whose first name regrettably escapes me at the moment), who has recently been succeeded by Mr. Paul Maidens (and I'm sure he's working wonders with the students at LAHS as well). My teachers were all top of the line (save Mrs. Dawn Renninger), and I am very thankful for them; they've gotten me where I am today. I graduated with honors and am now enrolled in a respectable university. Luckily enough for all the students in the graduating classes after mine, the 2006-2007 school year was Mrs. Dawn Renninger's last at Lewistown Area High School.

[AlyciaKay89]

Of course, I never did follow the crowd in high school, and neither did my best friend who happened to be in the same DIA class as me. A short time after the school year began, my friend and I went to the guidance office to try to find a way to transfer out of Mrs. Renninger's class. Alas, there was no way we could change our schedules around and still keep the same teachers we had had for our other classes. That year was hell for me. Not only did she not teach anything that would prove to be beneficial to me in the future (because all we learned about was everyone's opinions... even our papers were about our opinions on things such as incarceration vs. rehabilitation), but she also allowed two boys in the class to bully me until it escalated to the point of them threatening to come to my home. When she finally did go to the vice principal about these boys, nothing could be done... because I had decided that I wasn't going to take their crap, and I started shooting comebacks at the boys left and right after they made any type of snide remark. So, if they were going to be punished for their bullying, I would have been in the same boat (though I never threatened them in any way, as they had me). I don't blame my high school for these social problems.

[AlyciaKay89]

Let me start by saying that I have no preference as to religious views. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion about such things, and I can agree to disagree on anything of the sort and not hold an individual's beliefs against him or her. I have Buddhist friends, Christian friends, Catholic friends, Atheist friends, Agnostic friends, and so on. Also, I'd like to let everyone know up front that I HAD DAWN RENNINGER FOR DEMOCRACY IN ACTION DURING MY JUNIOR YEAR AT LEWISTOWN AREA HIGH SCHOOL (I am now a freshman in college). Furthermore, I'd met her before I had her as a teacher, because she'd been my mother's Pampered Chef consultant a few years earlier. I guarantee that this woman IS the type of "crazy Christian" who would cram her beliefs down another's throat. While in her class, I learned nothing, and I often wondered if she got her teaching degree out of a bubble gum ball machine. She was very opinionated, and liked to put her two cents in whenever she could. Moreover, she forced us to listen to her opinions. I often got in trouble for talking or not paying attention while she was on her soap box. Quite a few of my classmates disliked her, but most refused to try to do anything about it... partially because her class was an easy "A" and partially because no one wanted to make waves.

[glo17063]

I am the mother of 3 children. My youngest son had the misfortune of having Mrs. Renniner in 9th grade, he then had the double misfortune of getting her again in 10th grade. Then she moved up to teach 11th grade when my son was a junior. IF he would have been assigned this teacher for a 3rd time I would have been in Mr Varner's Office screaming OVER MY DEAD BODY will my son have to be subjected to this biogoted, misinformed, ignorant, unenlightened, unintellengent, unpopular, unqualified, social misfit with radical views. She was the WORST teacher any of my children EVER had.

[MsTeacher]

This story is absolutely absurd! I am also a teacher, and cannot believe that the principal or school board has not acted on this incident. Does MCSD belive they above the law and can hide this? Just because we live in a small community does not give MCSD the right to push this under the rug. I personally am doing everything I can to get this incident in the hands of the news media and newspapers.

On to classroom policies....in no manner can a teacher or school official inflict their political or religious beliefs on their students. First, check out the MCSD website, http://www.mcsdk12.org/hndbk/ and see the policy on religion in the classroom. It is not tolerated! Second, she has shown a controversial movie. Not the first time this has happened with other teachers as well. However, when my daughter's teachers at LAHS wish to show ANY movie that is not rated "G", she brings home a permission slip for me to sign to allow her to view the movie. (Thank you Mr. Varner, the "other" Mr. Varner who actually does his job!) Do the parents of IVHS students know ahead of time that she is showing this movie? Third, our local newspaper and news stations have yet to notify the public of what has happened. I can say Ms. Renninger is very fortunate that my daughter is not her student, because I would still be sitting in front of the administration building demanding answers.

[Chris Rodda - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for jumping in here, MsTeacher, and particularly for the info about permission slips for movies. I wondered about that but didn't know what the school system's policy was on it. The movie "Obsession" is "not rated," but would certainly be rated "R" if it was, and, from what I was told, Mrs. Renninger was showing it to kids as young as 14.

When I was trying to figure out which teacher it was who showed the movie, and which of the two high schools it was shown at, I looked at both LAHS and IVHS. I actually considered trying to call the "other" Mr. Varner when the IVHS Mr. Varner didn't respond to my messages, but decided not to because it wasn't his school that this occurred at. I get the impression from your comment that the two Mr. Varners are quite different, so maybe I should have.

[MsTeacher]

I would strongly suggest you contact Mr. Vance Varner from LAHS. This is where my daughter attends and I can certainly, with confidence, inform you that he is on top of his game with his tteachers. The students like him, even though he does have a tough military leadership style, and it works. I have personally worked with Mr. Vance Varner on occasions as a teacher (not for LAHS) and a parent, (of an LAHS student) and I am extremely happy with his job performance.

I would hope he would provide you with some insight into his policies regarding movies and/or audio media being shown in his teachers' classrooms.

Thank you for investigating this story. How can we get the word out to other media outlets? I strongly believe the public needs to know about this incident.

[dizzlewizzle]

......... continued She refused to give extra credit to him. I thought the school district did not discriminate against handicap, sex, religion, race, etc...... I think that what this teacher did was a blatant act of discrimination and she should be penalized for her wrongdoings just like Mr. Zinoble and Mr. Varner do to any of us kids. I have gotten into my fair share of trouble with the school but i am proud to say that I am now an honor roll student and have not been in any trouble in the past two school years. I know that Mr. Varner and Mr. Zinoble's jobs are a freaking joke. The teacher always overpowers against a student's story even if it is true. I know because I have experienced it. I know people have tendencies to tell stretchers but a few incidents where I was punished, I was telling the truth. I know a teacher who strikes students and when they are get confronted by Mr. Zinoble or Mr. Varner, who they are friends with, are not penalized. It is crap. Something needs to be done.

[dizzlewizzle]

i am a senior currently enrolled at Indian Valley High School. I also have heard of the incident myself. I took a democracy in action class last year but i had the other female teacher who was very good at accepting other students opinions. I was aware of Mrs. Renningers socialist like behaviors from my friends who are enrolled in her class. I believe that this incident is extremely racist. I believe that she should not have been allowed to show such a controversial video in class, which is also unprofessional and biased. She should be allowed to express her opinions, dont get me wrong but she should show more videos which are less biased. i heard of a similar incident where she proclaimed that extra credit would be given out to students who wore red white and blue on the day of a test. One student wore a red white and blue shirt with Obama's picture on it.

[UndercoverSuperstar]

I have Mrs. Renninger first period for DIA honors, and can honestly say she has never attacked Obama or Muslims. She broke down the story for both cadidates, and told us the pros and cons of both McCain and Obama.

I am in the class where the boy asked if Obama is elected president, what will happen, and what Mrs. Renninger said was that it would be a major win for the Muslim people. She didn't say or express thoughts that Obama had alterior motives. She has also, for as long as I have been in her class, never attacked a student for expressing different view points on a subject.

I'm sorry, I just don't believe or agree with the issues she is being accused of.

[8Reporter]

Undercover Superstar:
Please contact me. I'm George Lettis, a reporter for the local NBC station.
my email is [e-mail] I want to do a fair report on this story.

[MsTeacher]

8Reporter.

Please visit our community and investigate this. It is TIME for Mifflin County School District to face the music. Their only mission is to educate students to meet life's challenges, (from the student catalog). How has MCSD placed the students first in this incident? They are protecting the teacher instead of the student. STUDENTS ALWAYS come first. I believe MCSD has forgotten their vision and commitment to the students.

Taxpayers pay good money to this district. We expect firm but fair behavior from our teachers. What about Ms. Renninger? Just another reason why public teachers don't deserve tenure. Once you receive tenure, you pretty much can do whatever you want, according to teacher comments I have heard in the past. Very Sad!

Again, please investigate this incident. Regardless of the outcome, these are serious allegations that need to be addressed and the public needs to know what is going on!

Sincerely,
Concerned fellow teacher in Mifflin County!

[FireWaterBurn]

Obama isn't even a Muslim, so how would it be a win for the Muslim population? She's a teacher, her job is to give factual information, not her own.