Teacher's departure spurs online reaction

Teacher's departure spurs online reaction

DUNDEE--The Dundee school board has placed Dundee English teacher Benjamin Duffy's resignation on the school board agenda for Thursday, April 14 at 6 p.m. The school listed Duffy as resigning for "personal reasons." The teacher's departure has caused an online reaction, generating 184 signatures in an online petition as of press time Monday, April 11.The petition is titled "Duffy Makes the Difference. Let's Make a Difference for Duffy," and the Internet site lists Dundee student Caitlyn Cornish as the creator of the petition.
"What many cannot understand, is the impact he had on his students," according to Cornish's petition. "[He was] always wearing a smile, laughing and always providing wise words to live by. He made every single class interesting, welcoming and joyful. He made students think in a completely new way. He truly cared about each student who walks the halls of Dundee."
The petition can be seen at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/313/636/346/duffy-makes-the-difference.-lets-make-a-difference-for-duffy/. While some who signed the online petition chose to do so anonymously, most signees chose to identify themselves.
Dundee Superintendent Kelly Houck declined to comment on the issue since it is a personnel matter, but confirmed a resignation was issued by Duffy. Duffy was reached at home for comment as well, but he also declined to speak on the matter.
A different reaction was offered by Dundee parent Mary Conyers, who also signed the online petition.
"No grown man who has children and a wife who moved into his house maybe two years ago, up and quits in the middle of a school year," Conyers said.